Contrary to Pres. Trump, Happy Days Are Not Here Again

President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address this week did little to reassure American workers or retirees that happy days are here again.

Workers today are subjected to working conditions that create health endangering stress and lead to incivility, bullying and worse. They can be and often are fired without cause. Age discrimination in hiring is so prevalent that astute job seekers over the age of 30 omit any indicator of age from their resumes.

Meanwhile, 53 million Americans are “independent workers” – about 34 percent of the total workforce. It is predicted that most American workers will be freelancers in 2027. Robots have taken over manufacturing jobs and now threaten to replace lawyers, radiologists and software designers, among others. Not only do freelancers lack job security, but they get lower wages and no benefits or pensions.

Trump ignored ‘independent’ workers and retired Americans and threatened federal employees.

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Labor Day and the Problem with Government by Fiat

The  dysfunction of American government is on parade this Labor Day, as Republican President Donald Trump reverses labor advances instituted by his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama.

Trump, ostensibly to eliminate job-killing regulations, has overturned a bevy of Obama-era policies that represented a step forward for women and minority workers. Many of these rules were promulgated by Obama in the form of an executive order, which lacks the imprimatur of Congress and the assurance of permanence. Obama said he was forced to act unilaterally because Republicans wouldn’t cooperate with him.

Government by fiat causes cynicism, wastes government resources and leads to the suffering of vulnerable people

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