workin in DC
I work at American Rights at Work as a voluntary intern. It's a non-profit organization that suppports unions through research, promotions, and it's very existence. I didn't get the job because I've been gon-hoe about unions since I was 5 like some of the people in my office, but because I got to work in DC in a good organization and get some feel for the city. I've learned a lot in the process, actually more than I expected. I wanted to come out of the experience with the choice between DC in the future or DC not in the future. It's still clear as mud. I like the city, it's fun, I've loved hanging out with friends here, the food is good, everyone dresses a lot less vibrant from other places but there's a certain respect and dignity everyone carries on the street in their fancy dress up clothes and sneakers to walk in. More importantly though, working in an office where daily politics occur, seeing that process, it's fascinating. You wouldn't believe the amount of detail that goes into something, the amount of research, of making sure you're not stepping on someone's toes, or maybe that you delibertly are...the beauracracy you have to go through is horrible, and yet comforting. Imagine if you could change the way America treats it's workers overnight, everyone has a union, everyone gets paid more, people are happy, etc. But think of all the other things that would change that you couldn't predict, businesses going out of business (although if the CEO just took a paycheck it'd probably work out), international stand being demoted, many people being able to take advantage of the system. AND imagine if you had that power, how much more power the OTHER side would have and how they could change it back too. It all comes back to my favorite economic theory, the hot dog stand. If two hot dog stand vendors went to a beach where 100 people were spaced out evenly and they went to the nearest vendor, you would hope to think that they would space out evenly on their side of the beach so that people would'nt have to walk as far and they get half of the business. But, if you moved closer to the middle you can get one more buyer, thinks the first guy, and then the other guy moves too, sooner or later they are right next to each other in the middle of the beach, the least efficient scenario possible, explaining the unnatural phenomenom of Starbucks setting up directly across from each other on street corners, it's how these things work. And so yes, politics is hard to manage through, each other side is ridding on each other's ass like a nasty growth you can't get off and just have to learn to live with, however uncomfortable it makes it to sit down, but then again, that's how it is for the other side, and that's what you want to happen right?
So is working in DC a whole lot of work where you might not see DRASTIC results within a week and all hopes and dreams of taking the world to complete peace and happiness comes crashing down, yeah, I guess so. But it kinda makes it ok to know that utter world destruction isn't that easy either, and there are plenty out there that could make it happen.
I met a guy on the bus last week who works for helping veterans get their benefits upon return from war as soon as possible. He carries around his organizer that has email and can access it 24/7. Me, the european side in me, is disgusted with how much we have work on our everyday calender and ask him, "does it bother you to have work with you at all times?" He says, "No, cause it's for a good cause." And it's true, he wants to help people and he doesn't mind doing it at 10:00 on a Saturday night so that one guy can get all his papers signed and get home to relax for once in a long time. That's pretty awesome, and you know, DC is full of people like that.
I don't know, I like DC, do I want to be here the rest of my life? hmmm...
So is working in DC a whole lot of work where you might not see DRASTIC results within a week and all hopes and dreams of taking the world to complete peace and happiness comes crashing down, yeah, I guess so. But it kinda makes it ok to know that utter world destruction isn't that easy either, and there are plenty out there that could make it happen.
I met a guy on the bus last week who works for helping veterans get their benefits upon return from war as soon as possible. He carries around his organizer that has email and can access it 24/7. Me, the european side in me, is disgusted with how much we have work on our everyday calender and ask him, "does it bother you to have work with you at all times?" He says, "No, cause it's for a good cause." And it's true, he wants to help people and he doesn't mind doing it at 10:00 on a Saturday night so that one guy can get all his papers signed and get home to relax for once in a long time. That's pretty awesome, and you know, DC is full of people like that.
I don't know, I like DC, do I want to be here the rest of my life? hmmm...