this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Work Reform

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As part of his Labor Day message to workers in the United States, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday re-upped his call for the establishment of a 20% cut to the workweek with no loss in pay—an idea he said is "not radical" given the enormous productivity gains over recent decades that have resulted in massive profits for corporations but scraps for employees and the working class.

"It's time for a 32-hour workweek with no loss in pay," Sanders wrote in a Guardian op-ed as he cited a 480% increase in worker productivity since the 40-hour workweek was first established in 1940.

"It's time," he continued, "that working families were able to take advantage of the increased productivity that new technologies provide so that they can enjoy more leisure time, family time, educational and cultural opportunities—and less stress."

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[–] AttackPanda@programming.dev 283 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Why does it feel like it’s only ever Bernie Sanders that is pushing for life improvements.

[–] deadtom@lemmy.world 147 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Cause he's one of the few that actually give a shit. Its why the DNC did everything in their power to scuttle his primary run. Can't have a president that actually wants to help the common American cause then the corporate overlords might lose their stranglehold on them.

[–] Riyosha_Namae@reddthat.com 2 points 1 year ago

If we got rid of the Republican party, he might be able to run as an independent.

[–] refurbishedrefurbisher@lemmy.sdf.org 83 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

TL;DR: Corruption and capitalism

Any kind of socialism (even relatively-speaking weak social democrats like Bernie) is severely underrepresented in US politics due to the influence of private money/capital in the government and in elections. The two party system/first past the post voting doesn't help matters either.

The people with money actively want to supress socialism by any means necessary. Look at Joe McCarthy and the Red Scare if you want an example in US history that still affects us today.

Also Reagan with deregulation and Bill Clinton with "triangulation" (effectively becoming more economically right wing by finding the middle ground between right and left, while the right is constantly pushing right. See: the Ratchet Effect)

Bernie is one of the extremely few principled politicians who doesn't take corporate money, but he also lacks power as he is one person.

[–] SCB@lemmy.world 27 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Any kind of socialism (even relatively-speaking weak social democrats like Bernie)

This move is not socialism and calling it socialism makes it harder to pass in America.

If you're in a gun fight, don't start tossing your opponent ammunition.

[–] Saneless@sh.itjust.works 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Thank you

We've already proven that idiots don't understand the words they parrot, so attaching it to one they hate is just stupid.

Same thing with shit like vaccines and autism. Don't even put the two in the same sentence. It's not even worth legitimizing the bullshit the handlers put out there

[–] SCB@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

At some point you have to play the game, and everyone to the left of Trump sucks ass at meaningfully doing so with the notable exceptions of Obama almost 20 years ago.

If Dems don't fix their messaging we aren't going to win any of this shit.

[–] Saneless@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

Yeah, they're terrible at combating the Republican messaging for sure

[–] DarthBueller@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Seriously. There's a serious messaging problem when the Nazis/white power groups push for social equity programs (for whites only, of course) and get more traction with poor whites than the Dems who give lip-service to equity for all while doing jack shit to deliver. EDIT: My friend's job is to monitor white power groups in person and online. They share some crazy ass shit with me. During the Trump election, the white power folks were straight up (extremely racist) socialists -- they sounded like Star Trek Mirror Universe Bernie Sanders, and it was wild to hear Trump's populist talking points sometimes mirror what the white power socialists were saying.

[–] Shardikprime@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Calling them idiots while searching for their support does wonders however

[–] Saneless@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

Oh I'm sure that's what keeps them from taking a pro-american stance, the name calling

[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

They'll still vote straight R down the ballot regardless. I'll take payment up front before I start kissing their asses, thanks.

[–] ccunix@lemmy.world 22 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Why does it feel like it's only ever Bernie Sanders that is pushing to bring the US inline with Europe?

[–] GoodEye8@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

As someone from Europe I would absolutely love a 32 hour work week without any pay cut. In my previous company I bargained myself a 32 hour work week with a pay cut and it was excellent, it felt like I had so much free time to do other things.

[–] Zoboomafoo@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Because he's popular, so he gets headlines

[–] treefrog@lemm.ee 7 points 1 year ago

Because 95% of them are on the corporate dime.