Subject: Re: WHERE did Dem voters go?
Up to a point but when the unions insist on limiting innovation and productivity improvements (see longshoremen) then they go too far.

Arguably. But that is a worker-protection action. Automation usually increases productivity, but it lowers the demand for headcount, and lowers cost. So the Rep solution has been to bust the unions. Which is counterproductive to the workers who no longer have a voice because they are just a handful of relatively poor people compared to the mega-corp with deep pockets, and armies of lawyers.

Since PATCO, the "too far" has been mostly in favor of the corporations, progressively more as time goes on. It's only very recently we've seen a small surge in union-joining.

I don't think either party will be able to affect this much. Innovation and productivity will continue to drive automation, and reduce the number of heads necessary for X units of output. And those that are needed to tend to the machines will have to be pretty well educated, at least vocationally (i.e. a degree in engineering would not be needed for most of them). Albaby argues that the Dems are ignoring those folks, but the Reps are, too. They have been since Reagan (if not before). The Reps have nothing for them. And all the Dems have is an increased minimum wage, and subsidized healthcare (which they've had for 10 years now). That's why Yang was an interesting candidate with his 'minimum income' proposal. He was probably too early with that, but he was seeing the future.

I think MAGA populism is working because they have nothing else. So it's a matter of blaming "the other", and making people feel good about their position relative to other groups (be in blacks -LBJ has a famous quote about that-, "sh|thole countries", or whomever).

LBJ: https://www.goodreads.com/quot...