What Kind of Jobs? What Kind of Society? We need the power to control our destiny

[Better Believe It]

September 9, 2010

Reagan and Cheney’s recipe for the American economy - trickle-down and “outsourcing of jobs” - has played itself out and workers are left with few options. Today’s unemployment rate was not caused by Obama’s policies alone. Rather, the economic problems of today have their roots in the policies of the past five presidential administrations. And, all the while, the assault on labor unions continued, in the workplaces, in the bureaucracies of the government, and in the courts. There has been little or no protection for workers.

As the American labor movement has been forced into decline, so has the nation’s economy, along with the country’s working class and, now, pundits are decrying the decline of the middle class.

People are rightly fearful for their futures, but nothing will change until the people take charge of their government at every level. They need to be involved in the political process in a positive way. In the past, labor unions were the most basic expression of democracy in action. With a union, workers had some control over their destiny at work.

Out of that sense of freedom came activism in wider issues such as civil rights, housing, health care, education, trade, and more. Those who have used their economic and political power to diminish unions had better reconsider their strategy. Until and unless the power to control one’s destiny is returned through a movement as fundamental to freedom as organized labor, America and its economy will not recover anytime soon.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/392/392_sa_jobs_society.php