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CrispyQ

(36,792 posts)

95. Food riots. Is that what it's gonna take to wake people up from their iWhatever bliss?

Fri Jan 17, 2014, 08:12 PM

Jan 2014

Gadget rich, equity poor.

I read that somewhere. I thought is was very apt. A lot of Americans think they are better off than they actually are because they have the latest gadgets, nice cars & furniture. But then there was that somewhat recent survey (18 mos?) that said a majority of Americans couldn't come up with $2000 cash without selling something or getting a loan.

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My Wife Believes American Workers Being Positioned To Accept Lower Living Standard. [View all] TheMastersNemesis Jan 2014 OP

As the unions go, so goes the worker. United We Thrive, Divided We Beg...have seen this somewhere libdem4life Jan 2014 #1

Yep. That's what the "right to work" meme was all about theHandpuppet Jan 2014 #16

Right to work...for peanuts, if we're lucky. libdem4life Jan 2014 #75

Lower? yeoman6987 Jan 2014 #29

Yes, lower: No paid vacation, no contract, and flex scheduling. Eleanors38 Jan 2014 #45

It used to take one income to raise a family and keep up a home. Now two, and given the cost of libdem4life Jan 2014 #79

Leisure time is for the 1%. Proles gotta work 24x7. CrispyQ Jan 2014 #92

Remember Bushiebaby's response to a woman elzenmahn Jan 2014 #140

I remember. CrispyQ Jan 2014 #145

And there are the ones who claim the vehicles and TV are luxuries too... Pholus Jan 2014 #119

No, they want us to have TV's arikara Jan 2014 #133

Yet TV's are mentioned as a sign that we are not truly impoverished... Pholus Jan 2014 #143

Yes, unions are our only hope. One blip in history in which a middle class boomed gtar100 Jan 2014 #127

Great point. With Taft-Hartley and it 'right-to-work' unions are undercut at every turn. Countries pampango Jan 2014 #144

It's been happening since Reagan. ForgoTheConsequence Jan 2014 #2

Why does the GOP hate Americans? n/t Beartracks Jan 2014 #101

It is the party of sociopaths and sadists. The republican party loves to see RKP5637 Jan 2014 #111

We get in the way. ForgoTheConsequence Jan 2014 #141

Reminds me of a movie called "Bounty Killer." Beartracks Jan 2014 #142

Reagan hyper-accelerated the decline. But it started under Nixon with the start of the decline bluestate10 Jan 2014 #114

WHO are these business people who are pro worker...... socialist_n_TN Jan 2014 #115

I agree with her. I remember trublu992 Jan 2014 #3

It's a pretty good hypothesis. defacto7 Jan 2014 #4

This is exactly the plan. It is a fact. I have worked around and been around very powerful people Lint Head Jan 2014 #5

The problem with a lot of companies Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #10

The global corporate fat cats aren't competing with their workers anymore, but each other. Sky's the freshwest Jan 2014 #11

"Why can't [they] be satisfied with [just] a profit?" GOod question. Beartracks Jan 2014 #102

Yeah. The profit is what keeps the business alive. I realize it has to be a profit that keeps up Lint Head Jan 2014 #105

Sadly, the average Joe can't just raise his own price. Beartracks Jan 2014 #106

Remember Romney's "47%" speech? lob1 Jan 2014 #6

What turned my blood is that no one in his audience (all "savvy investors")... JHB Jan 2014 #22

The Yes Men slavery proposal prank confirms this deutsey Jan 2014 #43

She's right laundry_queen Jan 2014 #7

That is a good synopsis RobertEarl Jan 2014 #14

We need to stop the trade deals while we can. That is the only hope for us to live decently. JDPriestly Jan 2014 #17

I agree RobertEarl Jan 2014 #20

Most Americans do not understand what it is to use an outhouse any more. JDPriestly Jan 2014 #24

And good luck to anyone who tries avebury Jan 2014 #30

This is very important and I am glad you wrote it: JDPriestly Jan 2014 #72

This is a great thread. Globalization means world wide leveling of living standards for the lower rhett o rick Jan 2014 #100

"They do not know what it is like to have to walk miles at a time for supplies" CrispyQ Jan 2014 #98

scarily insightful. BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2014 #103

