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When I was a kid growing up in Middle America (I'm in my 50s now), it seemed like people really cared about these types of labor issues. I remember most adults
by jimt1234 5y ago
When I was a kid growing up in Middle America (I'm in my 50s now), it seemed like people really cared about these types of labor issues. I remember most adults took interest in the working conditions at the local auto plant, even if they didn't work there. Now, it feels like, at best, people just don't care ("Pfff. I don't work there, why should I care?"), or at worst, people blame workers ("Bunch of lazy bums!", "Be grateful you have a job at all!", "Should've gone to college!") I'm sure there's a list of reasons for this shift in attitude, but I can tell you that it's real, and kinda depressing.
- inter_netuser 5y agowhat are the reasons for this, in your view?
- chillwaves 5y agoNarcissism becoming the mainstream culture of America.
- jimt1234 5y agoIMHO, two things: (1) The gradual destruction of labor unions. When I was a kid, labor unions were strong, seemed like every adult was part of one. And there existed a "brotherhood" amongst the various unions. When one union went on strike, the other unions would wholeheartedly support them. And (2), pro-business bias in reporting (don't wanna upset PepsiCo, a massive sponsor!). Here's a great example: https://www.google.com/search?q=frito-lay+strike+site:foxnews.com https://www.google.com/search?q=frito-lay+strike+site:foxnew... . Nothing about the Frito-Lay strike. Fox News is the ONLY news source in Middle America. I don't feel like other major sources are much better; they've got sponsors to please, too.
- threatofrain 5y agoThere's also Google News search if we just want to focus on news outlets. https://news.google.com/search?q=frito-lay+strike https://news.google.com/search?q=frito-lay+strike > I don't feel like other major sources are much better; they've got sponsors to please, too. In contrast to Fox, we can see coverage from NYT, Wapo, Newsweek, CNN, Independent, and many small outlets. > Fox News is the ONLY news source in Middle America. Aren't OANN and Newsmax competing against Fox for the same audience?
- tarsinge 5y agoRegarding (2), I think it illustrate the more general phenomenon of the global shift of blue collar vote to the right, against their interests.
- wyclif 5y agoWhile I understand your point about the popularity of Fox News in middle America, it's a big stretch to conclude that it's the only source. People have to start taking responsibility for which sources they read, listen to, and trust. There's nothing stopping these people from showing a bit of initiative and reading a broader range of news sources. Well, nothing except their passivity and desire to be spoon-fed news and opinion that correlates with their pre-constructed worldview.
- smoldesu 5y agoWhy care about it when you can Tweet your support for the same social clout?
- RubberMullet 5y agoI'm almost 50 and I've bounced between white collar and blue collar work, union and nonunion, during my professional career. It is indeed depressing and was never more palpable, IME, than in academia of all places. Thomas Frank wrote a great book on this shift in Listen, Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People?