Woo Non-Union Workers

The Democrats’ pro-union stance should help them regain their reputation as the party of working people.

But unionists only make up a small percentage of workers.  Why should non-union workers out their faith in Democrats?

In part, because they share the same interests as unionized workers.  They need health care, lower cost food, health care and housing.  They want cars they can afford, trade policies they perceive as promoting domestic jobs, and a government they can trust.

They probably also don’t like change, government intrusion into their lives, such as environmental regulations, and immigrants.

Republicans have never been friends of working people, though ever since Ronald Reagan they’ve gotten their votes.  Donald Trump and JD Vance have done their best to suck up to them, not so much by offering them hope or promising policies but by trashing Democrats.

Both are consummate liars and have exploited distrust of American government and business to attract disaffected voters.  They’ve also managed to brand Harris as a “leftist” with radical views.  JD Vance, who has expressed views that could be perceived as pro-worker, has pretty much forsaken what little integrity he might have had to emulate Trump’s lies about Harris to damage her with working-class voters (NY Times, September 3, 2024).

A good start for Democrats would be to remind the country of what they’ve done for workers, from the safety net of the New Deal through the infrastructure projects of the Biden administration.

The Administration has probably done enough bragging about its economic accomplishments, but Kamala could shift gears and frame what they’ve done as a good start.

Her economic proposals so far are a step in the right direction but are both unclear and selective.  She has to propose policies that are universal and don’t pick winners and losers.

She should modify Biden’s student loan reform ideas to encompass onerous home and business debt.  Her first home proposal should be expanded, perhaps as a tax credit, to all potential home owners.  She should promise to expand social security and make affordable health care to all.