Labor Unions Hinder Democrats' Affordability and Abundance Goals

This opinion article from Reason.com argues that labor unions are a major obstacle preventing Democrats from achieving their stated goals of abundance and affordability for American consumers. It describes two rival factions within the Democratic Party: the 'abundance' faction, which favors market mechanisms, deregulation, and technological progress (like driverless cars) to lower costs, and the 'affordability' faction, associated with socialists like NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, which prefers government interventions and subsidies. The article contends that both factions are undermined by Democratic deference to union demands, which block labor-saving technologies and new construction, thereby keeping prices high for housing, groceries, and transportation. It concludes that union power is a key reason Democrats cannot deliver on their promises to make life more affordable for ordinary people.