Food riots. Is that what it's gonna take to wake people up from their iWhatever bliss? CrispyQ Jan 2014 #95

Or we can just expropriate the wealth that's there........ socialist_n_TN Jan 2014 #118

This.... sendero Jan 2014 #33

That sums it up. The eco courses I took in the late 60s? Dead letters. Eleanors38 Jan 2014 #47

It's good to occasionally read such frank, clear headed pieces/replies. Thank you. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2014 #91

I agree. Lots of ignorance and apathy. And denial. nt laundry_queen Jan 2014 #135

What we forget about countries like China and India is that there is a finite amount of time where okaawhatever Jan 2014 #96

Yep, the law of diminishing returns laundry_queen Jan 2014 #134

it's already happened for many JI7 Jan 2014 #8

Well... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2014 #9

Yes, that has been going on for a while. merrily Jan 2014 #12

I absolutely agree! SoapBox Jan 2014 #13

Classic Reagan Era crap. Claim the boss would LOVE to give you a raise but can't afford it. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2014 #15

well, wasn't it Boeing who just accepted riversedge Jan 2014 #18

Being? DeSwiss Jan 2014 #19

it is almost he logical conclusion of, "How are we going to compete with China?' Douglas Carpenter Jan 2014 #21

I agree with your wife BarackTheVote Jan 2014 #23

Duh! emsimon33 Jan 2014 #25

The politicians don't think. They just do as they are told by their betters. jtuck004 Jan 2014 #26

Cut the Min Wage And The Sky's The Limit timothywcrane Jan 2014 #27

Sadly that is pretty much the state of things - TBF Jan 2014 #36

I'm in agreement with her JustAnotherGen Jan 2014 #28

A lot of countries that don't insist on pouring avebury Jan 2014 #31

The US taxpayer is paying for the developed world's military The2ndWheel Jan 2014 #69

Kind of like our army? avebury Jan 2014 #90

You completely missed the posters point. Europe and Asia was constantly in major wars bluestate10 Jan 2014 #116

The problem with that argument avebury Jan 2014 #122

That seems to have been the "elite consensus" since the 70s JHB Jan 2014 #32

Conservatives goal is cheap labor. That's why I B Calm Jan 2014 #34

I've actually had a conservative friend of mine from the working class say deutsey Jan 2014 #40

It's amazing how simple and stupid some people can be. Do B Calm Jan 2014 #42

I call it "Steinbeck Syndrome." Brigid Jan 2014 #89

What Reagan And The GOP Have Done Is Crystal Clear. Yet The GOP Is Still Viable. TheMastersNemesis Jan 2014 #35

This about sums it up n2doc Jan 2014 #50

I know so many people like this it isn't even funny. Great cartoon. nt Nay Jan 2014 #55

lol Love it. ctsnowman Jan 2014 #107

Why do those kids look sad? hunter Jan 2014 #108

Well, I would say it's sort of the reverse - TBF Jan 2014 #37

Competition will drive down the cost of anything and labor is no exception badtoworse Jan 2014 #38

Except when labor organizes. Like during the Depression. Eleanors38 Jan 2014 #48

The world was very different then badtoworse Jan 2014 #49

This assumes the "altetnative" to American labor won't Eleanors38 Jan 2014 #99

And that is why we socialists are organizing globally - TBF Jan 2014 #54

The so-called "Reagan Revolution" was actually a massive right-wing Reaction deutsey Jan 2014 #39

+1,000,000 Dawson Leery Jan 2014 #80

That is how this global free market fascism works. ananda Jan 2014 #41

I think so too gollygee Jan 2014 #44

They likely think that real poverty looks like the worst of Black Africa or .. ananda Jan 2014 #87

Think of that car ad where a car brings a baby home and is later given to her as a graduation gift. bklyncowgirl Jan 2014 #46

She is right get the red out Jan 2014 #51

Gen X'ers will have a lower standard of living than Baby Boomer's liberal N proud Jan 2014 #52

All part of the Bilderbergers plan MO_Moderate Jan 2014 #53

FFS. We don't need to look to conspiracy - TBF Jan 2014 #56

Lets see now MO_Moderate Jan 2014 #59

Are you saying the Bilderberg Group is a CT? ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2014 #67

I'm saying capitalism itself is the problem. nt TBF Jan 2014 #68

NO, that is NOT what you said. You said BG is a "conspiracy". You jumped in here so, please... ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2014 #71

