The biggest loser in the dollar store economy unquestionably has been the blue collar worker. With few assets to his name, he has to rely on his wages, which have been held down by technological change, the availability of cheap overseas labor, and capital-friendly legislation and regulations. Male workers using physical strength and skills in particular have lost money and status in the evolving knowledge-based economy. The only silver lining in this dismal picture has been low prices, which give the worker a safety valve of sorts; hence, the popularity of dollar stores and the title of this series.
Given their numbers and struggles, blue collar workers are the principal battlefield in American elections. The Democrats promise more power and higher wages; the GOP offers culture wars, scapegoats, and nostalgia. Neither side has won a complete victory at this point. The outcome of the 2024 election will probably ride on Biden’s ability to improve the lives of workers, and to persuade them to give him the credit.