At the end of World War II America’s “railroad barons” (read, Capitalists) launched a campaign of amnesia called “The American Century.” They sold our parents the idea that we, America, had won the war against fascism and that the next 100 years would be a wonderful time. Shiny new suburban bungalows for all, new Buick in the driveway, colorful Tupperware and FiestaWare filling the kitchen. And so on.
But they also stole away our understanding that America, like all countries, is a class society. Working class, impoverished class, ultra-wealthy. And, like the Great And Powerful Wizard of Oz, they hid themselves behind a curtain while handing us two (just two) political parties and saying that all changes must come through those parties.
We must relearn that we are America’s working class, and that our power and right to fight for our interests flows from that fact. We are not captive to the parties of America’s puppet masters. We have power. Let us learn to use it!
Really looking forward to the next installment when you tackle the "What do we do?" question. In the short term (forgive me, it's how my brain works) I can't see any goal more important than defeating Trump, a goal that requires me to grit my teeth and vote and volunteer for Biden, who seems to be trying his hardest to persuade me NOT to vote for him.
Because I get that Trump is just the manifestation of many ugly tendencies in our country that pre-dated him (like racism and misogyny, to name just two) and defeating him doesn't make these underlying pathologies just go away, but at the same time, Trumpism is located within a political party, and political parties generally like winning more than they like losing. There's zero hope of convincing an asshole like Ted Cruz to stop being a racist, but I do have hope that Cruz and many other opportunistic Republicans can be taught that it's not going to get you up the next rung of the ladder.
I can never find episode five of the lecture series. I always look through YouTube, but can’t find it.
Thank you, Jared.
At the end of World War II America’s “railroad barons” (read, Capitalists) launched a campaign of amnesia called “The American Century.” They sold our parents the idea that we, America, had won the war against fascism and that the next 100 years would be a wonderful time. Shiny new suburban bungalows for all, new Buick in the driveway, colorful Tupperware and FiestaWare filling the kitchen. And so on.
But they also stole away our understanding that America, like all countries, is a class society. Working class, impoverished class, ultra-wealthy. And, like the Great And Powerful Wizard of Oz, they hid themselves behind a curtain while handing us two (just two) political parties and saying that all changes must come through those parties.
We must relearn that we are America’s working class, and that our power and right to fight for our interests flows from that fact. We are not captive to the parties of America’s puppet masters. We have power. Let us learn to use it!
Really looking forward to the next installment when you tackle the "What do we do?" question. In the short term (forgive me, it's how my brain works) I can't see any goal more important than defeating Trump, a goal that requires me to grit my teeth and vote and volunteer for Biden, who seems to be trying his hardest to persuade me NOT to vote for him.
Because I get that Trump is just the manifestation of many ugly tendencies in our country that pre-dated him (like racism and misogyny, to name just two) and defeating him doesn't make these underlying pathologies just go away, but at the same time, Trumpism is located within a political party, and political parties generally like winning more than they like losing. There's zero hope of convincing an asshole like Ted Cruz to stop being a racist, but I do have hope that Cruz and many other opportunistic Republicans can be taught that it's not going to get you up the next rung of the ladder.