You seem to have difficulty TBF Jan 2014 #81

and you have heard about the possible new law in Wisconsin......a 7 DAY WORK WEEK.... a kennedy Jan 2014 #57

The 7-day week is a reality in the IT industry LiberalEsto Jan 2014 #63

Some states are working to diminish child labor laws. CrispyQ Jan 2014 #104

There are some huge truths in that. Xyzse Jan 2014 #58

We live on a finite planet The2ndWheel Jan 2014 #60

There are roughly 4 billion "bottom of the pyramid" workers that unskilled Americans compete with FarCenter Jan 2014 #61

I'm surprised this isn't patently obvious to everyone. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2014 #62

I remember hearing years ago about how the very wealthy were upset Jazzgirl Jan 2014 #64

Current GD threads related to the big picture... ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2014 #65

Thanks for those links bananas Jan 2014 #112

Your wife is correct. KamaAina Jan 2014 #66

I agree with her but the powers that be had better understand that we the people will not agree to jwirr Jan 2014 #70

Yes, Americans WILL allow themselves to be left homeless, hungry, etc. Indeed, we already ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2014 #73

Shh I do not want to think that way. It is too scary. jwirr Jan 2014 #74

It's the war on the Middle Class. lpbk2713 Jan 2014 #76

Long term plan coming to fruition. JNelson6563 Jan 2014 #77

She is correct. They want us to compete for our jobs with the Chinese labor force. OregonBlue Jan 2014 #78

Here's an interesting article found in 2naSalit Jan 2014 #82

When Reagan was elected, raven mad Jan 2014 #83

That's the Truth from the Wharton Private Equity folks cap Jan 2014 #84

I agree with your wife. It's been happening since Reagan. liberal_at_heart Jan 2014 #85

Yes, as is discussed upthread. Reagan, and ever since. Kurovski Jan 2014 #88

The op reminds me of a conservation I had with my dad who's very conservative back in the 90s, deafskeptic Jan 2014 #86

My DH used to say I was paranoid in my thoughts that corporations Bettie Jan 2014 #93

IMO Mr Dixon Jan 2014 #94

That much is clear. And they want to drive the TPP nail into that coffin. marmar Jan 2014 #97

When most of are reduced to living like this then we will be able to compete. ctsnowman Jan 2014 #109

Perhaps it is time to just disconnect en mass from the whole mess. n/t RKP5637 Jan 2014 #110

Some of us workers like in the steel industry figured that one out doc03 Jan 2014 #113

No need to believe it. It's so obvious, it doesn't require faith. nt valerief Jan 2014 #117

I live in one of the 2 poorest states in the country. . . BigDemVoter Jan 2014 #120

Your wife is not wrong. Thom Hartmann has played quotes on Cleita Jan 2014 #121

I think that there is a grain of truth to that observation Proud Liberal Dem Jan 2014 #123

Karl Marx said much the same thing Alcibiades Jan 2014 #124

'we need to bring the US wages more in line with the Chinese Grassley(R-IA-BCBS) IADEMO2004 Jan 2014 #125

K&R Boomerproud Jan 2014 #126

Since the Members of Congress do nothing and get nothing constructive done..... democratisphere Jan 2014 #128

I knew that years ago but you know how that would've played. Phlem Jan 2014 #129

They want high unemployment so wages stay down and workers stay desperate. Skeeter Barnes Jan 2014 #130

Wife Believes American Workers Being Positioned To Accept Lower Living Standards blkmusclmachine Jan 2014 #131

Yup. We are all Bob Cratchit, now. MsPithy Jan 2014 #132

Smart woman. You should marry her! n/t aggiesal Jan 2014 #136

I Did - We Both Have Felt This Way About The Economy For A Long Time. TheMastersNemesis Jan 2014 #139

its true. politicman Jan 2014 #137

Yes. It explains the wilfull destruction of the public school system, and allowing the Arugula Latte Jan 2014 #138

Catch-22 writ large. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2014 #146

"...brought down to a level closer to the rest of the globe." Hah. Quantess Jan 2014 #147

Barack Obama(2006): "This is not a bloodless process." woo me with science Jan 2014 #148

kick woo me with science Jan 2014 #149