Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

Why Sanitation Workers Should Be Paid More Than Cabinet Officials


Listen Later

Surprisingly, top Republicans in Congress and the White House have recently been praising labor!

Oh, wait – they’re not hailing America’s laborers, but touting the existential virtue of “laboring.” “Work,” exclaim these politicos, provides “dignity” to all who labor.

Dignity? Obviously, they’ve never been inside a meatpacking plant, done roofing jobs for a wage-thieving developer, been paid a pittance to clean office buildings at midnight… or otherwise fully experienced the “dignity of labor.”

Years ago, Sen. Fred Harris was accosted at a political event by a rich businessman who demanded that Democrats reduce taxes by cutting the wages of government workers. The guy sputtered in disbelief that “mere garbagemen” were being paid $6 an hour. Fred stopped him right there, curtly asking: “Is that too much? What would it take to get you to do that job?”

Unfortunately, the guy’s crass classism is now official policy in Washington. In the name of “cutting waste” and lowering taxes on billionaires, a gaggle of narcissistic plutocrats – including Trump, “Chainsaw” Musk, cabinet appointees, and congressional extremists – have ganged up to fire valuable public service workers and slash essential assistance for poor families.

There is no sugar coating for the vulgarity and moral depravity of such elites whupping up on middle- and low-income families for their own gain. Moreover, their disdain for the value and creativity of those who do the daily work that makes America work is stupid … and socially suicidal.

Plus, their self-esteem is ludicrous. Indeed, if you pitted social value of a sanitation worker to any of Trump’s budget-slashing cabinet czars – guess which one the public would say is overpaid… and dispensable?

Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Jim Hightower's Radio LowdownBy Jim Hightower

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

338 ratings


More shows like Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

View all
The Rachel Maddow Show by Rachel Maddow, MS NOW

The Rachel Maddow Show

37,292 Listeners

Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Political Gabfest

8,476 Listeners

Democracy Now! Audio by Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Audio

5,824 Listeners

The Nation Podcasts by The Nation Magazine

The Nation Podcasts

435 Listeners

Ralph Nader Radio Hour by Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

1,210 Listeners

The Intercept Briefing by The Intercept

The Intercept Briefing

6,125 Listeners

The DSR Network by The DSR Network

The DSR Network

1,800 Listeners

Stay Tuned with Preet by Preet Bharara

Stay Tuned with Preet

32,352 Listeners

The Hartmann Report by Thom Hartmann

The Hartmann Report

1,380 Listeners

Gaslit Nation by Andrea Chalupa

Gaslit Nation

3,964 Listeners

Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer by Civic Ventures

Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer

1,494 Listeners

The Al Franken Podcast by The Al Franken Podcast

The Al Franken Podcast

8,586 Listeners

Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner by Crossover Media Group

Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner

2,962 Listeners

Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson

Letters from an American

6,286 Listeners

The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich by Robert Reich

The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

253 Listeners