California knows about fault lines. And political observers in the Golden State say the Democrats’ proposed Green New Deal may be a fault line that splits the party’s support – in California and elsewhere.
The environmental high-mindedness of the plan for combatting climate change – put forth by Democratic U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ed Markey of Massachusetts – appeals to the “elite” professionals the party has been courting for years.
But the potential disruption for the American labor, in which untold numbers of employees might have to transition from “old economy” jobs to “green economy” jobs, may be offputting for many blue-collar workers – potentially turning many of them away from Democratic candidates at the polls, some political observers say.
“Unlike the Mueller report — and impeachment and indictment — people vote on whether or not they’re going to lose their job,” Jessica Levinson, a professor of politics and ethics at Loyola Law School, told Politico.
“Unlike the Mueller report — and impeachment and indictment — people vote on whether or not they’re going to lose their job.”
Poll: 1 in 5 Young Germans Plan to Move Out of the Country, Even More Imagine Living Somewhere Else
Swalwell’s Endorsement List Is Being ‘Nuked From Orbit’ After Sex Abuse Allegations — But Here’s Why Dems Don’t Get a Pass Now
Outrage: 8-Year-Old Playing on Her Bike Is Dead After Punk Revving Car Allegedly Hit Her – His Bond Was $1,000
Swalwell, Who Said We Should ‘Believe Survivors,’ Issues Denial Saying We Shouldn’t Believe Women Who Say They Survived Sex Abuse By Him
House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations
Self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ with underage ‘wives’ exposed after couple he trusted helped uncover abuse ring
Machete-wielding suspect claiming to be ‘Lucifer’ shot by police after allegedly stabbing 3 at transit hub
DC Put On ‘Spring Teen Jam’ To Keep Juveniles Out Of Trouble — Instead, Eight Got Arrested
America’s Northern Neighbor Going on Gun-Grabbing Spree
Army of Radical Prosecutors All Have One Thing in Common
Fox’s Maria Bartiromo honored with prestigious award
Trump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California
Hakeem Jeffries Tells Activist Audience DEI Is Explicitly Written Into Constitution
ICE detains relatives of 1979 Iran hostage crisis figure after Rubio revokes their legal status
Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations ‘flat out false,’ says he will fight them ‘with everything’
In addition, Levinson said, many people who’ve spent years working in blue-collar union jobs “don’t necessarily want to be retrained” for so-called “green jobs.”
Signaling a potential blue-collar backlash, chants of “Garcetti’s gotta go” greeted Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in April when he launched his “Green New Deal LA” plan, Politico reported.
“[Garcetti’s] got the big corporations with him, and he’s not thinking of the effects on the common people,’’ Paul Valdez, 58, a building trades worker from Thousand Oaks, told Politico. “If they start taking away our jobs, who’s going to pay our bills?”
“[Garcetti’s] got the big corporations with him, and he’s not thinking of the effects on the common people.’’
Similarly, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio – a Democrat who’s now running for president – was openly mocked in May when he launched his local version of the Green New Deal.
Poll: 1 in 5 Young Germans Plan to Move Out of the Country, Even More Imagine Living Somewhere Else
Swalwell’s Endorsement List Is Being ‘Nuked From Orbit’ After Sex Abuse Allegations — But Here’s Why Dems Don’t Get a Pass Now
Outrage: 8-Year-Old Playing on Her Bike Is Dead After Punk Revving Car Allegedly Hit Her – His Bond Was $1,000
Swalwell, Who Said We Should ‘Believe Survivors,’ Issues Denial Saying We Shouldn’t Believe Women Who Say They Survived Sex Abuse By Him
House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations
Self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ with underage ‘wives’ exposed after couple he trusted helped uncover abuse ring
Machete-wielding suspect claiming to be ‘Lucifer’ shot by police after allegedly stabbing 3 at transit hub
DC Put On ‘Spring Teen Jam’ To Keep Juveniles Out Of Trouble — Instead, Eight Got Arrested
America’s Northern Neighbor Going on Gun-Grabbing Spree
Army of Radical Prosecutors All Have One Thing in Common
Fox’s Maria Bartiromo honored with prestigious award
Trump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California
Hakeem Jeffries Tells Activist Audience DEI Is Explicitly Written Into Constitution
ICE detains relatives of 1979 Iran hostage crisis figure after Rubio revokes their legal status
Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations ‘flat out false,’ says he will fight them ‘with everything’
The mayor was forced to shout for much of his speech amid jeers from a crowd of about a dozen protesters inside the lobby of Trump Tower, which also had music blasting over the speakers. A number of protesters rode up and down the escalator behind de Blasio carrying cardboard signs with slogans like “Worst Mayor Ever,” “Failed Mayor,” and “Trump 2020.”
“They’re scared of the truth,” the mayor said. “Anyone that has a problem with saving the planet, I have a problem with them.”
“They’re scared of the truth. Anyone that has a problem with saving the planet, I have a problem with them.”
