Workers have surrendered
I can't claim it. This statement about the Tea-baggers and Republicans by someone on DU nailed it a while back..."They are Americans making between 40-45K a year, who have been convinced their enemy is their fellow Americans making 43-48K a year".
That's it in a nutshell. Hate radio, Faux News and our "liberal" media, have spent the better part of the past 4 decades exploiting the fear and bigotry of a segment of the American people that are vulnerable to it. They've used fear, intimidation, religion and outright racism to convince my neighbor and your neighbor that all of his problems are because you and I have a job that pays a little more and get health and pension benefits.
Why, if it weren't for scoundrels like me...FORCING MY EMPLOYER TO PAY ABOVE MARKET RATES FOR MY LABOR, all of my neighbor's problems would be solved. If corporations were just allowed to expolit their workers the economy would be booming.
But, the reality is...not only is it harder to make it into the middle-class, but if you do make it there, you have to surrender your dignity and pride to stay there.
Overtime pay??? - Are you effing kidding me, just be thankful you have a job!
A Pension???? - You're stealing my profits so you can lay around on your ass in your 60's!
You don't want to piss in a bottle for a drug test???? - You fucking hippie scum!!
You want a decent health care plan??? - Are you a fucking communist?
So what do we do? Boss wants you to work Saturday...why not offer Sunday as well?
Boss wants to increase your individual costs for health care? Just cut some "luxuries" from your grocery bill and throw in increased contributions to a pension plan as well. Mind you, we can't guarantee that pension, or retirement account that you may...OR MAY NOT have...will be there for you in your golden years. We may have to pay the creditors and shareholders first!
Oh...and those Golden Years aren't going to be so "golden" after you've killed yourself working 70-80-90 hours a week, but that's the American workforce today. Proud, strong Americans that allow the wealthy and powerful to piss on them and tell them it's "trickle-down".
I tell you, "if my Grandfather, who fought to organize Coal Miners in Corning, OH were alive to day, he'd take a fucking flame-thrower to this place, and would proudly throw his World War II medals in the trash.
What a bunch of absolute wimps we've become.