Some observations

[nadinbrzezinski]

I am doing some notes on labor... and asking the critical questions.

When did deference emerge in the culture? (It goes into my thesis that this is part of the problem) and chiefly why?

I think there are several reasons, but here is the critical point that emerged and I'd like to share.

We like to talk of the nation OUTSIDE of history. Looking forwards is part of the national creed... we also believe, as a nation, not individuals, that the wealthy are our social betters, and hides both the past and the poor.

We do live in a caste society, were deference to your betters is expected... and folks this is part of the problem...

Oh and one more thing... when the Middle Class (by self identification) goes from millionaires to people making 25K a year... there is a problem, why we do not have a worker's self identification and consciousness. This has been cultivated over the last fifty years carefully by our media. Watch some tv and deconstruct it.

Yes, after watching last night, back to work with me.

[RandomThoughts]

1. You post has an interesting comment.

were deference to your betters is expected

How does our system, as you put it a caste society, determine who is better?

I will side with the untouchables, because I know they got that name from the many forces that sided with them against the few. For justice and for a balanced society.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Like it always has in the US... WEALTH

It is still also PARTIALLY color and religion.

[texastoast]

3. Deference

I think is rooted in basic survival instincts from when humans started living in groups. The "deferee" walking down the jungle path is bigger, stronger, sexier, wealthier, more powerful, and the "deferer" immediately exhibits subtle, call it body language to acknowledge the superiority of the deferee, thereby confirming for the deferee that he/she is perceived superior, when in fact the deferee might be quite vulnerable. With this acknowledgment, perhaps "altruism" will kick in and the deferee will spare the deferer's life on the jungle path, thereby meeting the deferer's need--to survive to conive to gain deferee status. But it doesn't mean necessarily the deferee couldn't be dominated--the belief by the deferer of the deferee's superiority will be enough to enable the deferee to survive. It's either defer or confront.

Deference on the part of the deferer can be beneficial to the deferer, giving the deferer another day to "improve" or determine a way to climb to dominance.

And, as I'm sure you know, it is a long story about the assimiliation of instinct into culture proper. How far back do you want to go?

I see two things right quick as to why we don't have a worker's self-identification or consciousness. One is because we believe "inside the box" what we were told was our station in life and accepted it without question. The second is low self-esteem, believing that whatever effort we put forth is "for nothing" against the strength of deferees. And media is very effective at promoting both.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. True, but the US is a people

that truly does not take to the streets.

Ok we do... but check countries where there are national strikes and shit.

Last National strike was 1950

Last national strike on one sector was the USPS strike of 1973

Not a coincidence here.