Taking a Stand, One Election at a Time

JOURNAL: ISSUE 3 - 2014

Election Day in the United States is Tuesday, November 4th. It would be a great day for democracy indeed if on that day Americans turned out in numbers comparable to Scottish voters – nearly 85% – when they cast their ballots on independence referendum several weeks ago.

That sentiment often invites a response along the lines of, ‘well, that was different; their future, their destiny was at stake.’ That may be true. But minimizing the importance of any election for U.S. or Canadian citizens is a grave disservice to the principles of self-determination for which so many fought and died over the years.

November 4th is a Midterm election; the absence of a presidential candidate on the ballot has historically meant lower voter turnout. And yet, 36 governorships, the entire U.S. House of Representatives and control of the Senate are on the line, not to mention countless other state and local races. 

Granted, this election may not turn out to be as singularly ruinous as some fear or as curative as others hope for. But combined with the after-effects of previous elections, and those to come, lots of seemingly small, incremental changes have a way of adding up that can pack a big wallop for working people.

Take wages, for example. Wages are ‘where we live’ – they’re how we feed and clothe our families and keep a roof over their heads. If we measure wage growth against the other type of income, capital income (capital gains, interest, dividends etc.), wage earners are doing poorly. Since 1970, with the exception of the late 1990s, middle class wages have been stagnant while wealth among the 1% has surged. To rebuild the middle class we have to rebuild wages. For BAC members, that means electing candidates who support Project Labor Agreements, state and federal prevailing wage laws, ending wage theft, raising the minimum wage, and adequately funding the agencies responsible for enforcing wage and labor standards. It means electing candidates who understand, acknowledge and oppose tax policies that are in part responsible for the massive reorganization of wealth that’s gripped our country over the past four decades.

I’d like to appeal to all our U.S. members and their families to take a page from Scotland (albeit unusual for this Irishman!) and make your voices heard in this election as though your livelihoods and futures depend on it. Because they do.