Workers and The Right

In politics, the term "workers" carries connotations of unions, strikes, and Marxism; in short, left-wing politics. It's thought that the honorable working class and their unions are typically Democrats and their rich, manipulative managers are Republicans. I've always disagreed with that interpretation. Unions are Democrat, sure, and Republicans typically aspire to (and often achieve) financial success in business. While unions represent a centralizing authority contrary to the principles of American conservatism, individual workers doing good work for the best pay they can negotiate is a standard conservatives are happy to bare.

In the recent Tea Party sponsored walk on Washington, many present stated they had never been away from work to protest before - these were right-wing workers, protesting an increasing tax burden and pay decreased by inflation. At the other end of the modern political spectrum is President Obama, who hopes students are "aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers." ^{[ABC News/NAACP speech]} That's fine and good (I fully support the part about ballers and rappers), but he ostentatiously ignores workers.

Isn't it a valid dream to make sweet motorbikes or fine watches or kickin' computers? Isn't it honorable to be able to drive past a beautiful building and say "I did that brickwork."? Is there no respect for the men and women who make the bulk of the economic engine of which Americans are so proud run and run well? Personally, I see a blue-collar beauty to that kind of work. Men with black grease on their calloused hands and torn overalls make the rest of our lifestyles possible. And their lifestyles aren't so bad, either; more plumbers own their own yacht than scientists or professors do.

But my respect for the great Skilled Worker leaves me pretty unique in modern politcs -- or so I thought. Turns out I have a kindred spirit from the cast of Cheers: John Ratzenberger runs a non-profit organization called Nuts, Bolts, and Thingamajigs that seeks to bring back the American manufacturer as a figure of honor and prominence; to, as they say, "to nurture the tinkering spirit". If the name Ratzenberger doesn't ring a bell, think of Cliff Clavin of Cheers, the piggybank in Toy Story, or the timeless line "Don't worry; it's lemon!" from Monster's Inc. The perennial everyman of Cheers, it turns out, is an advocate of the worker in the real world, too.

And more power too him! May the independent tradesman flourish!