Drum points out Democratic leaders’ union apathy; liberal bloggers reflect same symptom

Today, Kevin Drum wonders why there’s a disconnect between the ordinary “working stiff” and today’s Democratic Party leadership. In a word, his answer is: “unions,” in comparing today to the past.

In more than a word, he said, in describing the conversation at a bloggers’ party he hosted:

Everyone at the table seemed to agree that the Democratic Party was out of touch with the working class in America, broadly defined. Why? Because Dem leaders are a bunch of college-educated elites who make a lot of money and don’t really identify with the problems of people who make $30,000 a year.

OK, fine. Let’s suppose that's true. But the Democratic Party in the 30s and 40s was mostly headed by Harvard-educated rich guys, and they seemed to do pretty well on working class issues. FDR wasn't exactly a prole, after all. So what's the difference?

The most common response was: unions. Back in the 30s and 40s (and 50s and 60s), unions were big and powerful and had a seat at the table. Democratic politicians listened to them, and the upper ranks of the party had plenty of people who grew up in union households. Basically, unions kept it real for everyone else.

Today, public sector unions are still powerful, but private sector unions are a shell of their former selves. Result: labor concerns are marginalized, and there's no one to really force party leaders to pay attention to working class issues.

So here's my question: Assuming there’s some truth to this, is the answer (a) we need to work to rebuild the size and power of private sector unions in America so that the working class has a powerful champion? Or (b) is this a hopeless task given the realities of the modern economy? Should we instead figure out some completely different way of forcing the party to pay more attention to working class/middle class economic issues?

But, it would appear that Democratic/ “liberal” bloggers reflect the same apathy, if not animosity, toward unions as did people such as their big hero, William Jefferson Clinton. Drum goes on tonote:

I don’t think anybody liked my question, because the conversation sort of meandered on to other topics at that point. Anybody have any bright ideas?

To his post, I e-mailed:

Let's remember many Boomer Dem politicians WILLFULLY kneecapped unions. I’m talking Bill Clinton, Dick “Traitor” Gephardt, etc. It’s called NAFTA. It's called WTO. It's called no labor rights clauses, etc.

Kevin, you’re lucky you didn't get stoned to death.

None of this surprises me. Most bloggers, liberal or conservative, are technogeek types from better-than-average income childhoods.