In the United States , the employee class is badly split ideologically and politically . Most employees have probably stayed connected — with declining enthusiasm or commitment — to the Democratic Party . A sizable and growing minority within the class has some hope in Trump . Many have lost interest and participated less in electoral politics . Perhaps the most splintered are various “ progressive ” or “ left ” employees : some in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party , some in various socialist , Green , independent , and related small parties , and some even drawn hesitatingly to Trump . Left-leaning employees were perhaps more likely to join and activate social movements ( ecological , anti-racist , anti-sexist , and anti-war ) rather than electoral campaigns .
The U . S . employee class broadly feels victimized by the last half-century ’ s neoliberal globalization . Waves of manufacturing ( and also service ) job exports , coupled with waves of automation ( computers , robots , and now artificial intelligence ), have mostly brought that class bad news . Loss of jobs , income , and job security , diminished future work prospects , and reduced social standing are chief among them . In contrast , the extraordinary profits that drove employers ’ export and technology decisions accrued to them . Resulting redistributions of wealth and income likewise favored employers . Employees increasingly watched and felt a parallel social