Broder links declines of prog. politics, lib. legislation, organized labor

[DeepModem Mom]

Very powerful piece -- lots of information included in full column about decline of labor union membership, economic statistics, etc. --


Washington Post:
The Price Of Labor's Decline

By David S. Broder
Thursday, September 9, 2004; Page A27

.... there is a...story about workers and organized labor that has gone largely unnoticed this year. I was reminded of it by a conversation on the train coming back from New York. My seatmate, a fellow reporter, was asking questions about the changes I had seen in Congress since I started covering Capitol Hill almost 50 years ago. And when we got around to discussing lobbyists, he seemed genuinely surprised when I said that back then -- and for decades afterward -- the most influential lobbyists did not represent business or trade associations but labor unions....

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It made me realize how rarely observers like me make the link between the decline of progressive politics and with it the near-demise of liberal legislation, and the steady weakening of organized labor....

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....when labor lobbied powerfully on Capitol Hill, it did not confine itself to bread-and-butter issues for its own members. It was at the forefront of battles for aid to education, civil rights, housing programs and a host of other social causes important to the whole community. And because it was muscular, it was heard and heeded....

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For those who think a Wal-Mart economy is the American future, the falloff in labor's influence is no cause for regret. But I suspect the country will continue to pay a price -- and not just union families -- until labor regains a place at the economic and political table.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6959-2004Sep8.html

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. .....................................

[Q]

2. Great article...

...but any discussion on progressive politics should include the DLC conservatives and their working WITH the right to eliminate any remaining remnants of the 'new deal'.