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eelhound · 1 year

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"Daniel Denvir

You write that 'markets and labor power change the internal character of what is traded on them and the surrounding form of life in which they are located.' What is alienation? What is it that we’re alienated from or made alien to?

Nancy Fraser

There’s a long tradition of writing about alienated labor that goes back to Marx’s very early writings. The concept refers to exploited wage labor within capitalism, where the worker is alienated from his or her work but also from fellow human beings and from what Marx famously called our 'species being,' our humanity, our freedom to collectively decide what kind of lives we want to live and to build the institutions to do that.

People today are alienated from all of those things. There’s nothing more alienated, in terms of labor, than having to follow a script in interacting with customers, either on the phone or at a fast-food joint, while you’re also doing some backbreaking or repetitive labor in horrible conditions. So, we’re no strangers to alienated labor. I think the popularity of freelancing, even though that’s quite mystified in certain ways, does speak to a hunger for creativity, for being able to determine how you use your time, being an individual, not just being under the watchful surveillance of somebody else.

But I would say the deepest meaning of alienation and being unalienated has to do with freedom and democracy. Capitalism steals from us not just our labor and energy but our ability to decide collectively the most important questions about how we want to live. How hard do we want to work? How many hours? How much leisure do we want to have? What do we want to leave for future generations? How do we want to relate to nonhuman nature? What should we do with the social surplus that we collectively produce?

These are fundamental questions, and they are decided now essentially by a small handful of people who appropriate the surplus we produce and basically use market mechanisms to invest for the sake of maximal expansion.

Daniel Denvir

In other words, we live in a society where Elon Musk gets to decide that he’s firing a car into space for fun and that’s how our social wealth is being used.

Nancy Fraser

Absolutely. Whereas there might be many other things that we would prefer to do with that wealth. We might even prefer to produce less wealth and to live more simply, companionably, socially, and easily in a more relaxed way. We could have a much freer and more democratic life. But that’s not compatible with capitalism."

- Daniel Denvir interviewing Nancy Fraser, from "How Capitalism Worms Its Way Into Every Aspect of Our Lives." Jacobin, 8 December 2022.

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leveragecreditrecovery · 6 months

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The Media and Trump: A Dangerous Symbiotic Relationship

The media and Trump have undeniably played significant roles in shaping the political landscape and the state of democracy. However, their relationship has been far from constructive. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind Trump's reluctance to join debates and the media's failure to challenge him effectively. Both parties have contributed to the erosion of democracy, and it is crucial to address these issues head-on.

The Media's Love for Sensationalism:

The media, like a train wreck, thrives on chaos and sensationalism. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a focus on the negative aspects of humanity, neglecting the importance of highlighting the good. This trend has been decades in the making, with the media capitalizing on the ideal time in history to sow doubt in the minds of the vulnerable and neglected. Government, business, industry, and individuals have all played a role in perpetuating this cycle in the pursuit of power, money, and control.

Wealth Disparity and Questionable Leadership:

It is disheartening to witness the immense wealth disparity in our society, with a small percentage of the population holding more wealth than 90% of Americans. This raises questions about how unqualified, unpatriotic, and questionable individuals have been placed in positions of authority and influence by governments. Both sides of the political spectrum are to blame for this, as Trump himself acknowledged the Republican party's susceptibility to manipulation.

The Power of Ratings:

Trump has tapped into the power of ratings, which has become the lifeblood of media and the root of all evil. While money may be the driving force, it needs the soil of ratings to thrive. The media has inadvertently fueled the rise of Trump and those who aspire to be like him. As long as his antics bring in ratings, the media will continue to air them, perpetuating the cycle of train wrecks. This symbiotic relationship has allowed Trump to make a mockery of everything he touches, further endangering democracy and our way of life.

The Need for Media Course Correction:

The media, in all its forms, could have been a true ally for democracy. However, it has chosen chaos, misinformation, propaganda, disinformation, deception, and manipulation over truth, justice, the rule of law, ethics, and morality. It is disheartening to see that the media has nearly given up on humanity. The urgent question now is whether the media can course correct. Can it challenge those who have declared war on our democracy? Can it stop the ship from sinking, a ship for which it has drilled holes?

A Call for Serious and Adult Conversations:

While getting Trump to the debate stage may provide some entertainment, it is essential to challenge all those who are destroying our country and democracy. Blame falls on both sides, and it is time for a no-nonsense, in-your-face conversation about implementing real change and improving the lives of all citizens. Foolishness will not be tolerated. The media and the American people are ready to meet any challenges head-on. It is time to act, and the choice is yours, America.

