Class and Corps

This whole 'welfare for Wall Street' situation has me thinking about class issues. I think it’s important that we examine why class delineation is pervasive. American class division is clearly sustained by our government welfare programs, our educational system, and myths of the American dream of rags-to-riches. The structures of corporation (taking advantage of loopholes, providing no or poor benefits for workers, and preventing unions) also upholds class divisions. But to what end? I think with all the information we are reading, its becoming clear that the top 5% and corporations benefit financially from class divides.

American systems work together in a cycle that brings huge profits to large corporations by demoralizing workers, maintaining economic and class stratus through failed government systems, and supporting myths and ideologies that support class striation. I see the cycle going as follows. First, when people work for companies in which they are not paid enough to live they are stuck in a never ending cycle of desperation. This desperation requires people to take whatever they can get and not demand what they deserve. It’s like in the ‘hierarchy of needs’ says, if you’re hungry and have no place to live, you’re not thinking about finding a career that correlates with your path of self-actualization. This is a wonderful position for a company to have its employees in, because desperate people can be taken advantage of and will work for well below their value, therefore saving the company money.

Second, if we examine 'economic dependency theory', it states that wealthy nations often exploit poorer nations, which makes rich countries richer and poorer countries poorer. I think we are seeing this theory play out within our own borders as a result of capitalism. In the process of a company attempting to reach wealth of exorbitant proportions for their executives and shareholders, they exploit the lower-wage workers. This exploitation pushes low-wage workers into a government run system, welfare, which does not assist people in truly getting out of their economic or ‘class’ situation, just getting through day-to-day.

Third, changes are not made in the welfare system because myths of the American Dream, independence, bootstraps, and rags to riches are entrenched in the American lexicon, paid for and supported by big companies that dominate our print and television media. This is advertising well spent of course. It pulls at the heartstrings of the American public by touching the hope within each of us that we can independently cross the prairie, make a billion dollars, and ride off into the sunset on a horse, or in an expensive foreign car. This makes us want to buy things too because we feel inspired, but it also makes us believe we should all be capable of achieving anything at all times. This in turn makes ‘blaming the victims’ seem justified when people do not achieve the successes they hope for. Furthermore, when we blame others for their circumstances we absolve ourselves of responsibility for their situations and become complacent to improving conditions for the poor.

Why do we participate in this cycle and maintenance of class divides? There could be so many reasons, for every person we make conscious and unconscious choices that preserve the status quo. Is it because people secretly hope they’ll slog through life to the top and one day be that high paid exec? Or do we feel the need to draw a line in the sand between ‘us and them’ because the slope downhill to a lower SES or lower class feels so slippery and precariously close? I feel when we draw divides between each other, we’re only hurting ourselves, giving companies power over the management of our government, and allowing ourselves to co-opt the values companies are selling us for their own benefit.

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For more information of class issues and corporations check out:
- Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America by Barbara Ehrenreich
- Race, class, and gender: An anthology (6th Ed), Edited by Anderson & Collins (2007)
- Economics for Social Workers: The application of economic theory to social policy and the human services, New York: Columbia University Press (2001)
- Income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States, Census Bureau (2006)

A must see!

This is the PBS documentary about Obama and McCain. It's really a must see!

VOTE VOTE VOTE

It's so important that we don't lose our energy here at the end of the races. We need to keep our eyes on the prize and vote! Remind your friends, family, and neighbors to go to the polls! It's the final and most important step to getting a president who represents our morals, values, and vision for America.

McCain and Palin eat their words

Group think is a dangerous thing.

Dangerous and reactionary responses can erupt when people get together and join in an angry "us vs. them" mentality based on partial truths, and misinformation. People's safety is put at risk when misinformation continues unfettered to fuel a fire of fear.

I think McCain learned this the hard way as he stood in the middle of a mob of his own creation. I don't think McCain or his campaign managers fully understood the repercussions that false accusations of terrorism could have on the American public and their understanding of the Democratic candidate. I like to believe they didn't, because if they did, then their phrases constituted libel and intentionally risked another candidate's safety.

Thanks for addressing this misinformation and correcting dangerous half truths, McCain. Let's make this campaign about issues, not slander.

tee hee

Tell your Grandmamma to vote for Obama!

