What is it that scares us so much about poverty? Is it that when we pass a man on the street with a sign asking for help we realize how fragile our own situation is? Do we see ourselves in him and we need to believe that their is something different about us, a trait that makes us invulnerable to poverty? In order to confront the issue of poverty, how we view those who are poor needs to change. The notion that I am more special than you and am entitled to more is deeply ingrained in all of us. It comes from religion, from family, from the media, from the very foundation of our government. To question these ideas is the first step in ending poverty. As workers, as unemployed, as poor, and as middle class the realization must come that we have more in common with one another than with the owners. We can each continue trying to get our piece of the pie, trying to hold on to what little we have, all the while our wages fall, our hours increase, our health insurance disappears as our environment becomes more and more unhealthy for us to live in. CHOKE is more than finding necks to wring - and there is plenty - it is also about building a community of people who have had it with the collective and current state of things. People who offer there advise about finding work, or moving from the United States, or developing a more positive attitude are no more welcome here than a satan worshiper is at a Catholic mass. I believe that it high time greedy, narcissistic, and ignorant opportunists find someplace to live. This is indeed a beautiful country and it was built by the folks at the bottom of the ladder. Stokely Carmichael once said: "We're gonna walk on this nation, we're gonna walk on this racist power structure, and we're going to say to whole government: stick em up motherfucker, this is a hold up, we've come for what's ours." At CHOKE we couldn't agree more.
Before we jump to "Wringin' Someone's Neck" I want to give a minute to our Chicago correspondent, who having been off in D.C. finally reported in:
I just went to a big United Nations Consultation on the Women's housing rights in DC that we helped make happen and I am writing a manifesto about it.
If you are bored, have some free time, or are an unemployed writer go to a book store and read the introduction (it is about 20 pages long) of the book "Pathologies of Power" by Paul Farmer. It is about Human Rights and health care. He says political and civil rights are meaningless because people without economic and social rights can't exercise them. He bashes people who blame the victims for their poverty. A book review will be forthcoming when I finish the thing. He is my new favorite author and I have only read 40 of 250 pages of his book.
James Pfluecke
when themasses take over, I shall be the Minister of Love (cause it really is what lfe is all about)
Now we'll take a moment to do some chokin.' Well, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and the rest of the Northwest Airlines board of directors, its your turn to struggle for some breath. In the Star and Tribune today the President of the AMFA, Ted Ludwig said," The members of the board need to be held accountable for what has happened. The people in charge have wrecked this company." Choke agrees. Northwest has hurt Minnesota citizens too many times. They have broken promises, kept airfares high and in general scammed the state out of our hard earned tax dollars. Every man, woman, and child in Minnesota should be able to spend a minute Chokin' the shit out of you. By the way Doris is publishing a book on Abe Lincoln - how ironic can life get. Minnesota bookstores should boycott the book, as should you.
Before we say goodnight CHOKE has to take a moment to revisit our first choking victim, Harriet Miers, who was given a "redo" on her first assignment. We all know what a "redo" really means. Let's all take a moment clap for our flunky supreme court nominee.
In the coming issues we'll be introducing you to actual working (and unemployed) folks. Allowing them to tell their own story. And we're excited about an upcoming issue with stories from high school students - they'll be ringing in on their own work experiences and what they hope there working life will bring them.
Remember that we always enjoy your feedback, ideas, and general comments - but please nothing anonymous. If you have a voice use it, don't be afraid to identify yourself - even if it's a handle. And don't forget the blog: http:\\surlyworkers.blogspot.com
Tomorrow...
O
1 comment:
"The notion that I am more special than you and am entitled to more" is attributable in large part to Thomas Malthus (upon whom Thomas Hobbes relied, and [drumroll] John Locke in turn copied). Malthus established the position that it is necessary to scam others because there are inadequate resources for everyone, so it is you or me. This theory has since been scientifically proven false, though most people neglect to mention that. But this is discussed in "Critical Path" by R. Buckminster Fuller.
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