Political Quotes

“Madam President, earlier this week, we celebrated Labor Day, a day when Americans come together to honor the people who make this country work. Whether you punch a clock, whether you swipe a badge, whether you earn a salary, whether you make tips, whether you are caring for children or an aging parent, all labor has dignity. When work has dignity, hard work pays off for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live, what kind of work you do. Yet we know that for so many Americans, their work simply doesn't pay off like it should. Look at what has happened in Minnesota, Ohio, and Rhode Island--and I know Senator Grassley is coming out--and in Iowa. Look what has happened over the last 30, 40 years. Executive salaries have soared. CEO pay is up 1,300 percent since 1978--1,300 percent. Corporate profits have risen. Stock prices are up. Workers are more productive than ever before. But for decades--for decades--wages barely budged for most Americans. Their purchasing power has largely been flat for some five decades because Wall Street rewards corporations that raise prices without raising paychecks. Wall Street rewards stock buybacks. Wall Street rewards union busting. Wall Street really rewards shipping jobs overseas. Wall Street rewards automating jobs. Wall Street rewards outsourcing full-time, in-house work to contractors. Wall Street analysts actually downgrade stock prices when American companies invest in American workers, in American production.…”