5 ms·

> Who is really to blame? This is the wrong question that Americans love to ask when they don't want to solve any problems. The right question is how can this

by mnm1 7y ago

> Who is really to blame? This is the wrong question that Americans love to ask when they don't want to solve any problems. The right question is how can this be fixed? But as long as people focus on blame, they can ignore solutions and things get worse. > Workers are getting left behind, sure. But some workers are making it too. Yes, I think we're all aware that the upper class and upper middle class are doing well. That's about 10% of the population or so. Meanwhile, the other 90% are left behind. Somehow this is supposed to justify the current status?

MuffinFlavored 7y ago
My point is: why can 10% of the population make it but 90% can't? Is it hard work, is it opportunity, is it lack of education/resources?
- mnm1 7y ago
  It's definitely not for lack of hard work. Not everyone can "make it." That'd be impossible. Making it requires one to achieve a high-end job with good pay. If everyone made it, who would clean toilets, serve burgers, and do all the shitty little jobs that need to be done in society? Why can't the other 90% of the population make it? Because that'd be impossible. Lack of opportunity and education/resources is a big part of it, but many still wouldn't make it because they are simply not smart/skilled/artistic/athletic enough to make it. What we could do is change that split from 90/10 to something more favorable. I don't think that can happen with a hyperfocus on profits over meeting people's needs. The number one reason that ratio has become this way is the lack of government protection for workers: enforcing proper minimum wages, providing proper time off, healthcare, childcare, housing, and education options. There's plenty more. When people's basic needs (Maslow's hierarchy) aren't met, we shouldn't be surprised that they're not living up to their full potential, or in some cases, any potential at all. That's why most of the other 90% of people can't make it. Their physiological and safety needs (levels 1 and 2 on Maslow's hierarchy) are simply not met.

by mnm1 7y ago

MuffinFlavored 7y ago

My point is: why can 10% of the population make it but 90% can't? Is it hard work, is it opportunity, is it lack of education/resources?

mnm1 7y ago
It's definitely not for lack of hard work. Not everyone can "make it." That'd be impossible. Making it requires one to achieve a high-end job with good pay. If everyone made it, who would clean toilets, serve burgers, and do all the shitty little jobs that need to be done in society? Why can't the other 90% of the population make it? Because that'd be impossible. Lack of opportunity and education/resources is a big part of it, but many still wouldn't make it because they are simply not smart/skilled/artistic/athletic enough to make it. What we could do is change that split from 90/10 to something more favorable. I don't think that can happen with a hyperfocus on profits over meeting people's needs. The number one reason that ratio has become this way is the lack of government protection for workers: enforcing proper minimum wages, providing proper time off, healthcare, childcare, housing, and education options. There's plenty more. When people's basic needs (Maslow's hierarchy) aren't met, we shouldn't be surprised that they're not living up to their full potential, or in some cases, any potential at all. That's why most of the other 90% of people can't make it. Their physiological and safety needs (levels 1 and 2 on Maslow's hierarchy) are simply not met.