Why Progessives Need the Business Community
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Categories: Economic Fairness & Security, Corporate Accountability / Workers' Rights
Categories: Economic Fairness & Security, Corporate Accountability / Workers' Rights
The debate over HB-1072 is reaching its crescendo and I'm concerned about the level of anti-business rhetoric in the blogosphere from my fellow progressives.
Let me be clear, I'm a supporter of Labor. I'm proud that when running for University of Colorado Regent, I sought and received Labor endorsements: AFL-CIO, CAPE, AFT, CEA and AFSME.
If Labor feels that HB-1072 is critical to their members and is a just reward for all of their work for Democrats over the years, then so be it. To the victor go the spoils.
The business community is being bitchy and Chicken Little is squawking full bore -- HB-1072 is not the doomsday scenario they are making out to be.
As progressives, after years fighting the good fight with little to show for it, we are giddy with our new found majority in Colorado. We must not let that joy turn into revenge and throw business interests under the bus because they have traditionally been aligned with Republicans. Just because Republicans shut out Labor, doesn't mean we should turn around and shut out business.
To be arrogant and think that we don't need partners is the same hubris that cost the Republicans their majority in Congress. In Colorado, Democrats remain the minority party in voter registrations. We just happen to be in power right now.
Business interests, and moderate Republicans, supported and helped elect Bill Ritter to the Governor's office. Right now they feel betrayed, rightly or wrongly, because of HB-1072. They will get over it, in time, but it will take a deliberate effort for the Governor to re-build trust. As progressives, we should support (where we can) the mending of that relationship.
Why? Because, in the end, Labor and many in the business community have the same goal: more good jobs for Coloradans.
For those that are convinced that all business is evil, let us not forget:
• Business teamed with progressives to help pass Referendum C.
• Business teamed with progressives to help pass FastTracks.
• Business was a partner in helping land the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Moving forward we will need partners in the business community to:
• Raise money for the Democratic National Convention.
• Make a renewable energy economy a reality
• Find meaningful health care reform
• Address TABOR issues
• Find proper funding sources for higher education
We will have disagreements with the business community and they with us. It would be foolish to turn those differences into a Scorched Earth policy. Colorado's problems are too large, and progressives hold on power to tentative, to think we can go it alone.
Let me be clear, I'm a supporter of Labor. I'm proud that when running for University of Colorado Regent, I sought and received Labor endorsements: AFL-CIO, CAPE, AFT, CEA and AFSME.
If Labor feels that HB-1072 is critical to their members and is a just reward for all of their work for Democrats over the years, then so be it. To the victor go the spoils.
The business community is being bitchy and Chicken Little is squawking full bore -- HB-1072 is not the doomsday scenario they are making out to be.
As progressives, after years fighting the good fight with little to show for it, we are giddy with our new found majority in Colorado. We must not let that joy turn into revenge and throw business interests under the bus because they have traditionally been aligned with Republicans. Just because Republicans shut out Labor, doesn't mean we should turn around and shut out business.
To be arrogant and think that we don't need partners is the same hubris that cost the Republicans their majority in Congress. In Colorado, Democrats remain the minority party in voter registrations. We just happen to be in power right now.
Business interests, and moderate Republicans, supported and helped elect Bill Ritter to the Governor's office. Right now they feel betrayed, rightly or wrongly, because of HB-1072. They will get over it, in time, but it will take a deliberate effort for the Governor to re-build trust. As progressives, we should support (where we can) the mending of that relationship.
Why? Because, in the end, Labor and many in the business community have the same goal: more good jobs for Coloradans.
For those that are convinced that all business is evil, let us not forget:
• Business teamed with progressives to help pass Referendum C.
• Business teamed with progressives to help pass FastTracks.
• Business was a partner in helping land the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Moving forward we will need partners in the business community to:
• Raise money for the Democratic National Convention.
• Make a renewable energy economy a reality
• Find meaningful health care reform
• Address TABOR issues
• Find proper funding sources for higher education
We will have disagreements with the business community and they with us. It would be foolish to turn those differences into a Scorched Earth policy. Colorado's problems are too large, and progressives hold on power to tentative, to think we can go it alone.