It's not news that senior citizens are more likely to vote than any other demographic. In 2004 Federal Census figures showed that 69% of all eligible seniors came out to vote. But it may be news that McCain is still leading slightly with the over 65 set. It is incredibly important that we talk to our grandparents and parents about voting for Obama, because he wants to preserve our social services like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, that will benefit American seniors and their families. McCain on the other hand has a series of plans, which weaken our Medicaid and Medicare systems by reducing funding from the federal government, privatize care, deregulate and reduce oversight, and put American families' savings at risk in the open market. We all know what can happen when Wall Street fails us. Where would a plan like McCains leave our parents and grandparents? I can tell you where, exactly where we are today. We need to reogranize and put our families first by voting for Obama.

Info about American Seniors:

- 6 Million workers are 65+ years
- In 12 months, number of unemployed persons increased by 2.2 million
- At age 50:
75% of the population has less than $5,000 in the bank for retirement.
- At age 65:
45% of Americans depend on relatives
30% depend on charities
23% are still working (most work until they are no longer physically capable)
Only 2% are self-sustaining.

Obama's Plan:

MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

- Leave Medicare intact for older and disabled Americans.
- Allow Medicare to negotiate for cheaper drug prices.
- Expansion of Medicaid & the State Children’s Health Insurance Program’s (SCHIP) eligibility. (allowing coverage for children from families just above the poverty line)
- Eliminate excessive subsidies to Medicare Advantage Plus plans (private plan alternative not cost efficient.)

SOCIAL SECURITY

- Against rising the retirement age.
- Against privatization
- Would ask those making over $250,000. A year to contribute 2%-4% more in total. (Combined with employer and employee.)
- Protect Pensions-Companies cannot shed pensions as debt.
- Will prevent Companies from issuing executive bonuses while cutting worker pensions.
- Will increase amount of unpaid wages and benefits workers can claim in court.
- Limit circumstances under which retire benefits can be reduced.
- Will require detailed annual disclosures about employees pension fund investments.
- Will strengthen the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.

TAXES

- Freeze Estate tax at 2009 levels
- 45% tax rate on estates valued at more than $3.5 million
- Married couples can combine their exemptions for a total of $7 million.
- This would exempt about 99.7% of estate taxes
- Eliminate Income Tax for seniors making less than $50,000 annually. (7 million seniors save $1400 each a year.)
- 27 million seniors will not need to file an income tax return.
- Simplify Tax Filings for millions of Americans (pre-filed tax forms created from input of IRS, banks, employers -savings of $2 billion in tax prepares fees.)
- $1000. Emergency Energy Rebate for American families ( from Windfall Profits Tax)
- Patriot Employer Act 2007 (tax credit to employers that provide full time work and corporate headquarters within US. Provide health insurance-retirement benefits.)
- Tax relief for Small Businesses (eliminate capital gains taxes)
- Provide a $500. Making Work Pay tax credit (to almost every worker in America.)
- Childcare Tax Credit (family refund of 50% for childcare expenses)

UNEMPLOYEMENT

- Opposes Bush- National Labor Relations Board’s ‘Kentucky River’ (decisions that take away rights to form unions by changing definition of ‘supervisor’.)
- Will raise minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011.
- Will provide $1.5 Billion for Paid Leave Fund (start –up fund for employer incentive.)
- $25 Billion in Jobs and Growth Fund. (Save over one million jobs that risk being cut i.e. road maintenance, school repair.)
- Supports Advanced Manufacturing Fund (Create 5 million new Green Jobs engaging disadvantaged youth-most innovative proposals to create new products and jobs.)
- Will Strengthen ability of workers to unionize - right to join union without harassment or
intimidation from their employers
- Supports Employee free choice act - ensure that his labor appointees support worked rights and ban the permanent replacement of striking workers

Big ideas, big inspirations

Harlem "Baby College" Website







This American Life: Going Big This Program talks about an interesting project in NY designed to help parents raise their children for success. The program is narrarated by the author of yet another book I've added to my ever expanding reading list: Whatever it Takes: an in-depth look at the Harlem Children's Zone by Paul Tough. It's always wonderful to be inspired by someone else 'going big' for their dreams and values.

