Jim Webb: American Workers Have a Chance To Be Heard

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

American Workers Have a Chance To Be Heard
By JIM WEBB
November 15, 2006; Page A18

The most important -- and unfortunately the least debated -- issue in politics today is our society's steady drift toward a class-based system, the likes of which we have not seen since the 19th century. America's top tier has grown infinitely richer and more removed over the past 25 years. It is not unfair to say that they are literally living in a different country. Few among them send their children to public schools; fewer still send their loved ones to fight our wars. They own most of our stocks, making the stock market an unreliable indicator of the economic health of working people. The top 1% now takes in an astounding 16% of national income, up from 8% in 1980. The tax codes protect them, just as they protect corporate America, through a vast system of loopholes.

Incestuous corporate boards regularly approve compensation packages for chief executives and others that are out of logic's range. As this newspaper has reported, the average CEO of a sizeable corporation makes more than $10 million a year, while the minimum wage for workers amounts to about $10,000 a year, and has not been raised in nearly a decade. When I graduated from college in the 1960s, the average CEO made 20 times what the average worker made. Today, that CEO makes 400 times as much.

(snip)

A troubling arrogance is in the air among the nation's most fortunate. Some shrug off large-scale economic and social dislocations as the inevitable byproducts of the "rough road of capitalism." Others claim that it's the fault of the worker or the public education system.. Still others have gone so far as to argue that these divisions are the natural results of a competitive society. Furthermore, an unspoken insinuation seems to be inundating our national debate: Certain immigrant groups have the "right genetics" and thus are natural entrants to the "overclass," while others, as well as those who come from stock that has been here for 200 years and have not made it to the top, simply don't possess the necessary attributes.

(snip)

The politics of the Karl Rove era were designed to distract and divide the very people who would ordinarily be rebelling against the deterioration of their way of life. Working Americans have been repeatedly seduced at the polls by emotional issues such as the predictable mantra of "God, guns, gays, abortion and the flag" while their way of life shifted ineluctably beneath their feet. But this election cycle showed an electorate that intends to hold government leaders accountable for allowing every American a fair opportunity to succeed.

(snip)

Mr. Webb is the Democratic senator-elect from Virginia.

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116355741563823452.html (subscription)

[spooky3]

1. I'm not a subscriber so can't read the whole thing; but I like what

he has said in the quotations included. Thanks!

[Catchawave]

2. Try this link....

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009246

[question everything]

4. Thank you!

I read the print issue and go from there :-(

[spooky3]

6. Thanks!

:hi: fellow Virginian!

[Vadem]

57. I sent this to all of my friends and family and this is what I said::...

"If this isn't a flaming, bleeding heart liberal, then I dont know what you would call him!!! I'm so thrilled to read this from Jim! I worked on his campaign, I gave him money, I made calls and sent letters, etc., for him! I thought he was much more conservative, but I was willing to work to get him in as our Senator because Allen had to go!!!!! I had my misgivings about his supporting Ronnie Raygun, but the more I hear from him, the more I am enthused!!

Please Jim, don't disappoint me and go back to the Allen (Reagun) way!
I really think he is going to shake up the US Senate! He is so smart! I really think he is going to give the US Senate a run for their money and I can not wait!!!!!

I am so thrilled over this essay by Jim!!!!!!

[williesgirl]

3. Proud to say he's MY senator! What a welcome change. recommended

[question everything]

5. Be careful. With such eloquence, many of us may want him

to be our President. At least these were my thoughts as I was reading this.

I don't remember feeling this way with any of our past candidates.

[Parisle]

8. I Totally Hear Ya, Q.E.,.....

----As a Virginian, myself, I have been literally overwhelmed by Webb's genuine, common-sense political stance and commentary. That essay was inspired and brilliant. I wouldn't be surprised if mentions of Webb's presidential possibilities began showing up in MSM. I'd vote for him,....... again.

[spooky3]

7. Can we get one more recommendation?

[Parisle]

9. I gave it #5, spooky,......

---- But it needs and deserves 50,..... come on, folks.

