Thanks for this piece, Juliana. Clarity indeed! I would add that somehow we need to find a way to escape/understand the influence of social media, which provides us only with the opposite of clarity.
Very true! I think sharing information that we trust is key. I think social media is like the rest of the mainstream political environment and electoral system. We are forced to use it as best we can, knowing it is stacked against us and serves to profit the wealthy. That is, it's kind of like the elections in that we participate with very mixed feelings, because it's a necessary aspect of modern life these days, even though it has so many drawbacks.
Basically, it's one more aspect of the dilemma we face as people struggling to transform the beast from inside its belly.
Excellent piece, Juliana. Simply put, regardless which party wins, capitalism continues. We can't believe any politicians. Biden claimed to champion labor but blocked strikes of RR and UPS workers. We can build a movement of workers, students, and soldiers to take real power through revolutionary strategies, reject identity politics, build international multiracial solidarity, learn more about the successes and failures of communist states, and partner with labor groups that have power to disrupt business (transportation, IT, communications). As this article states, it's important to work with people who hold different views about immigration, Trump, etc. Join a discussion group, read activist stories, learn more working class, antiracist history.
Absolutely. The more we build a real independent working class culture the better we can resist all the smoke and mirrors and work toward an independent, conscious mass movement capable of social transformation.
Something I'm curious about is how the middle class voted. Sometimes it feels like the working class wears more blame than it should.
I wonder how many middle and upper middle class people feel that they'd benefit from Trump's policies? Cheaper labour costs, fewer environmental restrictions, etc.
I've heard the working class being blamed for racism too when, in fact, I've noticed much more racism in middle class spaces. In my experience, as a working class person, I'm much more comfortable with immigrants, people of colour, etc. because they don't talk down to me as many middle class people do with a working class person.
Very true, Diana. Classism is deeply embedded in this supposedly "classless society." Middle class people are socialized to feel superior because of how they speak and their level of education. Class superiority often manifests as "talking down," as you say, which is a big factor, I feel, in why a lot of working class people feel uncomfortable and unheard in progressive spaces dominated by middle class folks. And is, I suspect, part of why some might feel drawn to the supposed plain speaking--even though it is 98% lies--of Trump. And why even those who reject these lies do not then turn to progressives but instead sit out what they can see is a process that does not include or value them.
It’s telling that spell checks recognize sexism, racism, and other isms, but flag “classism,” the unacknowledged yet arguably overarching ism—since all but the tiny percentage of those who run the system, the ruling class, in reality belong to the working class, even if to a privileged sector of it.
Brilliant, important analysis. Thank you for this!
Thanks, Jean!
Julie--This is brilliant!
Janet
Thanks, Janet! So great to hear from you!!
I'm very happy to have found you again. You're obviously doing good work.
Thanks for this piece, Juliana. Clarity indeed! I would add that somehow we need to find a way to escape/understand the influence of social media, which provides us only with the opposite of clarity.
Very true! I think sharing information that we trust is key. I think social media is like the rest of the mainstream political environment and electoral system. We are forced to use it as best we can, knowing it is stacked against us and serves to profit the wealthy. That is, it's kind of like the elections in that we participate with very mixed feelings, because it's a necessary aspect of modern life these days, even though it has so many drawbacks.
Basically, it's one more aspect of the dilemma we face as people struggling to transform the beast from inside its belly.
Excellent piece, Juliana. Simply put, regardless which party wins, capitalism continues. We can't believe any politicians. Biden claimed to champion labor but blocked strikes of RR and UPS workers. We can build a movement of workers, students, and soldiers to take real power through revolutionary strategies, reject identity politics, build international multiracial solidarity, learn more about the successes and failures of communist states, and partner with labor groups that have power to disrupt business (transportation, IT, communications). As this article states, it's important to work with people who hold different views about immigration, Trump, etc. Join a discussion group, read activist stories, learn more working class, antiracist history.
Absolutely. The more we build a real independent working class culture the better we can resist all the smoke and mirrors and work toward an independent, conscious mass movement capable of social transformation.
The Democratic Party needed a wake-up call. They got one!
For sure!! But will they actually wake up?
Really good points, Juliana.
Something I'm curious about is how the middle class voted. Sometimes it feels like the working class wears more blame than it should.
I wonder how many middle and upper middle class people feel that they'd benefit from Trump's policies? Cheaper labour costs, fewer environmental restrictions, etc.
I've heard the working class being blamed for racism too when, in fact, I've noticed much more racism in middle class spaces. In my experience, as a working class person, I'm much more comfortable with immigrants, people of colour, etc. because they don't talk down to me as many middle class people do with a working class person.
Very true, Diana. Classism is deeply embedded in this supposedly "classless society." Middle class people are socialized to feel superior because of how they speak and their level of education. Class superiority often manifests as "talking down," as you say, which is a big factor, I feel, in why a lot of working class people feel uncomfortable and unheard in progressive spaces dominated by middle class folks. And is, I suspect, part of why some might feel drawn to the supposed plain speaking--even though it is 98% lies--of Trump. And why even those who reject these lies do not then turn to progressives but instead sit out what they can see is a process that does not include or value them.
It’s telling that spell checks recognize sexism, racism, and other isms, but flag “classism,” the unacknowledged yet arguably overarching ism—since all but the tiny percentage of those who run the system, the ruling class, in reality belong to the working class, even if to a privileged sector of it.
Good points, Juliana.
I wonder how many middle class people vote for the likes of Trump. I doubt that it's just the working class.