Job instability, not racial resentment, is the key to understanding the decline of the working-class Democratic vote. But there's a way to turn things around.
Les, you are definitely correct. I’m thinking about the downturn in coal mining in West Virginia during the Obama administration that caused mass layoffs. Democrats were blamed and Republicans called it a War on Coal. It was in West Virginia that Hillary made her deplorable statement to coal miners. It was during that time when WV turned red from blue. There is no other industry than coal in the coalfield counties of WV. Diversification will take time, perhaps a generation. Any thoughts on making it blue again?
I tried to tackle that problem in my book, "Wall Street's War on Workers." The key, I believe is public job creation that follows from dozens of community meetings to determine what needs to be done in the area -- like mine reclamation, road repairs, internet, school rebuilding etc. The public jobs would address those needs.
Whoever claims to be "pro-working people" needs to account for the collateral damage of the economic wars. Your stats re: jobs should be evidence enough.
But there's also the less immediately visible social costs of what is now known as Deaths of Despair. The medical model treating mental problems as personal defects has been shifting to an understanding of how environmental factors--where someone lives, family crises, and economic insecurity--have a huge impact on both mental and physical health.
Let's hear what any pol claiming to be for us has to say about this!
I'm currently reading //Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism// (2020) by Anne Case and Angus Deaton. From p. 146: "Our main argument in this book is that the deaths of despair reflect a long-term and slowly unfolding loss of a way of life for the white, less educated, working class." p147: "...unemployment is not always good at identifying the places where social and economic structures have been destroyed. Worse jobs are still counted as jobs..." They also point out that there is no such epidemic in Europe, even in economically devastated areas like the UK or in countries effected by austerity. Seems the acceptability of economic cannon fodder is a uniquely American idea.
The usual claim that 50% of Americans go to college means both community colleges and 4 year institutions, (I'm a product of both.) Little mention of graduation rates--which are particularly low for community colleges in devastated areas. At best, 30-34 % have 4 year degrees--and that's in anything from anywhere. So then the majority of Americans are working class! IMHO that needs to be emphasized. Also that the security of a degree is fast eroding. The assembly line and gig econ reality has now reached college profs and MDs.
The US is losing the war against the rest of the world that kept the financial system afloat since WWII. So now the financiers that run the US are becoming cannibals by feeding on our own population. I call it genocide in my book "Our Country, Then and Now."
Les, you are definitely correct. I’m thinking about the downturn in coal mining in West Virginia during the Obama administration that caused mass layoffs. Democrats were blamed and Republicans called it a War on Coal. It was in West Virginia that Hillary made her deplorable statement to coal miners. It was during that time when WV turned red from blue. There is no other industry than coal in the coalfield counties of WV. Diversification will take time, perhaps a generation. Any thoughts on making it blue again?
Hi Wes,
I tried to tackle that problem in my book, "Wall Street's War on Workers." The key, I believe is public job creation that follows from dozens of community meetings to determine what needs to be done in the area -- like mine reclamation, road repairs, internet, school rebuilding etc. The public jobs would address those needs.
Thanks for your comment.
This was fascinating and insightful. Thank you for sharing!
You're very welcome!
Whoever claims to be "pro-working people" needs to account for the collateral damage of the economic wars. Your stats re: jobs should be evidence enough.
But there's also the less immediately visible social costs of what is now known as Deaths of Despair. The medical model treating mental problems as personal defects has been shifting to an understanding of how environmental factors--where someone lives, family crises, and economic insecurity--have a huge impact on both mental and physical health.
Let's hear what any pol claiming to be for us has to say about this!
For sure. I haven't done the statistical work yet, but I bet Deaths of Despair and the mass layoff rate track closely. It's a disgrace.
I'm currently reading //Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism// (2020) by Anne Case and Angus Deaton. From p. 146: "Our main argument in this book is that the deaths of despair reflect a long-term and slowly unfolding loss of a way of life for the white, less educated, working class." p147: "...unemployment is not always good at identifying the places where social and economic structures have been destroyed. Worse jobs are still counted as jobs..." They also point out that there is no such epidemic in Europe, even in economically devastated areas like the UK or in countries effected by austerity. Seems the acceptability of economic cannon fodder is a uniquely American idea.
The usual claim that 50% of Americans go to college means both community colleges and 4 year institutions, (I'm a product of both.) Little mention of graduation rates--which are particularly low for community colleges in devastated areas. At best, 30-34 % have 4 year degrees--and that's in anything from anywhere. So then the majority of Americans are working class! IMHO that needs to be emphasized. Also that the security of a degree is fast eroding. The assembly line and gig econ reality has now reached college profs and MDs.
The US is losing the war against the rest of the world that kept the financial system afloat since WWII. So now the financiers that run the US are becoming cannibals by feeding on our own population. I call it genocide in my book "Our Country, Then and Now."
https://www.amazon.com/Our-Country-Then-Richard-Cook/dp/1949762858