A Moment of Necessary Self-Reflection (Possible railroad strike)

[Nevilledog]

https://jaredyatessexton.substack.com/p/a-moment-of-necessary-self-reflection

Depending on where you get your news and how closely you pay attention, you might not have heard about one of the biggest stories in years. Right now, railroad workers are preparing to strike as early as this coming Friday if rail companies refuse to meet their demands. Their asks are telling. Time off for doctor visits. An address of conditions that have led to marathon shifts and around-the-clock assignments. It should be mentioned, before we move forward, that their employers are enjoying record profits as they push these terrible conditions on skeleton crews.

Predictably, our media, with its insistence on wealth-class perspective, is already covering this with little focus on those conditions and instead prioritizing the possible economic and political impact. Our supply chain is so fragile, after all, that even a slight hiccup could interrupt the pursuit of profit and abundance. Rail accounts for a massive amount of the country’s shipping, and stoppage would amount to much more than a hiccup. Even if most outlets aren’t covering this story very closely or making much of the situation, if there is a strike you will feel the repercussions.

The in’s and the out’s of this particular situation are important, but what this represents is a much, much larger issue that we must discuss. It isn’t flashy. God knows it isn’t as entertaining as the chaos sewn by Donald Trump or the My Pillow Guy getting his phone nabbed by feds outside a Hardee’s in Minnesota. Those stories, which have dominated our media for years now, culminating both in Trump’s election as president and the growing authoritarian threat, are reflective of a culture that has been taught to consume news as spectacle and a television show with twists, turns, dramatic revelations, and Heroes and Villains.

What we need to discuss is far from made-for-TV.

What we need to discuss is an existential issue. In fact, it is likely the defining existential issue of our age.

*snip*

[ebbie15644]

1. Good friend of mine

Husband works for the railroad. I've heard for 2 years about their working condition. No sick days at all, 3 personal days that you have to ask for days in advance. Always on call. The big issue to me is the lack of any sick time. If they are sick, they're screwed

[cilla4progress]

2. I really appreciate this perspective

and agree with the media wealth bias this snip discusses!

Just added him to my feeds.

Thanks!