Our work life scenario as a nation might have been plucked from the depths of stagnation. Perhaps. Either way, the chasm separating the interests of big business and labor desperately needs to be narrowed.
President elect Barack Obama ran on a platform focused on the economic hardship we have endured. He acknowledged the needs of the middle-class, the common worker, those who make less than $250,000 a year. Plenty of inspiration, though there's a lot to learn about the specifics of his monetary policy, fiscal policy, taxes regarding big business, and how all of this will impact the workforce. And remember, this is a sensitive workforce which has seen massive layoffs, problems with affordable health care, the decimation of retirement funds and a desperate need for better work life flexibility in order to thrive in a 24/7 high-tech global marketplace.
Upon the election results, CNBC commentators and reporters immediately dished on the aforementioned issues regarding big business. There is good reason for the microscope to come out, but there is more reason to take a step back and let the smoke settle a bit. The country has been altered, as President Elect Obama said – our lives will change.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Obama said that his campaign was built by working men and women who gave even a few bucks to his campaign, drawing on the strength from the millions of Americans who volunteered to get out the vote. But he was realistic about the new journey ahead of us.
“Even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges tomorrow will bring,” Mr. Obama said adding, “The road ahead will be long and our climb – steep.” As he said, it might not be a year or a term to solve the problems of the country - there will be setbacks and false starts. Obama doesn’t appear to be wearing rose colored glasses.
“The victory is not the change we seek, “ Mr. Obama said, adding that it’s really the chance at change – a time to put people back to work. “The true genius of America is that America can change.” Even when the change is forced by disturbing circumstances.
We have already seen this in the deliberate dissection of corporate America, in the mortgage meltdown and the deconstruction of the credit markets. We are just starting to get a handle on how far into recession we have gone. The fiscal problems our country is now enduring is not just hitting Wall Street – it’s hitting Main Street. The message is clearly reflected in the results of this presidential election. Can President Elect Obama bridge the chasm between big business and the workforce? To move forward as a prosperous country, there might not be a choice – but to do so.