[pacalo]

13. Sure does!

Webb puts his finger on what has been my biggest gripe with the Republican party since the Reagan years.

[abburdlen]

10. but...but...but...

the media told me he was one of those 'conservative democrats'
either those conservatives are sounding a lot more progressive or the media is full of crap.
hmmm, I wonder... :shrug:

[donkeyotay]

41. Who ya gonna believe, the MEdia or your lying eyes?

Progressive and conservative common ground? Oh my, better keep them poor and divided, or they might notice they've both been robbed and want their government back.

[kentuck]

11. K & R

:kick:

[pstans]

12. And the media says Webb is Conservative

:shrug:

[geek tragedy]

33. Great. If we can talk about class division and be called

conservative, fine by me.

[Jon8503]

14. Great Article by Senator-Elect Webb, but did any of you read

the replies to his article. To be expected from that paper, not very postive to the article.

I have put them here to read:

How Much Better Will My Life Be?

The overwhelming tone of Mr. Webb's article is the inherent "unfairness" of the American way of life. He asserts that while those at the top enrich themselves through corruption, the "wage-earners" are suffering economic strife. I wonder how much better my life will be after he sucks the profits out of major American companies, and fixes CEO salaries to an acceptable ratio against the janitors. Democrats like Mr. Webb had best remember that they were elected as an alternative in Iraq. Most Americans do not see the economic struggle as the rich vs. the poor; no matter much Democrat class warriors push it. Americans know that it is opportunity or lack there of which determines our prosperity.

We Know Too Much

Honorable Senator-elect, you may not realize that you are currently addressing the most economically literate demographic in the U.S. So, your introductory paragraph is insulting.

Sure, the top 1% take in 16% of national income, but they pay 34.27% of all federal taxes. And if "he tax codes protect them," why has the net contribution of taxes from this group actually increased since the 2002 tax cuts?

And please don't patronize us by saying that "They own most of our stocks." No, Jim, they own most of their stocks. And for future reference, please note that the percentage of military recruits from the poorest American quintile constituted only 18% of the military in 1999, and dropped to 13.7% in 2005. In other words, they're under-represented in the military, and increasingly so.

The campaign is over, sir, and it's time to set the talking points aside and start doing some homework. Your "Workers of the World, Unite!" rhetoric will not find its necessarily ignorant audience here.

Spinning a Yarn

I thought we were going to see some new ideas from the "moderate" Democrats. James Webb reiterates the same nonsense that the Democrat Left and its union allies have been spouting for years. Not only that he apparently is using his skills as a novelist to spin us a yarn that is partly misleading and mostly untrue.

Do the Math

Look, if I make $100,000 this year, and you make $1 million, we're $900,000 apart. If we both get a 10% raise next year, we'll be $990,000 apart. The growing difference in our incomes isn't the result of faulty social policy, but mathematics! Most folks on the street have figured this out already--wish that the demagogues would.

[Straight Shooter]

17. Insulting, churlish, snide, parroting the self-rationalizations for their good fortune.

I hope Webb chews these people up and spits them out.

[Parisle]

18. Total BS,... and panicky BS, at that,.....

---- It is the respondents to Mr. Webb's article who are engaging in "class warfare." In fact, since the Reagan administration, we have been been experiencing the evolving counter-attack,... the "Battle of the Bulge," if you will,... against FDR's New Deal.

[spooky3]

19. Ahh, trademark Republican debate tactics.

When you don't have the facts on your side, attack your opponent.

The final "mathematician" must have studied at Karl "I have THE math" Rove's knee, or perhaps s/he has a reading disorder. Webb focused on ratios of CEO pay to that of other workers. If "mathematician" makes $110,000 next year, "you" will make $1.1 million next year, and the ratio of 10:1 remains the same.

