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Our Party BlogHave your say about all things democraticSeptember 1, 2008OH, BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
[From John Bailes, Chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party]On Labor Day 2008, I am reminded of a warning from the brother of Jesus. The Scriptures are a source for wisdom on labor. In the Epistle of James, the brother of Jesus warns against valuing wealth over work. Those who value wealth over work create a class war that pits workers struggling to make ends meet against the rich. According to James, the rich will "cry and weep" because they have "exploited and cheated" workers who now "cry out for judgment." The "groans of the workers" they "used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger." These are strong words from the Bible. Certainly the law of compensation is at work. We have for too long conned ourselves into believing that wealth is better than work, when in fact wealth relies primarily upon the worker. Work is the backbone of wealth. Yet in America, the wealthy grow fat and break the back of the worker, sending work overseas. If we are to avoid a battle between wealth and work we need some equilibrium. We must value both wealth and work. But we have to start with work since it has been ignored for years and since it is at the heart of producing wealth. There are three areas of work that must change: health care benefits, retirement benefits, and living wages. Health care benefits for all will change the face of work. If this one problem were solved, it would make a huge difference for the health of workers as well as the productivity for employers. Right now, however, only 71 percent of workers have access to benefits. And it does not help that health premiums rise five to ten times faster than inflation yearly. As of today, almost 50 million Americans (one-sixth of our population) have no health care coverage. And shamefully we are the only modern industrial nation without universal health care. Accessible and affordable health care for all Americans would not only improve the lives of all, it would also lower the constant turnover rates of workers in many industries. Retirement seems destined to be a relic of the past for the worker, and maybe only for those building wealth on the backs of workers. But we can adjust that too. Currently, only 61 percent of private employees have access to retirement benefits. Much of these benefits are 401(k) plans-voluntary and volatile, not secure pensions. As the number of workers using any retirement plan continues to fall yearly, with the message that "you are on your own now," the loyal, long-term employee disappears. Not so with the Pentagon, which has one of the best buy-ins for loyalty in the military: a quality retirement system. For these reasons alone, social security should not be privatized, but strengthened. Wages for the American worker continue to stagnate while productivity climbs. With worker's wages at their lowest share of the GDP, no wonder workers make less per hour while producing more per hour. Last year, Congress passed and the President signed the first minimum wage increase in a decade. By 2009, the minimum wage will be $7.25 an hour, giving 13 million workers a $2.10 hourly increase. But is that a living wage? At $7.25 an hour working fulltime, a worker will earn $15,080 before deductions. For a parent with two children, that's below the poverty threshold. Unfortunately, the answer for many workers living below the poverty threshold is to take another job. However, working two or three jobs robs the parent of family time and parental duties. It is also exhausting, sacrificing the next generation's chances for a healthy and constructive upbringing. Improvements in health care, retirement, and wages for workers would go a long way to bring equilibrium in our national economy. But what about the "top down" CEOs of industry who make almost 400 times more than the pay to the average worker? The gap is too huge to ignore. According to CNN Money, "The average CEO of a large U.S. company made roughly $10.8 million last year, or 364 times that of U.S. full-time and part-time workers, who made an average of $29,544." Isn't it time that investors and voters make CEOs responsible to their workers so that our American economy not only survives but thrives? We must ask, "Oh, brother, where art thou?" For we are all our brothers and sisters' keepers. Post a Reply... Most Recent Posts: 11/19: Make History Again: Help Us Elect Jim Martin to the U.S. Senate 11/14: John Bailes - "I will not puruse another term as Chairman" 11/11: Thanks to the Hundreds Who Worked 11/11: Celebrating Veterans Day~November 11 11/05: You Did It! You Made History! 11/04: Go Vote! 10/31: NOW FOR OUR FINAL PUSH! WHAT CAN YOU DO? 10/30: Paul Smith on High Voter Turnout: The Economy Has Awakened a Sleeping Giant 10/30: Vote Straight Down the Ticket: Obama, Tuke, Berke, Favors, and Brown 10/29: Watch HCDP's "Call To Vote" Commercial Tonight on CBS, Just Before Obama 10/29: Setting New Records: Over 55,000 Have Voted Early! 10/28: Join Us on Election Night at the Chattanooga Choo Choo 10/27: Message to the Hamilton County Democratic Party from Governor Phil Bredesen 10/27: Paul Smith~One of Our Two 2008 Estes Kefauver Award Winners 10/27: Annie Hall~One of Our Two 2008 Estes Kefauver Award Winners 10/24: Only Takes $5 to Make a Difference 10/23: EARLY VOTING HOURS CHANGE DUE TO HIGH VOTER TURNOUT 10/23: Let's GET OUT THE VOTE in Hamilton County! 10/23: New Links at Hamilton County Democratic Website Help Voters 10/21: More than 350 Attend Estes Kefauver Dinner |
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