Why So Many Americans Defend the Failed Capitalist Experiment

[eridani]

http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/09/13/why-so-many-americans-defend-the-failed-capitalist-experiment

Anyone Above the Lowest Class: It’s Empowering to Look Down on Someone

Members of the sinking middle class in our pathologically unequal society may well find it convenient to blame people in lower economic classes, who are unlikely to fight back. Guidance for such condescension comes from libertarian write Charles Murray, who apparently doesn’t understand the family stress caused by the lack of educational and employment opportunities. He accuses the poor of having a “genetic makeup that is significantly different from the configuration of the population above the poverty line.” And, he adds, “Married, educated people who work hard and conscientiously raise their kids shouldn’t hesitate to voice their disapproval of those who defy these norms.”

This inspires people like Paul Ryan and Scott Walker, both of whom compared the safety net to a “hammock,” and John Boehner, who explained the thinking of poor people: “I really don’t have to work…I think I’d rather just sit around.”

The critics of struggling Americans should be reminded that the cost of the entire Safety Net is only about ONE-SIXTH of the $2.2 trillion in tax avoidance that primarily benefits the rich.

[RufusTFirefly]

1. As Steinbeck once wrote...

(I see one of the people who commented on the original article cited him, too.)

Thanks for posting, eridani!

[aidbo]

2. was going to paraphrase that.

[Hydra]

3. Ya, always just one step away from getting back to their rightful place in the 1%

...Can you believe that 30% of people think they are in the 1%? The real 1% probably laugh their asses off about it.

[rhett o rick]

5. Those that believe they can be in the 1% don't understand that if everyone was in the 1%

it'd be the 100%. Dipshit McConnell said that we are not the land of the haves and have nots, but the land of the haves and the soon to have. Those that believe that don't understand that if everyone was in the haves, we would have socialism. Too many Americans are gullible. It's the lottery mentality.

[TBF]

7. And not just gullible -

they are trained to think this way in our schools & have been for a long time. I still remember the red-baiting lectures from 6th grade when they showed us the films of the empty stores in the USSR. I've commented on them before and found out that many folks saw those as kids.

At least we (those born pre-1980) had some teachers who were willing to teach us critical thinking skills. Now they are just preparing millions of students to take standardized tests, obey authority, and get ready for their military assignment if they can't afford college (and who can these days).

Sigh.

[rusty quoin]

4. I didn't know that one. Orwell and Steinbeck...we use to worship them in schools.

[Old Union Guy]

6. It isn't an "experiment" and it hasn't failed at all ...

Experiment?

It is an immensely successful system for the people who profit from it. Capitalism will not have failed until it is unable to perpetuate itself.

It (unfortunately) seems to be going stronger than ever right now.

Best not to rely on "historical inevitability" flavored rhetoric and organize labor some more instead.