Conclusion:

The media and Trump have had a detrimental impact on democracy. Their symbiotic relationship, fueled by sensationalism and ratings, has contributed to the erosion of truth, justice, and ethical journalism. It is crucial for the media to course correct and prioritize the values that underpin a healthy democracy. Only through serious and adult conversations can we address the issues at hand, challenge destructive forces, and implement real change for the betterment of all citizens. The time for action is now.

#democratic #democracy #rule of law #yonkers #day trading #whitehouse #biden administration #senate democrats #house democrats #we the people #election #new york #middleclass #workingpoor #full time working homeless #governing

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irreplaceable-spark · 2 years

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But if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?

President Ronald Reagan, First Inaugural Address, Tuesday, January 20, 1981

#president ronald reagan #president reagan #presidential inaugural address #inaugural address #quote #government #governing #capable #capacity #reflection

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loneranger0369 · 11 months

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America and its Selfrighteousness, leading to it having this Urge to govern and rule everyone else....

America is the Cause of most Wars in the modern World..

Americans are just too stubborn and/or ignorant to observe and accept that

youtube

Vietnam, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan.....

Every Country and its Destruction has American Involvement in it... Call it Greed or something else...

Now, Ukraine...

NATO (or America) and its Plans of Expansion to Ukraine and beyond (Georgia), lead to the Start of Russian Invasion of Ukraine.

Zelensky does not want to make Peace-deals with Russia, due to 2 things, one of which is mentioned in the Videos

1) US and UK pressurize/compel/advise Ukraine not to do so

2) (Not mentioned in the Videos, maybe a personal Opinion) How would anyone want to make Peace-talks with the person who started an open, unprovoked (by this Nation) Invasion of their Country, leading to terrible loss of Life, Property and so much more?

America seriously needs to step back!

It is as if, America is the School Bully, who never got punished for his/her Actions, which only lead to the Belief that it is all ok, no matter what they do....

Please sort out your Issues first, America..

These Include....

Horrible Healthcare.

Improper and very expensive medical Insurance.

Election Fraud.

Extremely corrupt Politicians.

Paedophile Politicians.

Injustice to the original Americans, the so called Red-Indian Community of America.

Abortion Laws.

GUN LAWS.

Border Security.

And so many more...

Please solve your Issues first, before going out to "give Freedom" to others

#give Freedom #America #USA #Ukraine #Iran #Iraq #Syria #Afghanistan #Control #Governing #UK #Still trying to colonize....#Weapons #Warmongering #Healthcare #Solve your Issues first before you go out to to others #Youtube

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reformedontheweb · 1 year

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Concerning this blog and God's governing of my life

As many of you know my wife of 32 plus years passed away nearly a year ago. Not only was I suddenly alone for the first time in my life since my teenage years, but this one event was soon to transform my entire life. On the way to the hospital, after finding out that my wife had passed, I looked to the heavens and said to God, “wherever you lead me, I will follow.” Little did I know that God…

View On WordPress

#Concerning my blog #Governing #New Life #Providence

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nando161mando · 5 months

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politijohn · 3 months

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#politics #us politics #government #the left #homelessness #end homelessness #progressive #twitter post #current events #news #capitalism

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whomst-call-ghonsbubsters · 7 months

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#government #tummy ache #rainbow #random #meme #actually autistic #creature #i dont even know

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ca-dmv-bot · 1 month

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Customer: A'S MAMA, MY KIDS ALL HAVE "A" NAMES. DMV: ASS MAMA Verdict: ACCEPTED

#California license plate with text AS (heart) MAMA #bot #ca-dmv-bot #california #dmv #funny #government #lol #public records

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tomi4i · 2 months

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intersectionalpraxis · 2 months

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Where do I even begin? I'm appalled. The Canadian government living up to its roots in colonial-settler violence... this is beyond criminal. Contact your MP's. This erasure and anti-Palestinian racism is unacceptable.

For anyone reading this on or after February 26th, 2024 -here is more information/updates:

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eelhound · 2 years

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"When [Kshama] Sawant was elected on the promise of passing a $15 minimum wage, every other member of the [Seattle] City Council opposed it. Instead of writing a polite letter to her colleagues pleading with them to support it and then giving up when that failed, Sawant and Socialist Alternative created a campaign called 15 Now:

15 Now set up 11 action groups in neighborhoods across the city mobilizing in the streets and at public forums. [They] organized multiple rallies and marches of hundreds of people in Seattle, a National Week of Action in over 21 cities, and a major presence at both the annual Martin Luther King Day march and May Day march. … Critically, through the action groups and democratic conferences, 15 Now offered activists the opportunity to have ownership over the fight for $15.

Essentially, 'Sawant used her position as a city councilmember and the big media spotlight on her to build a powerful grassroots movement from below.' It was this grassroots mass mobilization — and its credible threat of a ballot initiative that would have passed an even more progressive minimum wage law — that led the Seattle City Council to reverse its opposition and pass the $15 minimum wage, the first of its kind in any major U.S. city, which quickly spread to other cities and even states and changed the national debate. The D.C. progressives, therefore, have Kshama Sawant and her mobilizing, fighting approach to thank for the $15 minimum wage being on the national agenda.

