Kamala Harris' “Hard Work is Good Work” Messaging: A Political Fumble for the AI Era
By Michael Kelman Portney
Political messaging is all about capturing the moment, understanding the people, and speaking to the future. Kamala Harris' insistence on using the phrase "Hard work is good work" is the exact opposite of that. It's a fumble—tone-deaf, outdated, and completely out of sync with where the world is headed.
1. The Wrong Message at the Worst Possible Time
The idea that "hard work" is inherently good might have landed in the 1950s, when the American Dream was built on blue-collar labor and homeownership was within reach for the middle class. But in 2024 and beyond, it’s a death sentence for a campaign trying to appeal to the working class, progressives, or younger voters who see the writing on the wall.
AI and automation are rapidly replacing jobs—not just in factories, but in white-collar industries like law, journalism, and tech.
Wages have stagnated while corporate profits and CEO pay have skyrocketed.
The 40-hour workweek is a relic of the past, and the younger generations know it.
Progressives aren’t calling for more work—they’re calling for better economic security, Universal Basic Income (UBI), and a restructured labor market.
In a world where millions of jobs are set to be eliminated, why double down on a slogan that glorifies work instead of one that prioritizes human well-being?
2. It Alienates the Very Base She Needs to Win
Harris’ base should be progressive voters, working-class Americans, and young people who demand systemic change. But this phrase doesn’t appeal to them—it repels them.
Progressives: They want UBI, worker protections, and a reduced workweek. This message is a slap in the face to those pushing for labor reform.
Young voters: Millennials and Gen Z don’t want to work themselves to death. They want an economy that works for them, not one that forces them to grind for scraps.
The Working Class: These are people working two or three jobs just to survive. "Hard work is good work" sounds like something Jeff Bezos would say to Amazon warehouse workers to keep them from unionizing.
Instead of inspiring people, this message reminds them of everything they hate about the system. Many Americans do not exactly enjoy their work! In a world where it’s easy to feel like a corporate wage slave, chained to your desk for 10 hours a day plus a mandated lunch hour, why say the word “work” twice when you’re trying to pump people up for the future you promise?
3. It’s a Corporate Slogan Disguised as Political Messaging
"Hard work is good work" belongs on a Walmart employee motivation poster or a McKinsey PowerPoint, not in a presidential campaign.
It’s the kind of phrase used by exploitative corporations to justify overworking employees while keeping wages low. It suggests that work, in and of itself, is valuable, regardless of whether the worker is being compensated fairly or if the work even needs to be done.
The future of labor politics isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about making sure people don’t have to grind just to survive.
4. It’s a Political Dead End
A great political slogan rallies people, gives them hope, and presents a clear vision of the future. Compare "Hard work is good work" to:
"Yes We Can" – Barack Obama
"Not Me, Us" – Bernie Sanders
"Make America Great Again" – Donald Trump (controversial, but effective)
What do all these slogans have in common? They are action-driven and aspirational. They invite people into a movement.
"Hard work is good work" does none of that. It’s flat, uninspiring, and lifeless. Worse, it’s dismissive of the real struggles of the people it’s supposed to appeal to.
5. It Ignores the Reality of Automation & AI
This might be the biggest fumble of all.
The AI revolution is here. Robotics are around the corner. Entire industries are being reshaped. And instead of offering a vision for how America will adapt to these changes, Harris is selling people the idea that their self-worth is tied to their ability to work harder.
That’s not leadership—it’s a failure to grasp the moment.
Final Verdict: A Campaign Message That Will Age Like Spoiled Milk
Kamala Harris has already struggled with authenticity and messaging, and this slogan is just another example of how disconnected she is from the realities of the modern economy.
What she should be saying:
"Work should be dignified and fairly compensated."
"The economy should work for the people, not the other way around."
"We need to rethink the future of work, not cling to an outdated mindset."
Instead, she doubled down on a message that sounds like it came from a boomer CEO at a corporate retreat.
🔥 Bottom line: This isn’t just a weak political slogan—it’s a complete misunderstanding of where the country is going. And if she sticks to it, she’ll be left behind by the very voters she needs to win.
