Work: ‘The American Disease’

09/22/23 • 37 min

3 Listeners

Americans are sick of business as usual. This year alone, more than 275 strikes have broken out across the country, and last week, nearly 13,000 members of the United Auto Workers joined the picket line to demand a better deal with their employers.

So what’s going on with work in America?

This week on “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts break down how a changing economy and technological innovations are complicating the worker-employer relationship. Lydia offers some insight from her experience as the big boss on the other side of the bargaining table. Ross asks how little work The Times should pay him to do. And ultimately, the hosts debate the question: In today’s world, what role should work play in our lives?

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

“Is College Worth It?,” an episode of “The Daily”
“Biden E.V. Agenda Threatens U.S. Auto Industry,” by Senator J.D. Vance in the Toledo Blade
“Why Americans Care About Work So Much,” by Derek Thompson in The Atlantic

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So what’s going on with work in America?

(A full transcript of the episode will be available midday on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

“Is College Worth It?,” an episode of “The Daily”
“Biden E.V. Agenda Threatens U.S. Auto Industry,” by Senator J.D. Vance in the Toledo Blade
“Why Americans Care About Work So Much,” by Derek Thompson in The Atlantic

Previous Episode

‘A Red State Strategy to Create a Blue State Crisis’

Hundreds of thousands of migrants, many seeking asylum, have arrived in the United States over the last year, overwhelming already-strained resources in cities and states across the country. Last week, in arguably one of the most immigration-friendly cities in the country, Mayor Eric Adams said that migrants would “destroy New York City.”

This week on “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts discuss how the “border crisis” has come to frustrate Democratic politicians further north, and why the conversation about immigration is always actually about who we are as Americans.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode:

“Michael Bloomberg: How Biden and Congress Should Fix the Immigration Crisis in Our Cities,” by Michael R. Bloomberg in The New York Times
“Americans Still Value Immigration, but Have Concerns,” by Lydia Saad in Gallup

Next Episode

We Need to Talk About Joe Biden

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This week on “Matter of Opinion,” the hosts discuss the uphill battle Biden is facing heading into 2024 and debate what kind of leader Americans really want.

(A transcript of this episode can be found at the top of the episode page on the Times website.)

Mentioned in this episode: