Which Side Are You On?

[kentuck]

Without doubt, there is a full-scale class war going on in this country. Although that is a permanent condition, the rich have really stuck it to the poor and middle class for the last 25-30 years. The transfer of wealth has been unprecedented, at least since the Great Depression. Wages have fallen as more and more is accumulated to the top 1-5% of our population.

If we needed any more proof, we only need to look at the obscene bonuses given to bank employees from the taxpayer money given them to save their banks and lifestyles. But they spit in our faces and laughed at our foolishness.

Yet, the banks are not alone in this class warfare. They have the big insurance companies and the big oil companies right by their side. As we struggle to survive, they are intent on grinding our faces into the dirt. It's time to take a side.

[rug]

1. "full-scale class war". That bears repeating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g

[struggle4progress]

4. Here's Florence Reece singing it herself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzudto-FA5Y&feature=related

[rug]

6. Thanks, I never heard that.

"There is no neutral there."

[kentuck]

7. Thank you!

She's singing about Harlan County, KY. That's my people.

[struggle4progress]

9. She sang it in the movie, IIRC

[Brigid]

10. I saw this documentary many years ago.

I had been thinking it was in my history class in high school, but given the date it must have been in college. I need to see it again. Everybody needs to see it.

[struggle4progress]

17. Harlan County USA (1976)

103 min. 16 mm. Color and black & white
Barbara Koppel: director and producer
http://www.cabincreekfilms.com/films_harlancounty.html

[mule_train]

2. I'm on the side of fighting against it with NO exceptions

And now that the Democrats have the white house, the senate and the house, I'm tired of being told to be quiet when I point out 'the system' didnt change once a donkey symbol got slapped on it

[Oregone]

3. It depends if one side was offering me a multi-million dollar contract

What can I say? I'm a cheap slut.

Not to worry, comrades. No one is knocking on my door.

[inna]

5. i wish i could recommend this more than once.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. The side that is not even aware there is one

and is losing.

[slay]

11. Noam Chomsky on the Class War and corporate run America:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbtpNblpGh0

Pretty obvious which side I'm on - the rich have been fucking the rest of us forever. A GREAT Chomsky vid/interview/commentary.

[NightWatcher]

12. I subscribe to the "zero sum game" school of thought in economics

and NO, I dont have a degree, but I think that the only way they make more is when we lose more. I also think that they make their's at our expense. They benefit off of OUR labor. Anytime that we start to see things as Us v. Them, they make up wedge issues to drive us apart (Racism, sexism, Nationalistic Xenophobia.....)

[Brigid]

13. Who needs a degree to see what's going on?

Many don't subscribe to the "zero-sum" theory, but I do. All you have to do is open your eyes -- and look in your wallet.

[varelse]

14. I'm on our side

These beings are clearly not.

[kentuck]

15. We need to understand...

that Democrats that vote against healthcare for the rest of us are not on our side.

[panader0]

16. I work in construction, and so do most of my friends

Even in good times there are lots of gaps in employment, but in good times those gaps are welcome rests. In bad times, and these last 12 months have been bad, employment is way down. Many guys can't get benefits because they work under the table or like me, they are employers and don't qualify for benefits even when unemployed. I'm too embarrassed to say how little I've made lately, lucky I have few bills. I'm poor. But happy.