As I have said before, when you are describing the class nature of
society you can be a lumper or a splitter. If you are an extreme
splitter you can split to the point that each and every person is a
class because on an individual level you can usually find some advantage
or disadvantage one person has in comparison to another. However, that
does not help much if you are doing an analysis of the entire economic
situation of the society. If you are an extreme lumper you can just lump
everyone together as people. However, if you do that you have just
renounced doing any economic analysis at all. You could also go one step
from the most extreme lumper and declare that there are two classes.
That has limited use too, but its usefulness depends on how you are
making the division. You could find the median income and draw the line
there and declare everyone who makes less than that to be in one class
and everyone who makes more than that to be in another class, but of
what use is that? You could, instead, divide everyone into producers and
owners. That gives you something to start an economic analysis with even
though working with only two classes is also limiting. To the degree
that it is useful, though, it is useful because the division addresses
the economic role of the classes. If you want to do a more thorough
economic analysis it is necessary to do a bit more splitting, but you
have to be careful to not split to the point of uselessness. A useful
class analysis is one that analyzes class relations, that is, how the
classes interact and how the classes effect each other. You cannot do
that unless you take into consideration the role that each class plays
in the economy. Simply listing a random list of professions and jobs
simply does not address any kind of class or economic analysis. You may
as well try to study physiology by putting together a random list of
body parts. That would be more appropriate for a study of anatomy than
physiology, but it does not help much in the study of anatomy either
because it says nothing about how those body parts interact with each
other or where their place in the body is.
On 8/25/2017 12:21 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
Granted, if you are not super wealthy, you are in jeopardy. But if you lump
together, the homeless, the people working for minimum wage for fast food
restaurants, the people working for Uber or Lift as contract workers, the
people working for law firms as paralegals, the people working for law firms as
well paid attorneys but, nevertheless, workers with no power in those firms,
the people working as home health aides, the people working as nurses, the
people working as physicians' assistants, the people working for Google or
Microsoft as cafeteria workers or high paid tech workers, the people working as
teachers employed by school systems, the people working as pilots for airlines,
doctors, professors, bank employees, and so on, what you are doing is hiding
the distinctions in terms of life style, education, degrees of economic
ssecurity, degrees of opportunity for pleasureable activity, degrees of access
to medical care, degrees of respect given to them as people, etc. Actually,
after I tried to express this to Roger in a private conversation that we
recently had, I saw it written by someone, much smarter and more politically
sophisticated than I am, in an article. I'm certainly not trying to deny the
power relationship between the elites and the rest of us. But there are vast
differences among the rest of us. Yes, you are insecure because your life is
shaped by those who are in power. But you have a beautiful home on 10 acres
where you've been living for quite some time. If you truly comprehend what it
means to live as a black person in, say Baltimore, where they celebrated last
weekend because with tremendous community effort they had only two murders
during that weekend, then you can't equate your situation to that black
Baltimore resident. In other words, there are degrees of powerlessness, and
degrees of misery. Our world is composed of differences and subtleties.
Generalizations help, but sometimes, they obscure reality. NFB has done this
same thing regarding blindness. They insist that someone who has very good
useable partial vision but fits within the definition of legal blindness, is
the same as someone who has been totally blind since birth. That's the
philosophical framework to which members are, or perhaps, were, required to
adhere. The divergence from reality of this point of view should be obvious to
anyone, but it is an article of faith. Take any philosophical framework and
require rigid adherence to it, whether that be Marxist theory or Capitalism,
and you end up with distortion.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 11:13 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Americanisation Fragile
You are exactly right, Miriam. Except that we'll most likely never agree on
this Working Class/Middle Class thing.
But just to beat the dead horse one more time, trying a different club, I do understand that part of the
working class fancy themselves as "Middle Class". I know that people around me would tell you that
the Jarvis' are middle class folk. Middle of what? Certainly not midway between the poverty level and the
billionaires. Not even close. We are not independently wealthy, which, if we were, could make us part of
the American Oligarchy, the White, Male over 21 Land Holder. We live on Promises. Promises that once said,
"Your retirement is secure. You will never be in poverty". Those once firm promises are now in
jeopardy because our Ruling Class desires to declare eternal war on the world. Our small rehabilitation
business could not support us if our retirement and social security were cut, or worse. We clear less than
ten dollars an hour, each. If worse came to worse and our retirement funds were taken away, what we earn in
our business would cover the rent on a shack. And even that money is on shaky ground. We have funding
through next June, but no idea if there will be an Older Blind Program after that. We could well be sucked
down with all those being "drained from the swamp".
