As a non-american I would like to ask: did the affirmative action go too far up to the point of endangering another group? If so, what correction steps would you take?
All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
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Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#12It's been obvious for a decade that the "go to the factory every week for 40 years and retire" job sector is on the decline, a decline which has accelerated rapidly more recently. There is no place in our economy for a bolt turner to earn $25 an hour, end of discussion. This is why I like the idea of at least reducing the cost of a college education, or preferably eliminating it. A regular high school degree is quick…
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Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#13What is society's ideal for the average white working class? What is "success"? Is it better looking houses? More expensive cars? Fresher food? Is it getting to live in a very expensive nursing home when they retire? Is it equality where both husband and wife are responsible exactly 50% in finances, chores and taking care of the kids? Or have the time & money to spend a lot more time with the kids; Will welfare help…
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Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#14As a non-american I would like to ask: did the affirmative action go too far up to the point of endangering another group? If so, what correction steps would you take?
As an American my impression is blue collar white working class Americans decided they'd rather give up the benefits of unionized employment in return for not having to give up the racially based pecking order.
Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#15It's been obvious for a decade that the "go to the factory every week for 40 years and retire" job sector is on the decline, a decline which has accelerated rapidly more recently. There is no place in our economy for a bolt turner to earn $25 an hour, end of discussion. This is why I like the idea of at least reducing the cost of a college education, or preferably eliminating it. A regular high school degree is quick…
I personally disagree that college is the solution. Some people lack the financial stability required to excel in what is essentially a long, expensive vacation learning things that won't directly impact their earnings. I vehemently believe in liberal arts and the importance of people studying philosophy/literature/etc., but studying impractical things is a luxury. Other countries have robust retraining programs, so…
I'm glad Basic Income was brought up. If we continue to see automation and outsourcing grow, and as a result corporate profits soar, then as a country we need to plan for the loss of a host of "traditional' jobs.
Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#16There is simply not enough 'work' any more.
Here's a thought. Why can't we as a society ensure that everyone is paid a living wage according to their need.
It may take a while, but I believe this will be the only way that we can hold this society* together.
* Deep irony here, speaking as one of 'Thatcher's children'.
Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#17What is society's ideal for the average white working class? What is "success"? Is it better looking houses? More expensive cars? Fresher food? Is it getting to live in a very expensive nursing home when they retire? Is it equality where both husband and wife are responsible exactly 50% in finances, chores and taking care of the kids? Or have the time & money to spend a lot more time with the kids; Will welfare help…
>What is "success"? Is it better looking houses? More expensive cars? Fresher food?
You need to think much more basic than that: Success is having a savings account, a roof over your head in a safe stable location so the kids can stay in the same school, reliable transportation, and a job that provides enough income for all of the above.
Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#18It's been obvious for a decade that the "go to the factory every week for 40 years and retire" job sector is on the decline, a decline which has accelerated rapidly more recently. There is no place in our economy for a bolt turner to earn $25 an hour, end of discussion. This is why I like the idea of at least reducing the cost of a college education, or preferably eliminating it. A regular high school degree is quick…
I personally disagree that college is the solution. Some people lack the financial stability required to excel in what is essentially a long, expensive vacation learning things that won't directly impact their earnings. I vehemently believe in liberal arts and the importance of people studying philosophy/literature/etc., but studying impractical things is a luxury. Other countries have robust retraining programs, so…
> I personally disagree that college is the solution. Some people lack the financial stability required to excel in what is essentially a long, expensive vacation learning things that won't directly impact their earnings.
Which is why like I said, it needs to be greatly reduced or preferably free.
Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#19It's been obvious for a decade that the "go to the factory every week for 40 years and retire" job sector is on the decline, a decline which has accelerated rapidly more recently. There is no place in our economy for a bolt turner to earn $25 an hour, end of discussion. This is why I like the idea of at least reducing the cost of a college education, or preferably eliminating it. A regular high school degree is quick…
I personally disagree that college is the solution. Some people lack the financial stability required to excel in what is essentially a long, expensive vacation learning things that won't directly impact their earnings. I vehemently believe in liberal arts and the importance of people studying philosophy/literature/etc., but studying impractical things is a luxury. Other countries have robust retraining programs, so…
I also hate to add this to the conversation, but not everyone has the drive and inclination to do anything but bolt turning.
So when bolt turning peters out, they won't suddenly find their higher calling in advanced application and design of bolts and fasteners.
What they will do instead is hard to know, welfare, unemployment, early retirement they probably can't afford.
Maybe a foray into boutique bolt turning, charging excess for manually turned bolts. Machines don't turn bolts like they were turned in the good ol' days after all.
Re: All Hollowed Out: The lonely poverty of America’s white working class
#20What is society's ideal for the average white working class? What is "success"? Is it better looking houses? More expensive cars? Fresher food? Is it getting to live in a very expensive nursing home when they retire? Is it equality where both husband and wife are responsible exactly 50% in finances, chores and taking care of the kids? Or have the time & money to spend a lot more time with the kids; Will welfare help…
Most people yearn for purpose, family, and community.
I think of my grandparents and how they lived their lives. My mom's dad was a NYC Sanitation worker, among other things. They lived frugally and eventually had a small summer cottage in the country. He had an 8th grade education, because his family in Ireland couldn't afford more. Yet he taught himself calculus up to the calc 2 level. That whole cohort of grandparents, grand uncles and aunts had a healthy disrespect for wealth. They had pride in their work, family & their church.
My dad's dad was a very successful pub owner in Brookyn, who essentially lost it all when the city went to pot in the 70s and his clientele vaporized or went to Jersey. But he wasn't a bitter man, he was a guy who lit up a room and found joy in all sorts of things -- he was a bike messenger in his 60s, which to my young ears was probably the most important job on earth. Family, community and friends are values that I think about when I think of him -- a man who lived through a lot of tragedy beyond the scope of this little post.
Misery and despair isn't a racial issue or even a poverty issue. We created a society where passive entertainment degraded the social fabric, (read "Bowling Alone") and now we're in the process of smashing ("disrupting") society and robbing people of their purpose.
That pretty much fits to a T what has been done historically to many segments of black and Hispanic society. So why should we be surprised at the manifestation of misery and desperation from discarded white people?