At least one Republican presidential candidate understands growing economic inequality in the American economy and that joining a union can lead to a better life for workers and their children.
In last night's Republican debate, moderator Chris Matthews asked all the candidates: "Are unions good for America?" Governor Mike Huckabee responded:
The real fact is, unions are going to take a more prominent role in the future for one simple reason: A lot of American workers are finding that their wages continue to get strapped lower and lower while CEO salaries are higher and higher.
And the reality is that when you have the average CEO salary 500 times the average worker, and you have the hedge fund manager making 2,200 times that of the average worker, you're going to create a level of discontent that's going to create a huge appetite for unions.
So unions are the natural result of workers finally saying, "Look, I can't go from a $70,000 year job to a $15,000 a year job and feed my family of four." That's when unions are going to come back in roaring form.
We'll post video once it's been pushed through the tubes.
All the candidates noted positive contributions made by unions, though some looked more comfortable doing so than others.
A number of the candidates cited personal connections to unions. Thompson is a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Brownback's mother was a letter carrier and union member. And Guiliani's grandmother was a member of the United Ladies Garment Workers Union.
"I don't know if our family would have gotten out of poverty without that," Guiliani observed.
The real question is, as members of Congress and if elected president, can these candidates put themselves in the shoes of today's working families and recognize what unions can do to lift up workers in the 21st century?
Comments (2)
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Did Giuliani mean the International Ladies Garment Workers Union?
Posted by zach on October 11, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Posted on October 11, 2007 at 11:33 AM
Unions should give huckabee and the fair tax a chance.
Posted by David on October 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM
Posted on October 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM