America's Working Class Is Being Discarded

[JohnyCanuck]

It's Class Warfare, With America's Working Class being Discarded
by Stan Moore

Bush, the Neo-Cons, and the Congress members of both parties are steadily destroying the U.S. economy and its prospects for the future. "Free trade" is the goal, and cheap labor is a means to that goal. American manufacturing jobs are being cast aside in Kansas and Detroit so fast as to make the head spin. And all the while the dumbed-down rustbelt right-wingers cheer as their jobs go away forever and their children and grandchildren are placed under mountainous piles of debt.

It cannot be long before the process is irreversible and before Americans learn what it is like to live in poverty in huge numbers. The moneyed elite loves it. The global corporations don't mind if American labor is devalued and if the American lifestyle goes under, as long as cheap labor is available and consumers are buying merchandise somewhere in the world. The corporatocracies learned long ago what Henry Ford knew -- it is better to make a penny off a billion poor people than to make a dollar off a million middle-class people.

America's days of greatness are nearly over. The children of America have been sold out to the lowest bidder, and will never be able to repay the debts they have been placed under. Foreign owners and landlords will be coming to collect the rent and foreign employers will soon do to American labor what American employers are now doing to labor in Malaysia, China and Vietnam.

Democracy will not save America, because the first goal of the corporatocracy was to corrupt the democratic processes in favor of class structure. The golden rule is truer than ever -- whoever has the gold makes the rules.

http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/27587

[liberal N proud]

1. The neo-cons want to have a two class society

They think it will work for them. Those who don't make the cut as wealthy will simple become the workers or literally servants to the rich.

America as a third world nation, that is where we are heading.

[JohnyCanuck]

4. Servants to the rich and cannon fodder

It's class warfare, and if you aren't worth a million dollars in America in the near future, you won't be worth much at all. Your kids can join the military and go fight to protect the wealthy. That will be job prospect number one for America's youth in the decades ahead.

[B Calm]

25. Not much to look forward to with cheap labor cons running the show!

[Armstead]

2. Unfortunately true

[acmejack]

3. It was never a secret

That the goal was to reduce the population of this country to a third world worker status, people just wanted to believe the stupidity that "Free Trade" would lift up all the other workers of the world up to our middle class level. Looks like it's door A for us.

[gizmo1979]

5. Moyer made this clear before

the last election.Nobody cared,looking at how many people responded to this post it still rings true.For some reason people don't get the severity of this problem,Free trade should have made a far bigger who haa than the ports deal or Plamegate,but no one cares.

[Sapphire Blue]

7. America (& DU) should have risen up against NAFTA & CAFTA.

[hfojvt]

14. because it is more of a scholarly problem

whereas the others are soap opera, financial connections issues. Working class issues do not inspire passion and self interest in this group - not like the war, patriot act, sexism, abortion, racism, and GLBT issues do. We are letting the Republicans set the agenda, and they like those issues because they keep us divided.

[earth mom]

18. The Clintons and other dem "heroes" are for NAFTA & CAFTA

and far too many people around here just can't seem to get past their hero worship to understand the fact that their so called "heroes" have sold all the people in this country out to the lowest bidder. This country and it's people are in BIG trouble.

And those in denial who waste their time and energy hero worshiping unworthy corrupt politicians won't get it until they themselves are standing in the bread line. :(

[gizmo1979]

23. I'm a realist about trade

but the playing field is not level.Health care alone blows us out of the water.There's no chance we can compete without national health care.Give us a fair shake and we'll out perform anyone.

[Sapphire Blue]

6. K & R

[rug]

8. It's not just America's working class.

Capitalism has long since abandoned the state model and is operating on a global basis.

The solution is for the international working class to follow suit.

[hfojvt]

11. except that the working class long ago abandoned solidarity

that was the Gompers model - to ask for a bigger slice of the pie in the current system, rather than working to transform the system. That has been true in the United States all of my life - some workers here have decent wages, benefits, working conditions - while others in the same town, state and country do not.
In my experience the $17 non-unionized factory worker (and there was talk of bringing a union in, because, boo-hoo, management was screwing THEM over) do not even care about the $7.25 temps in their own factory, let alone some Chinese or Indian working-stiff.

[rug]

13. Many working class unions have long been controlled by stooges.

The current labor-management model doesn't work. The problem is not working class solidarity but right wing leadership.

Personal anecdotes (I'll keep mine to myself) don't change the need to get rid of right wing leadership along with nation-based class actions.

[hfojvt]

15. it is the lack of working class solidarity

that perpetuates the right wing leadership. RW leadership appeals to the narrow self-interest of upper class workers. Also I would rather hear your personal anecdotes than your snide remarks about mine. You could have kept that to yourself.

[ljm2002]

17. "The solution..."

"...is for the international working class to follow suit."

I agree with that statement 100%. In fact I believe that global trade could potentially have all of the great effects that were touted -- but not in the form it has taken, which we all know was crafted to benefit the corporations, and not their workers but their bosses and shareholders only.

But we do have a world where travel and instant communication are a reality. There is no reason that labor cannot organize worldwide. And that is what must happen. The question is how can it happen. Because anyone who joins an international labor organization, whether here or in some other country, will be accused of disloyalty and outright Communism. Somehow the labor movement must modernize itself as well as its image so that people see the logic of it. Right now, some people work hard to bring to light the terrible conditions in factories around the world, and that is wonderful as far as it goes. But it is only half the equation. The other half is to get the masses to really, truly see that it is appropriate labor laws that will create an affluent middle class worldwide. Strangely, you'd think that the American middle class and blue collar workers would already recognize this. But unions and labor have been tarred with the "leftist" "Communist" brush and demonized, to the point where few young people will even entertain the notion that a union might be a good thing. And of course, sad to say, the Democratic Party has lost its bearings in this area, I won't say it has outright deserted its labor base but darned near.

It's time for a modern leader who can figure out how to grab the imagination of the idealistic people worldwide and simplify -- not distort -- the issues at hand: the material wealth of the moneyed elites and the grinding poverty of the masses, and the shrinking middle class, and the continuing trends in these areas. And the exploitation that is part and parcel of the whole thing.

We can sit here and say people don't see their own self interest; but people have their daily survival to worry about, and people in this country have been fed propaganda by masters of the trade. For a successful message to get through, the old rhetoric must be abandoned, while the principles must be updated. The old rhetoric of labor vs. management, workers of the world, just is too old fashioned and too open to the charge of leftist / communist thought (although it must be noted, no matter what is done, the charge will be made -- we already know that). The same ideas must be gotten across in a way that resonates with modern people, in a way that shows the connection between slave labor in Bangladesh and disappearing jobs at home -- and the international leader who puts this forward, must also be able to make the Bangladesh workers see the connection, see how their own lives can be made better. As for the principles, they do not change but need to be expressed in a way that resonates with their intended audience -- a living wage, safe working conditions, limited hours, no child labor, availability of health care, child care and education.

So sad that right now in our country, that last bit -- the living wage, etc. stuff -- is simply brushed aside. And nearly as much by the Democrats as by the Republicans -- the Democrats in their rush to embrace the Third Way, have eroded their base and have allowed corporations to dictate terms. International trade agreements simply do not address labor, and for a very good reason: corporations do not want them to.

One difficulty is that the inequalities that exist now internationally largely preclude labor in the wealthier nations from uniting with labor in the poorer nations. Basically their own self interests are at odds. For workers in this country, insisting that all workers have available health care and a living wage, simply gives impetus for the corporation they work for to export their jobs. For workers in less wealthy nations, they want jobs no matter what and are willing to undercut in order to get them -- it's a matter of base survival. Trying to get them to raise it up a level, to demand health care, education and the like, is a tall order. But if things are to change, that is where the change has to happen.

Workers of the world, unite! (oops) :evilgrin:

[rug]

26. Thoughful post.

Given the way things are run, I'd welcome the label of Communist.

[ljm2002]

27. Thanks...

...one thing that occurs to me, is how successful the corporatists have been at dis-uniting the working classes, here at home and worldwide, by using wedge issues.

So the question arises: where do different multinational corporations have different interests, and how can those wedge issues be exploited? They are not as outright ignorant as "the masses" -- however, they are a whole lot more greedy, a trait that should be just as easy to exploit.

[JohnyCanuck]

9. Here's a site with information on globalism

that might be of interest if you are concerned about the issue of globalization (as I hope most of us are).

www.augustreview.com

The August Review provides a single, comprehensive and scholarly source of information on Globalism, sometimes referred to as Elitism, Internationalism, World Federalism, One World Order or the New World Order.

We make it simple for you to understand by giving you the big picture, connecting the dots between global elitists and their corporations, foundations and policy groups who are acting in concert to bring about this New World Order.

