JzeroT1437
Member
Every week it seems there's a new article about a company reaming its low-level employees and blue-collar workers for everything they can get. This week it was Dr Pepper, though there have been countless previous examples in the last several years. Meanwhile, CEO's salaries continue increasing exponentially over the common employee's every year. After the 2007/2008 bailouts it was revealed that much of the public funding financial institutions and the automotive industries received went towards high-ranking company officials rather than expanded hiring or production costs. Americans continue to have one of the shortest vacation periods amongst first-world countries, yet are expected to handle more varied tasks and larger workloads as the company payroll and roster of employees dwindles as a result of unemployment.
My question is, when, if ever, will Americans stand up for themselves? There are bi-weekly strikes in almost all Western European countries, not to mention increased Union activity. Their employees are treated to public healthcare rather than being expected to pay for their health out of pocket. Public programs aren't faced with large-scale public derision like they are here.
John Steinbeck once wrote "Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live--for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died. And fear the time when the strikes stop while the great owners live--for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken."
The bombs continue to drop, but the strikes have all stopped. And the bombs are no longer in the name of a peaceful survival of mankind--they're for personal gain and an ideology that has already failed us: democratic capitalism.
Have Americans forever abandoned protest and strike lines? In the global economy, have we lost the will to fight against the monstrous corporate entities that control our lives? Or will someone, someday say enough is enough and raise the specter of labor protests from the early 20th century?
My question is, when, if ever, will Americans stand up for themselves? There are bi-weekly strikes in almost all Western European countries, not to mention increased Union activity. Their employees are treated to public healthcare rather than being expected to pay for their health out of pocket. Public programs aren't faced with large-scale public derision like they are here.
John Steinbeck once wrote "Fear the time when the bombs stop falling while the bombers live--for every bomb is proof that the spirit has not died. And fear the time when the strikes stop while the great owners live--for every little beaten strike is proof that the step is being taken."
The bombs continue to drop, but the strikes have all stopped. And the bombs are no longer in the name of a peaceful survival of mankind--they're for personal gain and an ideology that has already failed us: democratic capitalism.
Have Americans forever abandoned protest and strike lines? In the global economy, have we lost the will to fight against the monstrous corporate entities that control our lives? Or will someone, someday say enough is enough and raise the specter of labor protests from the early 20th century?
