OK, kids, take some time and read this article. It’s not long. I’ll wait.
Markell sets up a completely phony choice as the supposed upcoming battle for the ‘soul of the Democratic Party’. According to Markell, the choice is middle-class jobs vs. ‘income redistribution’, aka a living wage:
Markell said Democrats should pursue an “agenda around growth rather than an agenda around redistribution,” saying that “there aren’t a lot of people with middle class jobs who are aspiring to an increase in the minimum wage.”
So, on behalf of this state’s economic overlords, our putative Democratic governor wants to set up a battle of the middle class vs. those who need a living wage. Uh, by the way, in such a battle, neither the middle class nor those in need of a minimum wage wins. The economic overlords do. BTW, Jack, there’s no reason whatsoever why you can’t or shouldn’t pursue an agenda that promotes both growth for the middle class and a living wage. Geez, some of those people earning a living wage could become, dare I say it, middle class.
“My view is that this has to be around an agenda for growth,” Markell said. “We have to make sure we are continuing to work hard and protect those at the lowest ends of the scale. But in the end our only chance, if we really want people to achieve their full potential and opportunity, is to have an agenda around growth rather than an agenda around redistribution.”
Well, this Governor has thrown tens of millions of state dollars to huge corporate interests while fighting against requiring that many of these self-same corporate interests pay their employees a decent wage. The ‘middle class’ is just a ‘rope-a-dope’ to once again try to get people to vote against their own self interest.
Plus, based on past performance, Markell has proven that he doesn’t give two shits about protecting the people at ‘the lowest ends of the scale’. Take away their health benefits, deny them a decent wage, give millions to companies like Walmart who then put their workers on the state dole. Markell has worked to do all that and more.
Memo to the Delaware General Assembly: We know what Markell is trying to do here, and now so do you. Introduce a meaningful minimum wage increase in January and WORK IT. Force our putative Democratic governor to act like a Democrat.
We’ll be with you every step of the way. Unless you chicken out.