The evolution of the American worker...

[kentuck]

My labor experiences began in the 1960's. Before I was drafted into Uncle Sam's Army at the age of 19, I worked at a meat-packing plant in Detroit, Michigan. It was hard labor for a 135 lb youngster. But, with overtime, I made pretty good money.

However, I never felt like my life was, in any way, tied to that employer. I could leave anytime I wanted. There was always another job around the corner. If I felt I was slighted in any way, it was adios. I would go someplace else to work. After all, it was not General Motors or Cadillac with their great benefits...

But somewhere along the line, the workplace changed. Young people became more insecure. They were uncertain about whether they could find another job? Employers were holding all the cards.

It seems to me that this change happened sometime around the Presidency of Ronald Reagan? If you had a job, you better keep it, because you may not find another. This mindset became very detrimental to workers, in my opinion. They sacrificed whatever power they had as workers, when they gave up their right to walk away from their jobs.

It was not coincidental that the unions declined during this timeframe. It seemed to me that young workers became more business-oriented. They accepted the business model over the workers model. They were more willing to accept the rules as put forth by their employers. They were more capitalistic in nature, in my opinion.

It seemed that more and more young people wanted business degrees and became more conservative in economic matters, even as many became more liberal in their social beliefs. Of course, this is just my perspective, but even today, whatever management says is seldom questioned. I can recall when youngsters would rebel. I'm sure others have a different perspective?

[bvar22]

1. I remember the same.

I want MY America back!

*Anti-Trust Laws prevented Huge Corporations (like WalMart) from coming into an area and undercutting the local business owners.

*Sane Trade Laws protected American Workers (no such thing as "Free Trade" yet).

*The Democratic Party of FDR & LBJ protected Organized LABOR and Working Americans.

*The country was Moving in the right Direction with the Civil Rights Act and the Great Society.

*The Tax Rate on the top bracket was 90%,
and people STILL got rich and small businesses THRIVED.

*Anybody could attend the State University and graduate DEBT FREE if willing to work a part time job.
This included Graduate School.




A Blue Collar, non- college educated worker could:
*Find and Keep a good job with benefits

*Afford GOOD Health Care for the whole family

*Raise several children in relative comfort

*Buy and operate a NEW American car every few years

*Buy and Pay Off a comfortable home

*Take a REAL vacation every year

*Save enough to retire in comfort and dignity.


[font size=4]I WANT MY AMERICA BACK[/font],
and we could have it if we had a Party that represented the Working Class.
WE outnumber THEM.



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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[kentuck]

2. My fear is that we are too far gone...

...to ever get America back.

Most workers nowadays are afraid to take a day off from work, even if they are sick, for fear of losing their low-paying jobs.

I cannot see a way that this is going to change. Workers have given up every freedom to their employers, in the name of private property.

[bvar22]

3. When the Working Class & The Poor....

...realize WE have more in common with each other
than we have in common with the 1% Oligarchs and their employees in both Parties in Washington,
THEN, we can have "change".

I find "hope" in Latin America.
In country after country in Central and South America, The People have successfully wrested their governments from the hands of the 1% Oligarchs,
though you won't hear about these near bloodless Revolutions in the US Media,
and both Parties here will continue to demonize them and "assist" the remaining Right Wing Police State countries in South America, like Colombia.

[font size=4]"The worst enemy of humanity is U.S. capitalism. That is what provokes uprisings like our own, a rebellion against a system, against a neoliberal model, which is the representation of a savage capitalism. If the entire world doesn't acknowledge this reality, that nation states are not providing even minimally for health, education and nourishment, then each day the most fundamental human rights are being violated."[/font]
----Bolivian Reform President Evo Morales

FDR said much the same thing in 1944 with his Economic Bill of Rights,
but of course, both FDR and THAT Democratic party are long dead, so we have work to do.

I will continue to remind those too young to remember what the Democratic party used to stand for,
and the traditional Working Class Values it one embraced.
I will continue to tell people about the wonderful Populist rebellions in Latin America.
They have given us a Blue Print for change.
All we lack is the will to use it.


Cinco de Mayo!
VIVA Democracy!
I pray we get some here soon.

Spread the WORD!



[font size=5 color=green]Solidarity99![/font][font size=2 color=green]
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[HiPointDem]

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