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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRobert Reich makes an important point about the West Virginia spill
Posted on his Facebook wall:
Last weeks massive toxic chemical spill into West Virginia Elk River illustrates another benefit to the business class of high unemployment, economic insecurity, and a safety-net shot through with holes. Not only are employees docile, eager to accept whatever crumbs they can get. The public is also quiescent and unwilling to cause trouble. The spill was the regions third major chemical accident in five years, coming after two investigations by the federal Chemical Safety Board in the Kanawha Valley, also known as Chemical Valley, and repeated recommendations from federal regulators and environmental advocates that the state embrace tougher rules to better safeguard chemicals. But state and local lawmakers turned a deaf ear. As Maya Nye, president of People Concerned About Chemical Safety, a citizens group formed after a 2008 explosion and fire killed workers at West Virginias Bayer CropScience plant in the state, told the Times: We are so desperate for jobs in West Virginia we dont want to do anything that pushes industry out. Exactly.
For years political scientists have wondered why the citizens of West Virginia and other poorer states vote against their economic interests, hypothesizing its because economic issues have been preempted by others like guns, abortion, and race. But as wages keep sinking and economic security disappears, its also because people are so desperate for jobs theyll vote whatever way industry wants them to. Bottom line: A strong and growing middle class is the best bulwark against corporate irresponsibility.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/730848233594442
polichick
(37,152 posts)Which is why the ptb - in gov't and business - have tried to kill the middle class.
k&r
raven mad
(4,940 posts)to anyone who would listen, since 2000.
liberal N proud
(60,346 posts)benefit to the business class of high unemployment, economic insecurity, and a safety-net shot through with holes. Not only are employees docile, eager to accept whatever crumbs they can get. The public is also quiescent and unwilling to cause trouble.
Keep the people down and they will be grateful for whatever they get and afraid to speak up about the wrong doings.
The only way they can do that is by making sure you are insecure in your job and don't make enough to get comfortable.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)I owe my soul to the company store.
Funny how those lines came from the Appalachian experience.
leeroysphitz
(10,462 posts)raven mad
(4,940 posts)had it right.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)The Ownership Class has been well aware of the benefits of High Unemployment for a long time.
Ross was right,
but Bill was smooth.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Yes.
I hadn't put that piece together. Of course- -it makes perfect sense.
stg81
(351 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)Given a choice between a job with the risk of getting sick some years down the line from drinking polluted water and breathing polluted air and abject poverty in the here and now most people will take the job, thank you very much.
They will also oppose politicians who propose raising environmental standards because they know damn well that the company that pays them can easily move to a country where they don't even make a show of environmental regulation.
This is what we're up against.
EC
(12,287 posts)wish there were some other industries or even commercial enterprises would go there. I don't know why there aren't more tourists jobs...West Virginia is beautiful where the mines haven't ruined it. There is sking and other outdoor fun available. I would guess concerts would sound good in some of the mountain places.
Can't the politicians think of something to get in there that isn't going to ruin the land, water and air?
onethatcares
(16,188 posts)you said, "Can't the politicians think".
99% of them think only of themselves and of getting re-elected.
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)El_Johns
(1,805 posts)Yesterday a worker told me he was "grateful" to the national corporation who had "given me a job" because he'd been unemployed so long.
His job is low wage & physically demanding; no benefits & "at will," & he has no control over his schedule, but nevertheless he's grateful.
Maybe like slaves were grateful because at least the masters fed & housed them.
bklyncowgirl
(7,960 posts)spanone
(135,882 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)kelliekat44
(7,759 posts)desperate. Desperate people will accept anything...especially low information, bigots. Decent wages would free them from the corporate chains.
mother earth
(6,002 posts)we have are two parties beholding to the campaign money from corporate, SCOTUS declared, personhood.
Is there any surprise that absolutely nothing is being accomplished, save for the few crumbs to promote big insurance and pharma interests aka as ACA?
This is why we don't get a universal health care, it's not about reining in costs, it's never about reining in the corporate oligarchy, is it?
Why do some here continue to cheer on the demise of the middle class? Is party affiliation the end all and be all?
Go left, America, it's the only way we win this, it's the only way yet to be tried.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Thanks for posting this.