So regardless of our color, or our education, or our ability to have saved enough to buy, cash in hand, a
2017 Toyota Tacoma, or the fact that currently we are Land Owners with our ten acres of gorgeous,
forest/farmland. It all depends upon the whims of the Oligarchy, the Ruling Class, the Masters of the
Corporate American Empire. And whether we are a handyman or a real estate broker, a small business person or
a clerk at Safeway, working or standing on the corner with a "help me!" sign, we are all of us seen
as a "natural resource" to the Empire. Everything we have can be taken legally, because we have no
laws that truly protect the Working Class. Our sons and daughters can be taken from us and put in harms way,
with a gun in their hands, ordered to kill other nation's fathers, mothers and little children, in order to
survive. And all in the Lie of "keeping America Free".
So no, I refuse in these times to agree to the Middle Class distinction that has been
sold to so many Working Class Americans. It is merely one more, "Divide and
Conquer" tactic of our Masters.
I have no control over Black Americans viewing my White skin as part of their
problem, their never ending oppression. I can't deny my maleness, which does
give me an advantage, privileges denied Women, even after so many years of
efforts and tears, seeing their small victories being sneered at and dismissed
by the Oligarchy. I could go on, but I am simply saying that we are so caught
up in the spider web of Corporate Capitalism and the Greed that drives it, that
we allow ourselves to be manipulated, to believe that somehow if we are in this
group or that group we will be just a little safer. Can't Americans see that
just as in Europe during the 30's and 40's, that there is no safe place, unless
you are a member of the Ruling Class.
I understand the desire of folks to be safe, but I still become angry when I
see a hall filled with mostly White people who don't have a pot to pee in
between them, all yucking and cheering, snorting and shouting their approval
over the words of a man who holds them in abject contempt. A man who believes
he is so clever that he can manipulate us to allow him to have his way. But
even the Master manipulator is not so safe as he might believe. While he is
busy turning the People against the government, and the people against the
press, and the people against the other people, behind him stand his collection
of Generals. Generals who are now advising the Emperor and his Lackeys, the
Billionaire Cabinet, how to conduct their eternal war. 54 cents of every tax
dollar now goes to the Pentagon. In my book, when you have 54% of the control,
you are in the driver's seat.
And as I've said before, this 54 cents of every tax dollar is only the tip of
that financial iceberg. One of the benefits about being the Ruling Class is
that you get to name the game and write the rules and enforce it all. And when
the game goes badly, or when you move onto a new game, the People, Lower Class,
Working Class, Middle Class, Upper Middle Class will all join together to pay
for the cleanup. Clear cut the forests and pocket the profits and when the
rains come and the mud slides over the roads and blocks the creeks and shoves
homes off their foundations, tell the People that you have no responsibility to
pay for an act of Nature. Over and over we see examples of the Ruling Class
giving us the finger. And we take it, even crowding into some hall in Phoenix
so we can pretend that we have touched the hem of His Royal Robes.
The Ship of Fools has an insane captain at the wheel. The waves are driving us
toward the rocks, and our captain is too busy Twittering to notice that the
generals are already in the life boats and plan to leave the captain behind.
Sorry about such a long rant. But hey, I do feel better!
Carl Jarvis
PS. Did anyone reach the end before hitting "delete"?
CJ
On 8/25/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
All of those old folks who moved to Arizona, they are members of our
middle class whose existence you deny. They moved there to have a
retirement in a warm climate, devoid of problems, problems like the
ones they had to deal with where they lived previously. Of course,
they didn't reckon with all of those Mexican Americans and
undocumented Mexicans who happened to be living there. The white
middle class and some really wealthy people, have had the political
power in Arizona. John McCain is pretty right wing. Even that
Democratic congresswoman who was shot several years ago, was centrist.
So no, they're not the traditional white racist southerners, but one
can certainly understand why someone who doesn't live in the US and is
unfamiliar with the subtleties of our society, might confuse the folks
in Arizona, the people who tried to outlaw Chicano Studies, from our typical
white racists. That's why people are confusing Washington with Lee.
Washington was involved with starting our country. Lee was involved
with committing treason against it. But from the outside, looking in,
both of them were white slave holders and that fact seems most
important if you're the ancestor of a slave.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2017 1:18 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Americanisation Fragile
Actually Bob, Phoenix is made up from people around the entire Nation.
Many older folks retire there because of the dry heat. Around 2001 my
wife and I began visiting my sister and her husband. They lived in
Sun City, which is in the same large valley as is Phoenix. At that
time we learned that when folks first began settling in the Valley of
the Sun, the water table was about four feet down. By 2000, the water
table had been sucked down to 112 feet. When the water table drops so
radically, it may never return to its former level, and the land will
become a fully engaged desert.