The Garcetti and de Blasio plans were part of an effort by Green New Deal backers to push the effort through left-leaning local and state governments rather than face the Republican-led U.S. Senate and the veto pen of President Trump.
In New Mexico, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed her state’s version of the plan, the Energy Transition Act, into law in March.
“This is a really big deal,” Grisham said in a statement at the time. “In every corner of this state, advocates, utilities, young adults, unions, elected officials and families came together to push for and, today, enact this transformational law. The Energy Transition Act fundamentally changes the dynamic in New Mexico. This legislation is a promise to future generations of New Mexicans, who will benefit from both a cleaner environment and a more robust energy economy with exciting career and job opportunities.”
Poll: 1 in 5 Young Germans Plan to Move Out of the Country, Even More Imagine Living Somewhere Else
Swalwell’s Endorsement List Is Being ‘Nuked From Orbit’ After Sex Abuse Allegations — But Here’s Why Dems Don’t Get a Pass Now
Outrage: 8-Year-Old Playing on Her Bike Is Dead After Punk Revving Car Allegedly Hit Her – His Bond Was $1,000
Swalwell, Who Said We Should ‘Believe Survivors,’ Issues Denial Saying We Shouldn’t Believe Women Who Say They Survived Sex Abuse By Him
House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations
Self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ with underage ‘wives’ exposed after couple he trusted helped uncover abuse ring
Machete-wielding suspect claiming to be ‘Lucifer’ shot by police after allegedly stabbing 3 at transit hub
DC Put On ‘Spring Teen Jam’ To Keep Juveniles Out Of Trouble — Instead, Eight Got Arrested
America’s Northern Neighbor Going on Gun-Grabbing Spree
Army of Radical Prosecutors All Have One Thing in Common
Fox’s Maria Bartiromo honored with prestigious award
Trump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California
Hakeem Jeffries Tells Activist Audience DEI Is Explicitly Written Into Constitution
ICE detains relatives of 1979 Iran hostage crisis figure after Rubio revokes their legal status
Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations ‘flat out false,’ says he will fight them ‘with everything’
“The Energy Transition Act fundamentally changes the dynamic in New Mexico. This legislation is a promise to future generations of New Mexicans, who will benefit from both a cleaner environment and a more robust energy economy with exciting career and job opportunities.”
But not all workers find a potential transition to be exciting.
On Saturday, dozens of members of California’s Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents more than 400,000 workers, planned a “Blue Collar Revolution” demonstration at the California Democratic Party Convention site in San Francisco.
Robbie Hunter, president of the labor group, told Politico what the Green New Deal represented to the group’s members.
“All it does is do what the Democratic Party seems to be very good at lately — which is export our jobs, while doing nothing for the end game, which is the environmental,’’ Hunter said.
Poll: 1 in 5 Young Germans Plan to Move Out of the Country, Even More Imagine Living Somewhere Else
Swalwell’s Endorsement List Is Being ‘Nuked From Orbit’ After Sex Abuse Allegations — But Here’s Why Dems Don’t Get a Pass Now
Outrage: 8-Year-Old Playing on Her Bike Is Dead After Punk Revving Car Allegedly Hit Her – His Bond Was $1,000
Swalwell, Who Said We Should ‘Believe Survivors,’ Issues Denial Saying We Shouldn’t Believe Women Who Say They Survived Sex Abuse By Him
House Republican plans motion to oust Swalwell from Congress amid sexual assault allegations
Self-proclaimed ‘prophet’ with underage ‘wives’ exposed after couple he trusted helped uncover abuse ring
Machete-wielding suspect claiming to be ‘Lucifer’ shot by police after allegedly stabbing 3 at transit hub
DC Put On ‘Spring Teen Jam’ To Keep Juveniles Out Of Trouble — Instead, Eight Got Arrested
America’s Northern Neighbor Going on Gun-Grabbing Spree
Army of Radical Prosecutors All Have One Thing in Common
Fox’s Maria Bartiromo honored with prestigious award
Trump blasts Spanberger ahead of Virginia meetings, says state faces tax base exodus like New York, California
Hakeem Jeffries Tells Activist Audience DEI Is Explicitly Written Into Constitution
ICE detains relatives of 1979 Iran hostage crisis figure after Rubio revokes their legal status
Swalwell calls sexual misconduct allegations ‘flat out false,’ says he will fight them ‘with everything’
Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College in California, says Democrats should heed a lesson from West Virginia.
“West Virginia, until 2000, was considered solidly blue,” Pitney told Politico, until the George W. Bush campaign reminded the state’s coal miners of opponent Al Gore’s ties to the environmental movement, which the miners viewed as a threat to their jobs. The state’s voters ended up backing Bush, 52 percent to 46 percent.
“So yes,” Pitney told the magazine, “this is a real hazard for Democrats, something that somebody from a state with extractive industries may want to recognize.”
Story cited here.