As someone with a doctorate in business who spends a lot of time with similar people, I can tell you that "the most economically literate" do not all agree with one of the other commenters, who seems to think s/he speaks for us all. And Sen-elect Webb was not only aware of his audience, he is to be admired for taking his arguments right to one the most right wing audiences in the country. Not the act most demagogues would choose, now, is it?

[Straight Shooter]

21. Excellent point. He's laying all the cards on the table.

Or throwing down the gauntlet, depending on your perspective. :)

[HughBeaumont]

36. Neocon Chickens For Frank Perdue!!

"Don't soak the rich, because I'm going to BE rich someday!"

Yes, lemmings, it IS "Class Warfare". And the class YOU'RE NOT IN is winning hand over fist. And it's left you pummelled and beaten since day ONE, whether you know/accept it or not. So stop with this enabling "Pull Yourself up by the bootstraps because massah say so" bullshit and grow a set already.

[primative1]

15. Wow ...

I didnt expect Mr Webb to be such a FIREBRAND POPULIST!
I look forward to seeing him in the senate.

[question everything]

25. My reaction, too

I was a bit apprehensive about yet another "former Republican" and not being a Virginian I did not follow his campaign.

But grasping the heart of the matter for most voters - most DUers desire to concentrate on impeachment notwithstanding - is an indication of a true leader.

I, too, am looking forward to seeing him in the senate.

[Straight Shooter]

16. "Seduced at the polls."

The Allen vs. Webb election was the one I most wanted for the Democrat to be the victor. Gut instinct tells me that Jim Webb is going to be a force to be reckoned with by the GOP. I seriously doubt he's going to take any of their crap.

:thumbsup:

[spooky3]

20. and he won't have to fight them alone.

The Dems have at least equal #s in the Senate (depending on how you count Lieberman) and their House colleagues are in the majority. No more bullying.

[sandyd921]

22. So refreshing!

Jim Webb and others like Bernie Sanders are actually talking about addressing the real issues of working people! It's been a long, long time (at least 12 years) since the issues of regular people were the focus of politicians in Washington.

[johnnydrama]

23. WOW

I'm sure that people making $6 an hour and work 2 jobs are made to feel a lot better because people who make 2 million dollars a year pay a bigger tax % then they do.

That makes it even.

[eridani]

24. Supposedly one of our "conservative" Dems

Jeez, wonder what a far out lefty would sound like?

[autorank]

27. Those who call him conservative have not listened to him.

Webb is a very bright guy. He's been saying this for a while. The Corporate Media was so stupid, they had one of their luminaries on the ground in Fairfax County (N.VA) talking about how Allen would make inroads with women. Thinking that, precluces the more complex process of actually understanding his positions. This is typical - economic justice. He is pro civil liberties and has a real desire to bridge the racial divide between working class blacks and whites (can you believe that, does anybody in the party talks like thiat?). More nonsense from those in the know.

You'll like this guy, maybe not all the time, but on some very big issues, any hard core Democrat will like him.

[eridani]

28. I can deal with a certain amount of social conservatism--

--from populists who live in socially conservative places. This is NOT the same as the corporate whoredom of folks like Steny Hoyer.

[autorank]

45. When you liver here you are often more motivated by the dreadful opponent

than support for your candidate. Webb was a bit different, maybe because he's still somewhat of an unknown. But anybody who will fight back the way he did has to be good. Every snide Allen remark was met with a barrage of "truth" from Webb or his campaign, really tough responses. He talks about economic justice, racial reconciliation and the folly of the war in Iraq. It was nice to have somebody who reflected my views to donate to and work for. Who knows how it will turn out. We'll see but it's good for now.

[spooky3]

32. To be fair, John Edwards was talking about many of the same issues

in 03 and 04.

[question everything]

38. I supported Edwards in the primaries, even contributed

but I don't remember an essay so clearly detailing the problem. Perhaps I was too busy with following the primaries..

[PeaceProgProsp]

40. There's a YouTube video of Edwards and Webb campaigning together

and talking about these things.

They're clearly allies in this fight.

[JCMach1]

26. Webb is an old style progressive of the type we haven't had

in the party since Huey Long!