More programs about Harlem Baby College:

Activist Aims High with Harlem Children's Zone, NPR, Tell Me More, September 24, 2008 · Many observers believe that the New York neighborhood of Harlem is undergoing its second renaissance. Social activist Geoffrey Canada, who is among that number, is creating a new education project that goes beyond schools, and tries to better children's lives in the community. Canada and author Paul Tough discuss the idea behind the "Harlem Children's Zone."

NPR, Fresh Air from WHYY, September 15, 2008 · The Harlem Children's Zone, writes New York Times reporter Paul Tough, is "the first and so far the only organization in the country that pulls together ... integrated social and educational services for thousands of children" — all under one umbrella, all in one place, all at one time.

If you're a woman do you have to vote for a woman? NO!!!!

Wow, this NPR roundtable blew me away. It's great to hear other people articulate so eloquently why we should vote for policy, not for the race or gender of a candidate. Really worth a listen! I've also included the link to the Richard Trumka video they reference because I wanted to see what this white male labor union leader had to say about racism. I think it's always important for us to examine our own beliefs when we're making a descision, because our gut reactions are not always the most enlightened. I'm working hard these days to be more than my animal insticts.



I've also included more programs about racism and our current campaign below. Very, very interesting:
- NPR, Spet. 11, 2008, Does Race Matter pt 1
- NPR, Sept. 11, 2008, Does Race Matter pt 2

I'll have the plate of content with a side of truth please

Negative ads and inflammatory semi-truths are just wearing me out. I'm totally over them and I think the American public is too! On NPR there was a great program that fact checked both the Democrat's and Republican's content in their attack ads and touches on the public's feelings about negative ads. I found it particularly interesting that when candidates fall behind in the polls they are more likely to run attack ads. In this interview with Stephen Marks, the author of The Confessions of a Political Hitman, he also addresses the attack ad as 'last ditch' approach. One of my professors recommended his book and, after seeing this interview as well, it's on my ever expanding list of books to read.



Ideally, this is what I want for the remainder of the political season . . . positive speeches with real content and ads which summarize what candidates will do once they're in office. This is how we develop an informed public and promote a political system which allows us to vote based on issues not fear and other knee-jerk reactions. So, can I have that please, PLEASE!

Winning by not losing . . . or just losing

The vice presidential debates are now over and I have to say, both the Republicans and Democrats seemed to get what they wanted out of it. Joe Biden was in a tough situation, but he exceeded expectations and was congenial, articulate, on point, knowledgeable, and didn't pursue tangents as he's known to do. All in all, I think the Democrats can be proud to know that Biden is very intelligent and can keep his cool. Palin too exceeded expectations, albeit an easy task after her embarrassing stumblings with Katie Couric. The Republicans achieved what they were hoping for, to salvage some dignity for their candidates. However, I couldn't help but feel discomfort with Palin's folksy approach that parallels the speeches of the last eight years.

David Folkenflik described it best in his article Palin, Pundits and Partisans: A Made-for-TV Drama; "Palin looked right into the camera, winked, smiled, joked and conveyed just by how she carried herself that, doggone it, this normal non-beltway professional would be perfectly comfortable being the understudy for the most powerful person on Earth. . . . That's not to say Palin actually answered the questions posed by moderator Gwen Ifill of PBS. She didn't always bother. And why should she have? The abbreviated periods mandated by the event's format hardly required it."

I have a real problem with our president not being taken seriously internationally and an even bigger problem with our president not taking their position seriously. The American president should stand as the consummate professional, an intellectual, and a leader. When our leaders think that 'playing dumb', or just being dumb, makes them popular, we embarrass ourselves. This 'Joe six pack', 'I'm just a hockey mom, I don't know what you Washington bigwigs mean?' flaky folksy approach shames our entire country. I want to see someone standing up in a debate, on national television, and at conferences with international leaders who impresses the world with their compassion, grace, intelligence, and honor. I don't want to think, "I could have a beer with them!"

As always, it's helpful to check the facts after a debate. I found this breakdown particularly helpful. Click the link above to check it out for yourself.

Here's my favorite moment from the debate. Thanks Biden, for being an honest, open, strong, and sensitive man. You're devotion to your family makes you a role model for people across our country.