There have been a number of books recently examining the diminished aspiration and status of the white blue collar(primarily male) worker.The latest of these,J.B.Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy focuses on the people of Appalachia both in situ and in exodus.The interest in this group is no doubt related to the Trump candidacy and his appeal to this group.Female headed or dominated households and their association with dysfunctionality,absent or non contributory fathers with or without alcoholism or drugs as an intermediary,resistance to or inability to function within an inadequate educational system and most important the generational replication of these ills are noteworthy.These very same characteristics have been associated with the black family for a century or more with an accompanying “to be expected” attitude.
As the unavailability of jobs for the blue collar (male and female) worker grows, the destructive effect of economic disparity and inequity is hammered home.”White Privilege” which has allowed this group to suffer the “slings and arrows” doesn’t work nearly so well when comfortable,visible minorities with access to education are in public view.The knee jerk and fascistic response “they’re taking away our due”begins to rise.Capitalism can increase the size of the pie but political action is needed to change, even slightly, it’s distribution.The winners need to understand that the pace of their increase has to be slowed or revolt will be the result.In the meantime the candidates for the Presidency continue to make promises that can never be fulfilled.But some of the promises relate to a future that is more inclusive than others that are looking backward to an imagined past.
The Octogenarians 
Daedal2207 observes that there are groups who believe that, “They are taking away our due.” Yes, this is a prime reason we experience social conflict. Any group embracing this belief is possibly going to revolt.
Let’s analyze what this statement tells us. Needed is a mindset that has divided people into “us” and “them” (tribal). There needs to be a belief that we are “due” something. And there needs to be a belief that because of “them” we have been denied something that is rightfully “ours”.
Important to know: What is the source for these mindsets? Will the cultivation of such mindsets benefit or hinder human progress? If harmful, those who proselytize them are spreading harm.
Is it more important that we are many races than it is that we share healthy ideas? Is it more important that we see ourselves as divided into economic groups than it is that we share the disciplines that tend to make individuals wealthy? Is a government-idea designed to give just “due” to individuals better than a government-idea designed to give groups their just “due”?
Isn’t the original-intent idea of our Constitution oriented to individual rights and the Progressive idea oriented to social (group measured) justice?
Reblogged this on daedal2207's Blog.