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Go Home Word Most Conspicuously Absent In SOU

TIMOTHY NOAH JANUARY 24, 2012

Word Most Conspicuously Absent In SOU

BY TIMOTHY NOAH

"Union." Not as in "federal government," but as in "organization dedicated to protecting the rights of workers." The only reference to unions was when Obama mentioned Master Lock's "unionized" plant in Milwaukee as an example of jobs that can be brought home from overseas. It was entirely incidental.

I mention this because Obama early in his speech talked about how his grandparents, after World War II, 

 

shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism. They understood they were part of something larger; that they were contributing to a story of success that every American had a chance to share –the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.

The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive. No challenge is more urgent. No debate is more important.

 

This is an elliptical reference to the fact that for three decades after the war productivity increases were passed through to workers. That didn't happen because bosses were nicer then. It happened because labor unions were powerful then. It doesn't happen anymore, and a big part of the reason why is that private-sector labor unions aren't powerful anymore.

 

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I understand that it was just one reference, but it was far from incidental. It was said in the context of jobs coming back to the US, and was meant to illustrate the competitiveness of the US in manufacturing. Specifically mentioning that these are union jobs was rebuke to the Republican belief that unions make it impossible to bring manufacturing jobs to the US.

- Attrill

January 25, 2012 at 2:17am

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I agree, Attrill, but the fact that Noah missed the deliberateness of the reference is not good. Unions are not perfect, but, sadly, they've become cultural pariahs. It's time for Obama and others to pointedly defend their purpose and value in the development of American society. The same with equitable taxation. One way is to keep contrasting the U.S. with places where neither taxes nor unions exist in any functional way, and the consequences of this. A "picture" is worth a thousand words. Help people understand in real, tangible ways why these things matter and how they affect our lives every day. Keep telling anecdotes and powerful stories. Unfortunately, not Obama's forte.

- Claris

January 25, 2012 at 6:22am

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We can pass along productivity increases to the workers, just let the Chinese know they have to do that. I don't see what's so hard, they are Communists you know.

- CRS9TNR

January 25, 2012 at 6:37am

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Actually, if Mitt's father is any indicator, bosses were light years ahead of where they are now in terms of generosity and kindness. Of course, there were instances like the WV coal miners. I think it's fair to say that the biggest factor has been allowing corporate greed to spiral out of control.

- GSpinks

January 25, 2012 at 8:09am

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Maybe not intentionally, but with his three entries Noah captures the essence of Obama's SOTU, that it was a political, thematic speech, not a list of specific policies or proposals that the Republicans ccould simply obstruct. Obama effectively contrasted his vision for America with the Republican vision, without giving the Republicans an easy target to vilify. For those expecting specifics, maybe it was a disappointment. But for its political effect, I'd call it a masterstroke.

- rayward

January 25, 2012 at 9:28am

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But wait just a minute, it wasn't because of kindness that bosses did good things back then, as Timothy noted, it was that the power of labor unions compelled better behavior from the bosses.

- liberalref

January 25, 2012 at 11:05am

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Agree with Attrill. He emphasized that word, and it stuck out. WADR, I think Noah's missing it reflects on him and not on Obama.

- TARFON

January 25, 2012 at 11:15am

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What is a WADR?

- liberalref

January 25, 2012 at 12:42pm

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I agree. Obama's use of the word "unionized" was anything but incidental.

- JSAYKO@EXCITE.COM-old

January 25, 2012 at 2:43pm

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With all due respect.

- TARFON

January 25, 2012 at 3:32pm

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