Class war
So I was thinking about economic class. I think about this a lot because I don't think it is really ever discussed in America besides in the terms of who is going to get a tax rebate. But other than that the issue is invisible.
For those of us awake enough to realize that there are reasons that this is not talked about and how they tie into racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism we feel helpless within a system we are practically forced to participate in. If you think capitalism is a good thing then you except that a class system is essential and gaining from someone else's suffering is your right. If you oppose capitalism you have tough choices everyday on how to participate or not within its system. The amount of risk one takes is weighed by what consequences one is willing to live up to. The continuation of the deterioration of worker rights and the environment or jail? Because living outside of the capital system eventually leads you to jail in a society that bases most of it's law on private property.
A lot of punks oppose capitalism. Most of the "punk" people I know are from middle class or upper-middle class backgrounds. I, myself, am from an "upper middle" class background. This "upper middle" title doesn't really exist. It is a phrase made up to get me away from class guilt that I feel. It is a phrase made up to make those white collar workers feel as if they have ownership over their lives. It is a thin veil that lets them rub elbows with the upper class and puts them above the middle working class. It is a phrase of faux security that their lifestyles are "sustainable." Not sustainable in terms of co-existing with the earth because that would be farthest from the truth. I say sustainable in terms of those in the upper and upper middle class being able to sustain their status, insulating them from hunger, worry, or having to think about changing their lifestyle in the least.
Below the "upper middle" class you can drop at any time. When living check to check or below, a simple accident or emergency can take you out. Plenty of social programs such as the current national rebate keep most of the middle class with their heads just above water to stay in a state of constant panic enabling them to think about no one but themselves (rash generalization, I know - but this whole thing is). Those struggling to tread water and those below are constantly fed messages from the upper class who control the media to convince everyone that their lives are the ideal and are something to strive for. This couldn't be farther from the truth.
Here is what I have been getting to: In America, ALMOST ALL OF US ARE PART OF THE UPPER CLASS. As citizens of this world capitalistic empire, the so called "greatest/richest nation in the world," we are part of the upper class. There is that saying, think globally, act locally. Well, when it comes to the idea of a class structure, we need to look for a global picture. I am part of the lower end of the middle class (I think). I make about $35,000 a year. I'm not saying this because I think it makes me great or anything, however when my father tells me that I'm not making anything even though this is my first job out of college, I am sickened.
With my salary, I live on about $96 a day. According to the world bank about 64% of Vietnam lives on less than $2 a day. About 20% of the total world population currently lives on less than $1 a day. So basically, for every five people on this earth, my income is over 96 times the amount of theirs. What the fuck?
So I guess why am I writing about this? Well, to point at myself and show how in America I have moved from the "upper middle" class to the "lower?" middle class; however, in the scheme of the global class system I have not moved at all. I am acting locally, but thinking globally, relatively nothing has been done.
I also point out how fucked up people are that think I am economically disadvantaged. I have clients at my work that are on state disability making $263 a month. They live on almost $9 a day. My income is over 10 times what theirs is and theirs is 9 times what 20% of the world. People that think their economic class makes them something better than others are fucked up and wrong. Because locally, the higher they move up on the ladder, they may isolate themselves from life's economic worries (though, the richer you are, the more you tend to think about money) and the "better" life they lead. However, on the global map they continue to be off the charts in class standing. They go from ridiculous to a myth to blasphemous. None of it changes who they are.
This global upper class continues to grow and become more ridiculous only creating a greater strain on the earth. Because just owning money is not enough, owning things and resources is where it really is at. Actually owning the earth physically is the goal, but the earth doesn't operate on those terms. Eventually something will break and it will fall. When the fall happens, I want to be as low on the ladder as possible, it isn't going to hurt as bad.
When it comes down to it, even though my resources are "small" I have the ability to give and share with others. This is something I need to remember and keep close to my heart.
For those of us awake enough to realize that there are reasons that this is not talked about and how they tie into racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism we feel helpless within a system we are practically forced to participate in. If you think capitalism is a good thing then you except that a class system is essential and gaining from someone else's suffering is your right. If you oppose capitalism you have tough choices everyday on how to participate or not within its system. The amount of risk one takes is weighed by what consequences one is willing to live up to. The continuation of the deterioration of worker rights and the environment or jail? Because living outside of the capital system eventually leads you to jail in a society that bases most of it's law on private property.
A lot of punks oppose capitalism. Most of the "punk" people I know are from middle class or upper-middle class backgrounds. I, myself, am from an "upper middle" class background. This "upper middle" title doesn't really exist. It is a phrase made up to get me away from class guilt that I feel. It is a phrase made up to make those white collar workers feel as if they have ownership over their lives. It is a thin veil that lets them rub elbows with the upper class and puts them above the middle working class. It is a phrase of faux security that their lifestyles are "sustainable." Not sustainable in terms of co-existing with the earth because that would be farthest from the truth. I say sustainable in terms of those in the upper and upper middle class being able to sustain their status, insulating them from hunger, worry, or having to think about changing their lifestyle in the least.
Below the "upper middle" class you can drop at any time. When living check to check or below, a simple accident or emergency can take you out. Plenty of social programs such as the current national rebate keep most of the middle class with their heads just above water to stay in a state of constant panic enabling them to think about no one but themselves (rash generalization, I know - but this whole thing is). Those struggling to tread water and those below are constantly fed messages from the upper class who control the media to convince everyone that their lives are the ideal and are something to strive for. This couldn't be farther from the truth.
Here is what I have been getting to: In America, ALMOST ALL OF US ARE PART OF THE UPPER CLASS. As citizens of this world capitalistic empire, the so called "greatest/richest nation in the world," we are part of the upper class. There is that saying, think globally, act locally. Well, when it comes to the idea of a class structure, we need to look for a global picture. I am part of the lower end of the middle class (I think). I make about $35,000 a year. I'm not saying this because I think it makes me great or anything, however when my father tells me that I'm not making anything even though this is my first job out of college, I am sickened.
With my salary, I live on about $96 a day. According to the world bank about 64% of Vietnam lives on less than $2 a day. About 20% of the total world population currently lives on less than $1 a day. So basically, for every five people on this earth, my income is over 96 times the amount of theirs. What the fuck?
So I guess why am I writing about this? Well, to point at myself and show how in America I have moved from the "upper middle" class to the "lower?" middle class; however, in the scheme of the global class system I have not moved at all. I am acting locally, but thinking globally, relatively nothing has been done.
I also point out how fucked up people are that think I am economically disadvantaged. I have clients at my work that are on state disability making $263 a month. They live on almost $9 a day. My income is over 10 times what theirs is and theirs is 9 times what 20% of the world. People that think their economic class makes them something better than others are fucked up and wrong. Because locally, the higher they move up on the ladder, they may isolate themselves from life's economic worries (though, the richer you are, the more you tend to think about money) and the "better" life they lead. However, on the global map they continue to be off the charts in class standing. They go from ridiculous to a myth to blasphemous. None of it changes who they are.
This global upper class continues to grow and become more ridiculous only creating a greater strain on the earth. Because just owning money is not enough, owning things and resources is where it really is at. Actually owning the earth physically is the goal, but the earth doesn't operate on those terms. Eventually something will break and it will fall. When the fall happens, I want to be as low on the ladder as possible, it isn't going to hurt as bad.
When it comes down to it, even though my resources are "small" I have the ability to give and share with others. This is something I need to remember and keep close to my heart.