American Political Arena and Labor - Term Paper Example

ORDER 345190 Proper Monitoring and Information Service Delivery is the Key to Success Introduction After the harsh economic and political conditions of the Bush years, labor unions had considerable political success in 2006 when, with strong labor support, the Democrats won majorities in both Houses of Congress(Beachler 2009). It is a historical event that labor has continuously been working for working class people of America. There is nothing denying that for a significant period of time labor has been adopting several strategies and tactics to take the benefits in favor of the people for whom it works . Despite it is toiling much for the unionist there are bundles of problems for why real benefits cannot be achieved easily. There is no unity and consensus between the union leaders. The most panic event is while labor has played a major role in U.S. politics for at least 70 years, union workers are not united in their political choices. In "Race, God, and Guns: Union Voting in the 2004 Presidential Election," Donald Beachler explains that a substantial percentage of white union members vote for Republican candidates. 37% voters in union households in 2000 and 40% in 2004 voted for Republican candidates. Again, 46.8% of white voters in union households voted for President Bush in 2004. American Political Arena and Labor: An Overview From a practical point of view, due to some inherent beliefs and rituals like abortion, gay rights, gun control and prayer in school many white workers prefer the Republican party and choose themselves to be turned as Republican. Again, once it was unimaginable in the south to think that any party except Democratic party would win the majority or secure the mandate of the people. But, historically, after Democratic President Lyndon Johnson pushed through the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act in 1964-65, the Republican Party has had great success in becoming the party that most southern whites identify with. Democratic politicians have some inherent traits .It is an established practice in America that No Democratic candidate can ever completely disavow unions, but Clinton's strategy was to distance himself from unions and to embrace the conservative economic policies of the Democratic Leadership Council in order to appeal to suburban white middle-class and upper-class voters. The democratic leaders are also seen to be rigorously prone to social welfare and economic reforms rather to adopting strategies spoiling the force of the country's economy. In fact, though paradoxically, the Democratic Party thinks for the betterment of the country, they are less prone to do better for the working people and unionists. Both the Republican and democratic parties are in contact with the most powerful employers in the country. The Republican is seemed to be ruthless and transparent to obey the dictates of the capital. The Democrats have a reputation to be the friends of labor and conveniently in association with labor concertedly exploit the unions. Though Democratic Party designs programs for the workers they actually hypocrite the working people as because long ago the party has abandoned its allegiance to working people. Labor is set to promote and improve the overall situation of the working class people . It is a movement to develop strategies for the betterment of the people. But if the continuous allegation against this is going on certainly there would be mishap, uncertainty and frustration throughout the country. Thus on the face of the ground reality, being labor is entrusted with the responsibility of citizens betterment, it is urgently required to develop a culture of trust and confidence through working with the political parties. Most importantly, Labor is to develop an independent politics of its own so that it is become a reality that it is immaterial what policies are promoted by the two parties of capital. But, if it is failed in so doing, it may have the chance of experiencing a chapter of frustration and mishaps and would be tightly impossible to revitalize the objectives for why it was established. Ten Rules of Political Action Labor has best strategies to implement political action in association with political parties. Though there is a debate that labor does not do good for the working people. However, the finest ten rules of it are: 1. Issues come first, candidates and parties second. 2. In election campaigns, unions need to provide members with information, not voting instructions. 3. Presenting information in a credible and objective manner is critical for overcoming 4. Members' cynicism and distrust regarding politics. 5. Unions must downplay partisan rhetoric in favor of stressing their role as an independent voice for working people. Unions should be "watchdogs" who approach politicians with a healthy skepticism and work to hold them accountable. 6. Members want unions, to represent them as workers, by addressing issues that directly affect them on the job and by advancing a populist economic agenda. 7. Union political action should always be "of, by, and for" the members. 8 . Mobilization is not fundamentally different from persuasion-informing members is also the key to increasing participation. 9. Members will best be reached by modern communication methods. 10. Effectiveness is enhanced by addressing the concerns of specific union audiences, instead of relying on a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Conclusion Labor movement is for the betterment of the working people. It has been developed to establish the rights of the working people. But, in reality there is an adverse situation for why people are frustrated. However, despite all barriers and debates concerning labor, it is working with political parties to garner benefits for the people. Hence it is required to develop the strategies of labor in the light of the existing Ten Rules of political Action. Finally, the best strategies of labor are Issues come first, candidates and parties second ; In election campaigns, unions need to provide members with information, not voting instructions; Presenting information in a credible and objective manner is critical for overcoming. In fact, proper information delivery and monitoring and oversight mechanism need to be ensured . REFERENCE Beachler, W. Donald ."VICTORY AND THE PROMISE OF REFORM: LABOR AND THE 2008 ELECTION" 2009. .277The Journal of Labor and Society : WorkingUSA. Volume 12, Number 2, June 2009 , pp. 265-277(13). Publisher: Blackwell Publishing. December 10, 2009. www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bsc/wusa/2009/.../art00007 Read More