That's a good thing!

[Leilani]

29. I think Jim Webb in the Senate

is going to give lots of people heartburn.

He speaks truth to power & does not suffer fools gladly.

I can't wait for the fireworks to begin!

[Catchawave]

30. Especially the DLC folks !

He won't play politics :evilgrin:

[JCMach1]

31. Everyone... he and a few others are the beginnings of a Progressive

caucus in the Senate.

[geek tragedy]

34. I suspect Webb will be a caucus of one.

A truly independent thinker.

Boy, though, I'm glad he's on our side.

[Parisle]

35. ...And let's not forget

----The election of Webb to the Senate,... even with Allen's campaign miscues,... is a further reflection of the "blueing" of Virginia. Once a guaranteed GOP stronghold, Virginia's gradual demographic changes are shifting it into a reliable democratic orbit,... and that's 13 electoral votes, too. We have our second straight democratic governor,... Tim Kaine following Mark Warner,... and next we may look for the retirement of GOP Sen John Warner,.. and a chance for another pick-up in the senate. And with Webb's emerging "star quality," I must say that it has not always felt this good to be a Virginian in national politics.

[JCMach1]

42. Damn straight... he has impressed me more than anyone in this election

cycle...

Message, interview skill,

[question everything]

39. I am almost afraid to ask: does he support a woman's right to privacy?

to make her own decisions in the privacy of her home or her doctor's office?

[sandnsea]

43. Yes

And so does Tester. The government ends at the front door.

[question everything]

44. Thank you! With so many freshmen being against women's right to

choose, including our Senate majority leader, one has to wonder..

[Cerridwen]

46. You mean republican freshmen? Our Democratic freshmen

appear to be okay on choice. I read at the Feminist Majority Foundation that

...21 of the 28 new Democratic members of the House are pro-choice, as are seven of the eight new Democratic Senators. you can read the whole article here

[Hawkowl]

37. Wow!

If this is a conservative southern Democrat, let's elect more of them!

[ellisonz]

49. I think Webb is actually more accurately described as...

a Southern Populist. But of course we all know Allen didn't actually read his books, rather he had his staff looking for graphic quotes. Typical Republican and MSM stupidity.

[Czolgosz]

47. K & R - our elected officials expressing attitudes like this vindicate all the hard work

[FrenchieCat]

48. Excellent!

Really, really! :thumbsup:

[Odin2005]

50. Awesome article.

IMO the reason the talking heads keep yakking on about "conservative Democrats" is because they are stuck in Culture War mode where social issues are the only thing that matters. They call people like Webb and Tester "conservative" because they are social conservatives and social moderates, the talking heads are so stuck in Culture War mode that they don't get that this was a POPULIST revolt against the corrupt corporatist-globalist establishment.

[Parisle]

53. I agree with you, Odin

---- Perhaps we'll soon be hearing cries of "Socialist!" instead...

[Odin2005]

54. Oh, trust me, the M$M will start screaming "evil socialist pinkos" soom enough.

The Corporate Kleptocracy is deathly afraid of loosing thier power.

[CTLawGuy]

51. oh man

what a huge conservative :) /snark

[Pierzin]

52. OMG!!! This is not from rabid liberal talk show host???? It's fromq

the newly elected senator????? OMG, OMG OMG!!! Is this man walking in Roosevelts shadow?

[AnnieBW]

55. Why Didn't He Run This Before the Election?

He'd have blown away Macacawitz by a much wider margin!

[question everything]

59. Perhaps. But then it would have been just part of his campaign

as did Edwards' in 2004. But when it comes from a Senator (OK, Senator-elect) who is part of the Senate majority, it carries more weight. It means that it can be translated into policy and new laws.

And, as so many Virginians here attest, it vindicates their votes.

[oasis]

56. k&r

[Irreverend IX]

58. Great essay.

Too bad it's on page A18. If Webb's philosophy can be put into action, Dems will skyrocket to victory in 2008.