In a nod to labor unions, President Joe Biden is moving to boost wages for construction workers on projects paid for with federal funding, a step that would appeal to a key constituency ahead of next year’s presidential election and potentially shrink the pay gap between northern and southern states.
What’s the over/under on how many of those construction workers will vote Republican in 2024 anyway? Somehow Democrats trying (often imperfectly) to help people gets them nothing but scorn, meanwhile a Republican platform that revolves entirely around taking things away from others is super popular with the blue collar crowd.
That’s fine, I think they should be paid more, and unlike them my politics isn’t motivated primarily by ruining my political enemies
I 100% agree that giving them fair wages shouldn’t buy their vote. I’m disheartened that they will never question their vote for the party who took them away in the 80s and will do it again if they can.
To clarify - I don’t think self-interest should be the only deciding factor in a vote, but it should at least penetrate as a factor. Logically, some of these folks would go “wow, thanks Biden, maybe Dems aren’t anti- middle class after all” - but in reality, I’m not holding my breath.
Yeah I mean my view is we’re gonna drag them kicking and screaming into the 21st century because we can’t let them drag us back to the 13th
I fear to late for that. 99% of Republicans and their voting base are desperately wanting to take us back and want zero progress. And they are winning.
The Ohio vote yesterday gave me some hope at least
Some hope lets hope it spreads.
It’s just an unfortunate state of affairs
When they get this pay boost, their employer and whatever state they’re working in will take credit. Democrats are terrible and messaging to it’s almost certain that no one will ever tell them that Biden did it.
It’s not as bad as people think. There are large numbers of black and Latino construction workers who aren’t on board with Republican politics at all. My union is nearly a third Latino and they tend to be some of the most involved in organizing and activism. Also worth saying that less than half of the white guys are conservatives.
That’s all well and good, but keep in mind that only ~11% or so of employees in the US are union. So I’m not sure how representative your experience is of the working population in general.
Unfortunately, GOP has cornered the market on “manliness,” and I think construction workers want that more than money.
A “manly” man looks after his family, and his community.
Wanting rights, support and safety for fellow citizens is “manly”
You are correct, but the macho maga crowd sees that stuff as weakness and would rather compete to be the biggest asshole.
It’s sad that people have forgotten the democrats used to be the blue collar party. Trump v. Clinton really reshaped this.