But this population you mistakenly call Southerners, are not your
typical long time residents. Still, the state votes very
conservatively. I personally find that odd. People voting against
their own interests. But whether conservative or liberal, the working
class has no say in the affairs of this American Corporate Empire(ACE)
Donald Trump will either be the last president or the first American
Emperor...or both. And with the federal government spending 54 cents
of every tax dollar to support the Pentagon, the infrastructure is
collapsing. The nation will soon be a dried up hollow shell.
Personally, I believe that we have undergone a quiet military coup.
Donald Trump has gathered about him several Generals, along with his
billionaire cabinet. Since Ronald Reagan, the Middle Class has been
in decline, and Donald Trump will leave no trace of it behind, as he
and his Privateers rape and plunder the Land.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/24/17, Bob <ebob824@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hello, this is my post to you succeeding Trump’s ultraconservative
rally in Phoenix Arizona. I do not destine to ridicule with the
subsequent segment. I just have to comment on Trump’s explosive and
fiery remarks.
Trump is petulant, megalomanic, misanthrope, prurient, poltroon and a
direly warmonger. He constantly talks about retaining pride. This
hellion in oval office resembles American fascism and bigotry. White
supremacists endorse this dissembler because he acts according to
their own agenda. It has commenced with the controversial forbiddance
of Muslims entering the United States. Lastly, it has been clearer
than ever before with Trump's rhetoric of explicitly declaring
farther transgression on Afghanistan & south Asia.
His conciliatory message contrasts sharply with his raucous rally the
night before. His turbulent disposal in Phoenix proves exactly what I
have constantly been warning against. What is Phoenix? It is The
state capital of Arizona. It is the largest city located in south
central Arizona, situated in a former desert that has become a
prosperous agricultural region, thanks to irrigation. So, he mainly
addressed southerners. I do not intend to prejudicially extrapolate,
but it seems that southerners are easy to fool with cheap and
counterfeit sentiments of alleged patriotism. Mister Trump
fallaciously claims that hatred, bigotry and violence have no place
in America. It is easy to say I love people despite their religious,
ethnic, gender or political orientation. However, actions speak
louder than words. I will not bait you with how terrible Americans
are. I am just expressing my genuine concern. As for Trump’s recently
announced new strategy in Afghanistan & south Asia, the United States
has been fighting a counterfeit war on terror for approximately seventeen years.
Nothing has been produced but disruption, uproar, sectarianism,
domestic conflict and fringe elements.
Therefore, it is a vital necessity to unitedly confront American
transgressive military force and flawlessly defeat it. Vengeance
against American military must persistently be enacted. I urge the
global declaration of obligatory combative Jihad against unwished
transgressors.
America doesn’t transgress to win, but rather to miserably lose.
Neither their motive nor their fraudulent pride will protect them.
They will desperately be chased in each and evry corner across the
globe to decisively be shot dead. This call is not intended toward
innocents and noncombatants.
I will never threaten people like Jacob, Alison, Pia, Carl, Kane,
Frank, Jessica, or Charlie. They are my friends or at least, truly
harmless acquaintances. I won’t address them with such uncongenial
manner unless they engage in transgression. They won’t do so for
certain. Therefore, they surely aren’t addressed with this strident
rhetoric. I urge you to hasten in advising your military chiefs, that
withdrawing from Muslim countries will save American people.
Otherwise, it is nothing but extremely predictable and unwanted
consequences of grief, misery and grave loss of American people. I
urge you not to heighten hate toward you. It is already there. So, attempt
to eliminate it. No one will tolerate transgression even if he
happened
to be the faintest. He will find a way to resist, and will resist
sharply.
This is how courageous Egyptian obstructors ousted Great Britain.
Despite
their incomparableness with British invaders, they withdrew them. I
talk for the sake of your safety and security. I myself have got
nothing to lose. Martyrdom is gracious in Islamic faith. It is either
Martyrdom or triumph for us. As for you, you have got nothing but
this temporal life to live. Do not open hell on yourselves. Trust me,
you won’t ever win with enacting belligerence. You will only win with
implementing peaceful initiatives. Instead of just talking about
peace, please, show us any sign that you really want peace. Our
reaction will precisely match with your inception. Thus far, it is
all up to you. The way you will greet, you will be greeted back. I
wish you plainly fathom the unbearable consequences of obstinately
enacting transgression. Thank you for carefully pondering, please,
take this absolutely serious. Bob Evans.
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