4 ms·
It took over a century to go from Oliver Twist to the broad Post-WWII Middle Class. How long this time?
by smallmancontrov 2mo ago
It took over a century to go from Oliver Twist to the broad Post-WWII Middle Class. How long this time?
- georgemcbay 2mo ago> It took over a century to go from Oliver Twist to the broad Post-WWII Middle Class. How long this time? It may be optimistic to assume any path even exists this time (or at least that any path exists without violent revolution). I won't pretend to know what will actually happen in the future, but the long road from Oliver Twist to middle class prosperity was paved in large part by labor realizing they have collective bargaining power and wielding that as a weapon to slowly forge a seat at the table. That weapon goes away in a world where a majority of people no longer have any individual labor power to collectivize.
- the8472 2mo agoIt does not stop at negotiation power, if your economic value is epsilon above zero, what do you have to offer to exchange for food calories? I'm already seeing things being assessed on a Joules/Token basis.
- a2ff6eeb0 2mo agoWhy do you think there's a law that will make it happen again? A large, empowered middle class is a historical anomaly, not a law of nature. The question is, if we're going to erase that anomaly, what can you do to be among the winners?
- jdjejdijene 2mo ago[dead]
- michael_michael 2mo agoTo quote David Graeber by way of "Can't Get You Out of My Head": The ultimate hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently. If the elite class decides they are going to checkmate all others, winner take all, the smartest play is probably to flip the table.
- unrented7977 2mo agoSpot the American. The sensible and moral action is to ensure that nobody loses instead of "got mine fuck you"
- a2ff6eeb0 2mo agoIf you think you've got the leverage, give it a shot.
- unified101 2mo agoEthical behavior only when you have leverage is for a hollow personality.
- a2ff6eeb0 2mo agoWhat are you doing about the problem?
- unified101 2mo agoI'm opposing viewpoints that say might makes right.
- bewareofscams 2mo agoI am all in support of that opposition, but then it also gives to "then be crushed with might".
- a2ff6eeb0 2mo agoHow? (shitposting on the internet ain't it)
- happytoexplain 2mo agoEvery good thing society has accomplished is a "historical anomaly", by definition. History is very large, and very miserable.
- oblio 2mo agoWell, Einstein assumed WW4 would be fought with rocks so this cycle might take a bit longer.