As young, progressive activists, our politics are guided by the philosophy of social and economic egalitarianism; this too directs our moral compasses, leading us to pursue roles oriented toward fulfilling these notions of social justice. Unfortunately, these notions are all too often simply that, notions. The colossal disconnect between the ideals espoused by our favorite theorists and the realization of these theories as substantive policy is complicated by the system we’re seeking to correct. We’re caught in the capitalist web that we’re attempting to untangle, and we don’t even know it. In other words, our own, often insulated, privileged, academic lives tend to ignore the very people we claim to be working on behalf of, the working class. This becomes particularly problematic when offering solutions to policy questions. Sure, the unions and union organizers are a loud (though increasingly quieter) voice in the Democratic Party, but they’re rapidly shrinking and so is the coverage of their plight by liberal bloggers and activists. We liberals could all use a lesson on how to bring our theories of equality to fruition; bring the union voices to the fore and create a dialogue between the policy wonks and the workers, between American and foreign workers.

The agenda of both the liberal blogosphere and the Democratic Party has been impressively progressive this election, but we’re only looking at half of the picture, rarely is the preservation of the ever-shrinking union a talking point. In the winter edition of Social Policy (2004/05) there is an article entitled “Republicans Get It: Shrinking Unions Is Key to Defeating Progressive Agenda”. The article begins by explaining, ” When Karl Rove, George W Bush’s key political advisor, was asked by the New Yorker magazine whether shrinking unions was a major goal of the administration, Rove replied, ‘Absolutely.’” And as Rove annoyingly does, he helped his party achieve victory, this time in the form of unprecedented control over unions. 25 years ago ¼ of the workforce were unionized; today, 7.4%.

Republicans have proved eerily adept, particularly compared to Democrats, at organizing and, well, winning. Republicans have effectively courted the working class (namely, by fueling unjustified racial tension among other things) into their camp despite having policies that are directly at odds with their interests. We Democrats have an obligation to reclaim our party base to create a coalition of working class Americans with working class policies. Historically, the unions have been the savvy organizers, but over the last thirty years there has been a role reversal that has seen the GOP assume that role, resulting in the concentration of influence and money into the hands of the business elite.

Paul Krugman explains in a piece he wrote a few months ago, “It’s often assumed that the U.S. labor movement died a natural death, that it was made obsolete by globalization and technological change. But what really happened is that beginning in the 1970s, corporate America, which had previously had a largely cooperative relationship with unions, in effect declared war on organized labor”(see Rove). If we want to effectively combat corporate influence over our workers we have several, union related options. First, we can start discussing the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act, which allows workers to freely organize to form a union. Secondly, we can urge our representatives in Washington not to pass harmful trade agreements like the Columbian Free Trade Agreement, to which Democrats are prepared to capitulate. (Note: Columbia/American corporations notoriously kill union workers)

Finally, we need to reorient Democrats who seem to have lost sight of our blue-collar origins. If we want to have constructive dialogue about narrowing the income gap, reengaging disenfranchised voters, and strengthening the middle class, our dialogue needs to incorporate union voices. The decline in union membership has direct and serious implications for all of these goals. Workers’ wages have not increased with inflation, creating a gap between classes not seen since the Gilded Age of the early 20^th century. We continue to fundraise for the Democratic Party, a party that has proven spineless regarding trade deals that hurt American workers; we need to refocus on recruiting strong, pro-union, pro-American candidates. We’re constantly bitching about the stranglehold that corporate America has on Washington, but how often do we suggest that we need to help unions organize? (rhetorical)

We liberals, instead, find ourselves fundraising and canvassing for Barack Obama who is among the most disingenuous Democrats regarding trade and workers’ rights. How are we going to get serious about strengthening the middle class when we propose crossing the aisle with corporate Republicans, whose goal, as Karl Rove described, is to squash unions? Instead of Obama’s brand of conservatism (giving in to GOP wishes), maybe we should show some progressive conservatism (?), a return to the New Deal. The New Deal saw a class of engaged, organized, and progressive workers setting America’s agenda. Preserving the spirit of the New Deal by the strengthening of the union movement will help us realize our goals of egalitarianism (like we saw in Post- New Deal America), act as a new form of social welfare, and bring us closer to the utopian ideals that our political philosophies claim to stand for.