I don’t think enough people realize we no longer live like peasants not just because of advances in technology but because of advances in rights. The Bigs never wanted to share the profits of industrialization. Unions and voters forced sharing with the power of unity. That’s how life improved. - ThreadSky

deirdreassenza.bsky.social • 79 days ago

I don’t think enough people realize we no longer live like peasants not just because of advances in technology but because of advances in rights. The Bigs never wanted to share the profits of industrialization. Unions and voters forced sharing with the power of unity. That’s how life improved.

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deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

I remember growing up in a Republican household and often hearing the standard 90s GOP argument against unions. It was that the “rising tide will lift all boats” and there’s so much wealth around everywhere, we don’t need all these encumbering protections.

deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

So the “reasonable Republican” argument wasn’t even against the idea that workers deserve sustainable pay. It was premised on the belief that employers would be benevolent, or at the very least the market would force them to be so. We see both assumptions proved disastrously wrong.

reedmaniac.bsky.social•79 days ago

It's almost like we should require a semester of Human Psychology in high school.

deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

DEFINITELY

mattydorf.bsky.social•79 days ago

My dad was always in a union, never preached to me about it, but would talk here or there. When I was older and could comprehend more, I found out that he was "no fucking Republican, I'm in a union". Later on I got my Union job, and I was like, okay, yep, totally get it now.

deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

So the assumption that we can maintain our quality of life if we just leave in place all (but vaccine) technology and strip away all guaranteed rights betrays a profound lack of knowledge about history and human nature

scottyd89.bsky.social•79 days ago

Funny. My wife and I were talking about this earlier. Keep stripping away all of the creature comforts that we have as Americans, we won’t be thinking like comfortable Americans anymore.

yakhappy.bsky.social•79 days ago

Education is the key, and it's why the GOP attacks public education. Education means we can smell the bullshit from miles away, critical thinking means we can understand the motivations, and history tells what other societies have made bad moves.

foralark2.bsky.social•79 days ago

And striking workers were gunned down. Some were hanged.

deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

Yes. People who’ve never experienced how brutal Bigs can be, and also don’t expose themselves to the dark parts of history, are in for some shocks

davidkister.bsky.social•79 days ago

Boy.
Howdy.🤙

richardgaskin.bsky.social•79 days ago

It wasn't until the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 that exploitative child labor ended, and employers had to pay workers money at all.

Prior, in some industries it was still common to issue company scrip, which is course was only accepted at the company store.

1938.

https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/history/flsa1938

pdxcharlie.bsky.social•79 days ago

only Teslacoin accepted here

This is snark, but the oligarchs are truly seeking to circumvent the US dollar - and thus federal control over how they deploy their wealth.

daniele-gaither.bsky.social•79 days ago

Educate the people!

justmestacieb.bsky.social•79 days ago

Is this the network states the crypto-tech-fasc- bros are fantasizing about?

meandmymonkey.bsky.social•79 days ago

Unity is crucial. Consider robotics and AI. Fewer humans required for mfg and services leads to a weakened populace. We'll be forced to pay a premium for inferior products, increasing profits for the oligarchs. The "Bigs" see the dawn of the robotic age and want to establish their foothold early.

deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

Yes, I keep thinking this! The push to replace human workers with automation doesn’t just steal employment and sustainable income from individuals. It disempowers workers as a union block. Because now employers can say, well we don’t need you anyway. It’s bad.

meandmymonkey.bsky.social•79 days ago

The Tech is likely inevitable, so the fight is now to regulate it and safeguard our rights. The proper long-range counter proposal is Universal Basic Income rather than corporate profit windfalls.

deirdreassenza.bsky.social•79 days ago

Yeah I actually think I agree. I honestly never thought I would realistically support UBI but at the rate all the power players are pushing automating everyone else out of the economy, it feels eventually mandatory. Because you’re right we never put tech toothpaste back in the tube.

meandmymonkey.bsky.social•79 days ago

Today I learned that in this pursuit, 'solidarity' is preferred over 'unity'; i.e., a group bound together albeit with broad interests vs. a group bound by single interests. I stand enlightened.

thecostumegirl.bsky.social•79 days ago

I keep thinking about that film ‘Elysium’ that came out in 2012. I truly think if things are left unchecked, that’s what we’re headed for - but with 58% more Christian taliban types

glennraucher.bsky.social•79 days ago

Amen. Not bestowed: fought for.

Thank you.

gregory-c-leavitt.bsky.social•79 days ago

The use of force against oppressors is how we achieve progress.

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