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Subscribe to Working-Class Perspectives - Working-Class Perspectives offers weekly commentaries on current issues related to working-class people and communities. Contributors discuss a variety of issues, from what class means to how it intersects with race and gender to how class is shaping American politics. We welcome relevant comments of 500 words or less.
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The State of the Working Class
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Category Archives: Leo Jennings
A Working-Class Bill of Rights
The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights have always been aspirational. When Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, it was hardly self-evident that “all men were created equal.” It took almost a century before the 14th Amendment promised … Continue reading
The Politics of Pensions: No Bailout for You
On December 24 last year, the New York Times reported that a multi-billion-dollar bailout of the United Mine Workers Health & Retirement Fund which was slated to go broke in 2023 had been rolled into the $1.4 trillion bi-partisan spending … Continue reading
Profiting from the Working Class: How the Opioid Epidemic Echoes the Mortgage Crisis
For the second time in a decade, a group of Fortune 500 companies are engaged in a con game that is devastating working-class families and the communities in which they live. The first scam, which involved predatory lending and the … Continue reading
Raising the Minimum Wage — The Right Way
Ever since President Obama took office I’ve periodically wished I had the ability to call the White House get him on the phone and say “Hey, you’re not doing it right!” Let me be clear—I don’t mean he hasn’t done … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, Leo Jennings, The Working Class and the Economy
Tagged economic policy, low-wage jobs, minimum wage, Obama, wages, Wal-Mart
2 Comments
Obama Will Cruze to Victory
“And the winner is…” (Drum roll—sound of envelope being ripped open.) “…Barack Obama.” I’m going to be honest about this: when it comes to predicting the outcome of the 2012 presidential contest I’ve been downright Romneyan. It’s not something I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, Leo Jennings, Working-class politics
Tagged 2012 election, auto bailout, Obama, Ohio, Romney, working-class voters
5 Comments
Memo to the Occupiers
Occupy Wall Street has many on the left cheering. That includes me, albeit with reservations. As someone who devoted a good portion of his life to fighting injustice—or as the late liberal icon and state legislator Robert Hagan was fond of … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, Leo Jennings, Working-class politics
Tagged Citizens United, Elizabeth Warren, Occupy Wall Street
17 Comments
The Working Class and the Great Capitulator
When I began writing this piece its focus—and the act that earned Barack Obama the moniker “Great Capitulator”—was his decision to cave into Republican senators and Wall Street fat cats and withdraw his nomination of Elizabeth Warren to head the … Continue reading
Paul Ryan Breaks the Rules
Cardinal Rule: A fundamental rule, upon which other matters hinge. Wiktionary If you’re engaged in any type of activity that involves the development and implementation of a strategic plan you run into them all the time: Cardinal Rules. Know them, … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, Leo Jennings, Working-class politics
Tagged budget deficit, health care bill, Medicare, Obama, Paul Ryan
5 Comments
Timing Is Everything
Sometimes clichés become old clichés because they have enduring value. Here’s one that puts the consequences of the 2010 election in perspective: “Timing is everything.” That is because the Democrats didn’t just lose hundreds of important elections here in Ohio … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, Leo Jennings, Working-class politics
Tagged 2010 election, Democrats, GOP, Kasich, Obama
3 Comments
Base Jumping: The Democrats and the Working Class
I have to admit that I am somewhat amused at the intellectual poking and prodding being done by pundits–particularly Democrats–as they analyze the results of the November midterm election. It’s as if they’re a gaggle of pathologists standing around a … Continue reading
Posted in Contributors, Issues, Leo Jennings, Working-class politics
Tagged Democrats, Obama, politics, working-class voters
2 Comments
