Thread by @kristijrn

Reading through the Third Way’s new position statements.

I’m horrified.

The basic theme is that the only “worth” people (w/o dynastic wealth) have is their ability to provide labor (thread)
thirdway.org/memo/a-new-gen…

It’s painfully obvious that NONE of the people who contributed to this “piece” have EVER lived in the real world.

They scribbled down a bunch of campaign slogans, many of which have fatal flaws tied to practical problems.

Their proposals for assisting people to start small businesses ignore 1 BIG obstacle:

For millions of Americans, starting a business isn’t an option bc their health insurance is tied to employment.

In this same article, Third Way insists that manufacturing jobs r NOT coming back.

If that’s true, why “invest” billions of $ to private sources to bring back these extinct jobs?

(Rhetorical question...I already know the answer)

“Broadband For All”

Tax $ given 2 private companies to build bb networks in places that r lacking

After tax funded networks r built, cable companies will charge exorbitant rates for ppl 2 access them

Similar 2 Trump’s infrastructure plan. We pay 2 build them;then pay 2 utilize

Municipal broadband seems to b a much better model (just my opinion)

The “Boomer Corps” is the most telling proposal of all

For years, 3rd Way has been trying to change Social Sec 2 a system that is (quite literally) a mandatory tax that we pay to Wall St

When that $ is wiped out in a crash, “Boomer Corps” will supply low pay jobs to elderly ppl

“Extend their earning years”

Because yes, most 90 year olds WANT to work until they keel over in an Amazon “fulfillment center.”

The many 80+ year old cashiers at the supermarket where I shop always look THRILLED to be there

Reminds me of 2009, when a bunch of elderly, retired doctors & nurses I worked w had to return to work bc Wall St had gambled away their 401K’s

One of them left the hospital 3 days/week & spent the rest of her evenings receiving dialysis. Sad

Nothing cld POSSIBLY go wrong with this...

Considering that job related health insurance ties most ppl 2 their jobs, I’m not sure how this helps small businesses

Considering that “small businesse” is usually pol code for large corporations, we can see who will benefit from this

There are SO many problems w “Reemployment insurance”

1. “Encourages” unemployed ppl to move 2 where the jobs r

This breaks up families & ppl’s community support systems

Any single parent who has fought in family court to move & take their kids knows how impractical this is

“Reemployment insurance” conjures up thoughts of exploitive cottage industries in North Dakota that take advantage of ppl who relocated 4 oil jobs

Also reminds me of “welfare to work” programs that often sent welfare recipients to work in awful jobs, like the Tyson Chicken plant

Problems w “College Value Guarantee” r too numerous 2 name. These 2 clips say alot, though

The purpose of college is to produce obedient workers, who will:
-Provide labor to make billionaires richer
-Make enough to pay back exorbitant student loans (food/housing is secondary

2 major observations on the Apprenticeship Program:

1. Again, purpose of education is to fill labor needs (continuing theme)

2. Companies get “forgiveness” for their loans...that courtesy isn’t extended to students

“Working Wage Break” appears to b a revamp of Walmart’s model:
Pay employees s*it, then the govt might throw them some pitiful crumbs once a year.

While the Walton family sits back and raked in the ca$h

Keep the minimum wage LOW LOW LOW! To give Corps insentives to keep their sweatshiops in the US

NONE of their proposals touch on common roadblocks that keep people from having a job:

1. No car, no public transportation

2. Daycare costs r often MORE THAN what a min wage person earns (plus, Granny can’t babysit bc she’s been shipped to a Boomer Corp work camp so she can eat

Basically, whatever genius wrote this garbage should b forced to live as a single parent in Olustee, OK FOR 5 years.

After which, they can go back to the drawing table