The SEIU, fierce supporters of the Democrats, are flexing their muscles in the democratic race for the presidential nomination. The SEIU is urging Democratic candidates to briefly live and work alongside unionized employees. John Edwards and Hilary Clinton have agreed to challenge, and Barack Obama is expected to follow.
The SEIU has also identified a clear timetable for a complete withdraw from Iraq and increased government intervention and financing of health care as two key issues for the upcoming campaign. In fact, the union, which has often opposed Wal-Mart and funds a Wal-Mart Watch advocacy group, has teamed up with the mega-employer in a health-care coalition. While the two sides are in it for different reasons, any improvements made to American health-care will be helpful to working-class Americans, who find coverage hard to afford, if they can even afford it in the first place.
I really like the idea of politicians living a working-class life, even if its for a brief period. I firmly believe there is a disconnect between politicians and working-class voters, and perhaps this exercise will force politicians to learn what most people face on a day-to-day basis. Of course, this is only a reactionary solution. What we really need are more working-class politicians, and not simply politicians who pretend to relate to the working-class.
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