Class warfare in a pandemic

“There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.”[1]

Labor

Like the minimum wage before it,[2] a bill to extend unionization rights, even to gig workers, is likely dead in the Senate.[3] It’s another way that Democrats allegedly pursuing progressive policies can be seen merely as performative because it’s not like they don’t know that Republicans will kill these bills, whether through majority control of the Senate or through the filibuster when, as now, they’re in the minority. Neoliberalism’s ramparts remain stout.

Alex Leary and Eliza Collins, “Unions Notch Win With House Passage of Bill Opposed by Uber, Lyft,” Wall Street Journal, March 10, 2021, https://www.wsj.com/articles/unions-notch-win-with-house-passage-of-bill-opposed-by-uber-lyft-11615382546


Eviction

There is a new blog post entitled, “Evictions in a pandemic.

Kate Giammarise, Rich Lord, and Jay Manning, “Tenant Cities: One Day In Allegheny County’s Eviction Hotspot,” WESA, March 11, 2021, https://www.wesa.fm/post/tenant-cities-one-day-allegheny-countys-eviction-hotspot


The Windsors

You’re kidding me, right?

On Thursday, William and his wife, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, were visiting a school in east London that had recently reopened following a national lockdown and was rolling out a mental health project that the duchess launched three years ago.

A reporter shouted out, “Sir, have you spoken to your brother since the interview?”

“I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I will do,” said William, who paused briefly to answer the question. In response to a follow-up on whether the royal family was racist, William said, “We’re very much not a racist family.”[4]

I’ve been saying for years that the best way to convince me you’re a racist is to deny that you’re a racist. So, damn, here it is.

Karla Adam, “Prince William says royals ‘very much not a racist family,’” Washington Post, March 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/prince-william-response-racism-britain/2021/03/11/c5de88ce-825d-11eb-be22-32d331d87530_story.html


Stimulus

Joe Biden signed a bill:

The bill, known as the American Rescue Package, authorizes a third round of one-time stimulus payments up to $1,400 for most Americans; extends additional unemployment support to millions still out of work; and makes major changes to the tax code to benefit families with children. It also sets aside new federal money to help schools reopen, aid cities and states facing budget shortfalls, and assist in the distribution of coronavirus vaccine doses.[5]

Tony Romm, “Biden signs $1.9 trillion stimulus into law; some could see stimulus payments this weekend,” Washington Post, March 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/11/biden-sign-stimulus-covid-relief-congress-checks/


  1. [1]Warren Buffett, quoted in Ben Stein, “In Class Warfare, Guess Which Class Is Winning,” New York Times, November 26, 2006, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/26/business/yourmoney/26every.html
  2. [2]Burgess Everett, “8 Democrats defect on $15 minimum wage hike,” Politico, March 5, 2021, https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/05/democrats-15-minimum-wage-hike-473875
  3. [3]Alex Leary and Eliza Collins, “Unions Notch Win With House Passage of Bill Opposed by Uber, Lyft,” Wall Street Journal, March 10, 2021, https://www.wsj.com/articles/unions-notch-win-with-house-passage-of-bill-opposed-by-uber-lyft-11615382546
  4. [4]Karla Adam, “Prince William says royals ‘very much not a racist family,’” Washington Post, March 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/prince-william-response-racism-britain/2021/03/11/c5de88ce-825d-11eb-be22-32d331d87530_story.html
  5. [5]Tony Romm, “Biden signs $1.9 trillion stimulus into law; some could see stimulus payments this weekend,” Washington Post, March 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/03/11/biden-sign-stimulus-covid-relief-congress-checks/

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