Wrong Place, Wrong Time: Some Very Bad Politics From The White House

[F4lconF16]

102. True enough.

But it's important to remember that the middle class we knew here also only applied if you were a straight white male living in the US. Otherwise, things weren't (and aren't, really) so good. I'd argue the middle class itself was a firewall--after all, despite not owning it, it's labor that controls the means of production. The middle class is a defense mechanism of capitalism against the inevitable revolution of the oppressed labor class. Historically, it has been middle class support for the Democratic Party that has prevented a total uprising. I'm somewhat reminded of a quote from MLK in his letter from Birmingham Jail:

"First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action;" who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a "more convenient season."

Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection."

Replace "moderate" with middle class, and Negro with labor class, and it's surprisingly relevant to our economic situation (with a couple of other changes, of course). The white middle class has continued to support this corrupt system again and again. Sometimes it's in self-interest, sometimes it's in confusion, sometimes it's in some twisted sadism (ex: the tea party), etc. There are many reasons, but the net result is the same. Not to mention the original quote itself is excellent.

This is why I hate the lesser of two evils argument with a passion. It is the embodiment of support for a system that does everything it can to essentially enslave people (using various forms of oppression now, it used to be literally enslaving people) and harness them to a machine that strips them of their humanity in order to generate a profit for the machine owners. It's against everything I stand for. As I have said before (and I echo many an old civil rights crusader in doing so), I will not wait for reforms to a broken system to demand my rights and my humanity.