U.S. policy basically discourages having kids. Our economy is paying the price.

The largest health care strike in U.S. history was called off earlier this month after Kaiser Permanente and the union representing 75,000 workers finally reached a tentative agreement. The move, which followed a planned three-day work stoppage by unions, gave employers a preview of what could happen if the impasse continues. Kaiser was clearly not interested in seeing any more.

That’s good news for American workers, who were quick to feel the pinch of record high inflation but slow to reap the benefits of the accompanying record profits. Since last August, there have been 42 suspensions involving at least 1,000 employees nationwide, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There’s a theme here. Workers have been squeezed too hard for too long—as if corporate brain trusts thought The Hunger Games were a how-to manual.

It’s not just that wages are rising slowly, nor is it just that housing and food costs are rising faster than inflation. Notice how we create barriers to adequate child care.

As of late last month, states were dealing with the loss of $39 billion in federal funding for child care. This financial disaster threatens the ability to pay for 70,000 programs, the jobs of more than 200,000 workers, and the care of more than 3 million children.

“The child care crisis existed before the pandemic,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington. Last month, she and other Senate Democrats introduced legislation to try to soften the blow of losing this aid. “This is an urgent economic priority at every level. Childcare is what parents get to work, it is what companies use to hire workers, and it is an investment in our children’s futures. ” The childcare industry supports every sector of our economy. ”

Before the pandemic, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that families spent approximately the following on child care: 40% higher than what was considered affordable.. Combine this with the fact that average wage growth this year is slower than last year’s pace. and the fact that the disparity in purchasing power caused by record inflation is expected to persist until late 2024.

What exactly should working parents do?

Although many white-collar industries offer childcare options, leisure and hospitality, the fastest growing employment sector, is not a leader in this field. In Germany, municipalities are required by law to provide childcare. In America, we are less tolerant. The attitude is, “If you can’t afford it, don’t have a child.”

The problem is that there are not enough people who can afford to raise children without assistance.

September marked 33 consecutive months The US economy added jobs. Labor market participation rates are rising, with more than 9 million job openings nationwide. This is all great news unless you need childcare. Second, assuming you are not among the 50% of American girlfriends who live in the so-called “environment,” some of the jobs offered to you will pay you more than you would spend on childcare. I have to think about whether or not. childcare desert – In areas of America, the number of pre-K bodies is greater than the available spots.

“It’s a constant financial and logistical burden for the whole family,” Murray said.

Take your pick: Medicaid, welfare, Social Security, etc. Conservatives have historically talked about rights and safety nets as if those who benefit are lazy and not part of the workforce. The reality that that assessment is inaccurate due to the relationship between work and childcare is about to hit them in the face.

These people would rather cut government programs than fund social services, but here’s the problem. How exactly does austerity address the problem if would-be workers cannot afford to work?

When we talk about the work ethic of the “Greatest Generation,” we often skip over the part where the federal government intervened and subsidized the construction of daycare centers and everything else. Without that aid, most of the six million women who kept this country afloat during World War II would not have been able to enter the workforce.

In contrast, 68% of Oklahomans currently live in child-rearing deserts. It is estimated that there is a shortage of 40,000 workers in the state. Do you think it’s a coincidence?

The rise of the gig economy, combined with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, has served to create a pathway for more Americans to escape toxic work environments and become their own bosses. The wave of mass resignations and labor strikes further highlights the changing relationship between labor and capital. But while these changes are significant, the most significant earthquake is yet to come. Paid family leave and affordable child care are no longer just items on liberals’ wish lists.

America, like other developed countries, is coming to terms with the fact that if we want people to work, that idea must also work for our children.

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