US citizens at large got a close-up reality view of what a deregulated 'Merika looks and feels like from the disastrous winter storm that hit Texas. The Texas electric utility market is essentially deregulated. What that produced was freezing customers with thousand dollar electric bills, fleeing politicians, water shortages from lack of electric power, and private utility plants that shutdown because they are not equipped for freezing temperatures in an era of climate change. Texas could not even call on sister states to provide power missing from off-line generators within the state because they unhooked themselves from the regional electric grid. (There are three main grids in the US: western, eastern and Texas) Storms intensified by anthropomorphic global heating are bad enough, but they really suck when they are compounded by deluded politicians still living in the 19th century, who insist on drowning the government in the 'free market' bathtub. Enjoy your capitalistic purity, Texans, while you take a handout from AOC.
Speaking of dysfunctional politics, the Senate appears to be ready to reject $15 an hour because an obscure, non-elected minion ruled that the provision could not be part of the COVID relief bill waiting to be passed by arcane Senate reconciliation rules. Alleged angry Marxist, US Person, told you {06.02.21; Give Em the Byrd!) that the parliamentarian opines on whether a provision violates the "Byrd Rule". Well, she gave the substantial majority of us (76%) 'the byrd', by ruling against inclusion yesterday evening. This, despite CBO figures showing a substantial impact on the federal budget within ten years.
This is not the end. Democrats know the people who elected them want an increase in the federal minimum wage, which has not been raised in more than a decade, despite inflation and extreme wealth disparity. If they fail to deliver they will loose their one vote majority in the next election only two years away. The key here is that the parliamentarian's ruling is only advisory. VP Harris can overrule any "out of order" objection. That appears unlikely, since her boss immediately endorsed the parliamentarian's ruling. Once again, Democrats are caught hiding behind their corporate-sponsored fig leaf.
The same arguments against the raise--fewer workers, less poverty-level income, business ruination--by socially enlightened organizations such as the US Chamber of Commerce were used two centuries ago when child labor laws were finally passed (US beginning in 1836) against capital's fierce resistance. Not all small businesses are engaged in interstate commerce. Besides, an adverse parliamentary ruling did not stop the Repugnants when they wanted to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Erratic/lazy/hot-headed/playboy minds ask, what to do? Absent eliminating the filibuster, which is obviously the rational thing to do, pass the relief bill without the federal minimum wage increase because relief is desparately needed, and insert $15/hr. into a later "must pass" bill--defense appropriations, agriculture price supports or other sacred cow legislation, or in another reconcilliation bill with a new parliamentarian. In the House, driven by majority rule, Democrats appear ready to pass the COVID bill including the $15/hr. minimum wage provision. If the difference remains after the Senate acts, presumably a joint conference will be convened to resolve the issue.
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| racing downhill, no problem... |