the outcome of the election

[Chaerophon]

Labor was very much an opponent of certain strains of government in my lifetime.  Labor is the fundamental power base of both Socialist and Communist parties, or was for about seven decades, as well as a vote sump for Liberals of less extreme stripes.  Yes, Socialism and Communism, as well as representative republicanism, all grew from early Liberalism, which most folks would probably not recognize by now, since it strikes me as having been a reaction to the Royal/Imperial/Capital system of Europe.

Yes, labour unions fight to retain wage levels. Yes, it is, in receptive societies, the fundamental power base of both Socialist and Communist parties. If you can explain to me how the presence of a weak labour movement and less-than-moderate interventionist policies means that socialism is alive and well in the U.S., then I'll concede the point to you. I don't see it. Nader is leftist. He's no socialist. Institutional socialism remains a bad word and, as I can see from your post, Americans (Canadians too) continue to blame the union movement for the fall of Keynesianism. I don't buy it, but that's just me. Consider the issue dropped, but respond if you will :)