Jeb Bush Claim That ‘People Need To Work Longer Hours’ Sparks Twitter Battle With Hillary Clinton
Jeb Bush wants Americans to work even more than they are now. That doesn’t sit well with his chief rival, Hillary Clinton – or most Americans.
In an extensive interview with the Manchester, New Hampshire newspaper Union-Leader, Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said he believes Americans “need to work longer hours.”
That isn’t sitting well with a great many Americans, since, unlike most other industrialized countries, Americans already work far more, that far less vacation, and even when we take time off we’re still working via laptops and smart phones.
Governor Bush, by the way, left office as Florida’s governor in January of 2007, and has spent much of that time raking in $29 million in speaking fees and payments to sit on the boards of mostly health industry corporations. That’s a little over $4 million per year, on average. By comparison, the average American makes about $27,519 per year.Â
Talking Points Memo notes that “numerous public opinion surveys and economic studies have shown that US workers log more hours than workers in any other industrial economy. The majority of Americans already work more than 40 hours a week. In fact, a 2014 Gallup poll found that 40% currently work more than 50 hours a week. The average American worked 11 hours per week more in 2006 than they or the equivalent worker did in 1979.”
Bush’s comments, widely panned, were picked up and attacked by Hillary Clinton via Twitter, starting something of a back-and-forth battle between the two top presidential candidates:
Anyone who believes Americans aren’t working hard enough hasn’t met enough American workers. pic.twitter.com/wyS1p8zcDo
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 9, 2015
Anyone who discounts 6.5 million people stuck in part-time work & seeking full-time jobs hasnt listened to working Americans @hillaryclinton
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) July 9, 2015
Â
Image by Michael Vadon via Flickr and a CC license
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.