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Disenfranchised?

by Harry Oglesby

The Democratic Party needs working Americans as much as working Americans needs the Democratic Party. While the republicans have traditionally supported the big business and small government agenda the Democratic Party has been allied with the labor movements and supported an agenda for living wage, minimum wage, social security and other government policies that benefit wage earners. Actually it’s great that America can have this wide diversity in political views without civil unrest or war but sometimes our objectives seem a bit unclear. What is clear to me is that America’s greatness depends on a delicate balance of both interests.Recently the core of the Democratic Party has gone so far to the left with the likes of Howard Dean Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy. It has become almost impossible for any moderates to get traction in the early primaries and the radicals cannot get elected on the national level. The Democratic Party has allowed the far right religious conservatives to tar and feather them as immoral socialist. It’s an easy task on the subject of abortion and gay marriage.

For years now the Democratic Party has continued to take automatic labor contributions while taking the labor vote for granted. They have seen labor as irrelevant when compared to issues concerning gay rights, anti war and the banning of religion in public places.  It seems now that the best shot the democrats presently have in acquiring the presidency lies with Hillary Clinton who is trying hard to maintain her base while imposing as a moderate.

I believe the labor unions are partly at fault. They have failed in the public relations arena and have failed in getting their message out. Membership numbers are dwindling and even the lowest wage earners sees them as bad news. For a long time the unions mustered a large block vote and held both Democrat and Republican politicians to task on issues for working Americans. Now it seems that Hollywood and the liberal media are the ones who set the agenda for Democrats. I have a real problem with where both major parties are going. The Republicans seem to be seeking an aristocratic society where the majority depends on the leavings of the few. I follow the ideology that everyone should pull his own weight but I also believe that an honest days work should bring home a reasonable living wage. I also believe that a progressive society should strive to make it possible for even those on the lowest rung to live with dignity.

About the author: Harry Oglesby is a merit shop Industrial I&E Maintenance Foreman, Outdoorsman and Father of Four.






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