Truth is only defensible when you have the documented facts on an issue. Opinions you hold may be accurate, but without precise facts at your fingertips, you cannot intellectually defend your position.

Our Credo: "Follow the Money, Follow the Power"

www.augustreview.com

Here's a snip and a link to one of their articles.

The Global Elite: Who are they?

SNIP

The global elite march in three essential columns: Corporate, Political and Academic. For the sake of clarity, these names will be used herein to refer to these three groups.

In general, the goals for globalism are created by Corporate. Academic then provides studies and white papers that justify Corporate's goals. Political sells Academic's arguments to the public and if necessary, changes laws to accommodate and facilitate Corporate in getting what it wants.

An important ancillary player in globalism is the media, which we will call Press in this report. Press is necessary to filter Corporate, Academic and Political's communications to the public. Press is not a fourth column, however, because it's purpose is merely reflective. However, we will see that Press is dominated by members of Corporate, Political and Academic who sit on the various boards of directors of major Press organizations.

This report will attempt to identify and label the core players in the globalization process. The intent is to show the makeup and pattern of the core, not to list every person in it. Nevertheless, many people will be named and their associations and connections revealed. This is done for two reasons.

http://www.augustreview.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=4&pid=9

[Toots]

10. You load sixteen tons and what do you get? Another day older and deeper

in debt Saint Peter don't ya call me 'cause I can't go. I owe my soul to the company store. Soon it will all be "Company Store"

[Deja Q]

12. Yeah, but the middle class IS "the consumers". Also, look at who we owe:

China will not take kindly to actions, the latest by Bush CLEARLY showing he does not care about being fiscally responsible.

I wish I declared bankruptcy. But the insurance companies and employers would turn me down for doing so.

When the US declares bankruptcy, how will our foreign moneyowners turn us down?

[CrispyQ]

16. "America's days of greatness are nearly over."

CNN reported that Bush promised India that he would continue to support the outsourcing of jobs. I can't believe that every American isn't outraged to hear this!

The American worker made the American corporations what they are today through our labor & our consumer support & this is how they repay us.

Everyday the world seems more & more grim. Time to get off the internet & walk the dog!

[high density]

30. More than half of us are outraged.

But nobody cares. Congress certainly doesn't care.

[Junkdrawer]

19. And THAT'S why three private corporations now count our votes...

Democracy and Corporate Rule are incompatible. One of them had to go. Guess which?

[The2ndWheel]

20. Sunday morning, 9am, C-SPAN2

http://www.booktv.org/General/index.asp?segID=6751&schedID=413

The Global Class War: How America's Bipartisan Elite Lost Our Future - and What It Will Take to Win It Back

Description: Jeff Faux talks about the increasing power of the rich around the world and the economic policies that they favor. During his talk, Mr. Faux takes a critical look at the recently concluded annual meeting of World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the bi-partisan support for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the power of multinational corporations. He argues that much of the world's population is being left behind in the new global economy. Includes Q&A.

[JohnyCanuck]

24. Thanks for posting that link. I'll be watching n/t

[leftofthedial]

21. capitalism is a profoundly anti-human system

we need a revolt to overthrow the corporations

[B Calm]

22. Can't afford to heat our homes, can't afford to fuel our automobiles,

can't afford a vacation, can't afford health care, and the cheap labor con boss can't seem to give us a decent raise...

[NVMojo]

28. they will be discarded as soon as they wring every last dime out of their

wallets for the Bush administration ...

[upi402]

29. we need FAIR TRADE, not FREE TRADE as in 'giving away the farm

:toast:

[opihimoimoi]

31. In the end, they destroy themselves...the fucking idiots...

[high density]

32. Yep

Credit cards will keep us afloat for a few more years, but at some point all of these companies who are fueling this race to the bottom in wages are going to find out that nobody can afford to buy their crap. Quickly after that all business-to-business transactions dry up and we're really f--ked. Corporate America and Wall Street expects us to consume so much stuff while at the same time they don't want to pay us anything to enable all that spending.

[EC]

33. I wish people would realize that they are the overhead being cut

to create the good GDP ....and it's just a losing battle to create a small business with the big boxes closing your doors before you get them open....no jobs, no opportunities...

[Disturbed]

34. The New World Order

Multi-Corps are served by Neo Fascist Govts.

[RazzleDazzle]

35. This needs a serious K&R