The second major accomplishment of Sawant’s tenure is the Amazon Tax — a tax on the wealthiest businesses in Seattle to fund affordable housing and Green New Deal projects. Two years after a grassroots campaign spearheaded by Sawant won the tax, big business succeeded in getting the City Council to repeal it. Instead of conceding defeat:

Sawant convened a series of Tax Amazon Action Conferences … where hundreds of activists discussed, debated, and voted on a strategy and the elements of a new proposal. … As the drive approached the signature threshold to get on the ballot, and with hundreds of activists flooding city council offices with emails, phone calls, and public testimony, and with the Amazon tax demand being echoed in the street protests, the political establishment felt compelled to advance its own Amazon tax.

The result was an Amazon Tax four times as large as the one that was repealed...

There are two interconnected and mutually reinforcing reasons that Sawant has been tremendously effective where D.C. progressives have failed — her fighting approach and her deep connection and accountability to grassroots organizing.

Her fighting approach includes the critical understanding that elected office is not a friendly arena where progressives can privately convince corporate politicians to do the right thing, but a battlefield of raw power where the Democratic establishment is an enemy that must be forced into giving concessions. Sawant is able to maintain this radical, fighting approach without being politically marginalized because she comes out of, remains accountable to, and is in consistent dialogue with grassroots social movements. The decisions made in the fights for the Amazon Tax or the $15 minimum wage were not made by Sawant herself but were voted on at action conferences where anyone from Sawant to a new volunteer had an equal say. In fact, Sawant never simply decided to run for office, but only did so reluctantly when, as a member of Socialist Alternative, the organization democratically decided that she should be the candidate they run.

Among other leftist lawmakers who have been able to effect progressive change despite being in the minority, close ties and accountability to grassroots movements have been key. In discussing how he has been able to pass over a dozen of his own bills and help make Illinois the first state in the country to abolish cash bail, democratic socialist and Illinois State Senator Robert Peters explained:

I try to tie myself to the movement as much as possible because I am the conduit for their organized power and governing position. And they are the conduit for me being able to govern the way I want to. And if those are tied together, it makes it easier to get things done under the dome. … I believe that my office should be a conduit for organizing, for movement spaces. So basically opening it up, whether it’s mutual aid efforts on the South Side, it’s hosting meetings, it’s being part of meetings. And sometimes when I’m not able to get something done, being held accountable. I try to make sure that I’m tied as much as possible. And I will ask. When we passed the bill … I was talking to the coalition about negotiations on this bill. I said 'They’re trying to do this in the bill, and I need to know: how far am I allowed to go?'… I remember saying to my colleague on the floor … 'My people won’t let me go any further. That’s it. I can’t negotiate any further.' We’re not as weak as people think.

- Jordan Bollag, from "The Left Is Losing Because We’re Not Confrontational Enough." Current Affairs, 20 May 2022.

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redvelvetwishtree · 3 months

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#they just resort instantly to bombing #and everyone just thinks it's normal #coz it's a non white middle eastern Muslim country #how are the us uk and israel allowed to exist when they're the worst thing for world peace #why do their governments get away with so much #and they then have the audacity to lecture other countries about human rights #fuck off #yemen #palestine #israel #free palestine #gaza #gaza strip #middle east #free gaza #fuck israel

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useless-englandfacts · 3 months

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so when israel bombs innocent palestinians it’s all “ummm ahhh i don’t knowwwww it’s complicated!!!”, but when the yemeni forces are the only group to take action against israel by posing an economic threat to the rest of us it’s immediately air strikes on yemen. okay.

#once again this government is a disgrace this whole parliament is a disgrace #yemen #israel #palestine #admin dominique

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11oh1 · 4 months

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#postsss #fotosss #war on gaza #palestine #free palestine #israhell #stop killing these people #you fucking monsters #fuck israel #support for palestine #your government is fucking you in the ass

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unavernales · 9 months

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a little more information regarding the maui wildfires:

medical workers on the ground are describing finding hundreds of bodies. the current death toll in the media is, unfortunately, only a fraction of the reality

hospital workers are describing injuries and trauma as if survivors had come out of a warzone

thousands are still missing

an apartment complex for the elderly was lost. not everyone could get out. people were saying goodbye to loved ones over the phone

people who did get out of lahaina were leaving with ashes covering their faces and nothing but the clothes on their backs. people are losing everything.

hotels are still operating. hotels are still operating. they are not the ones offering shelters or housing or food. even bowling alleys are offering shelter, but hotels have the audacity to build on burial sites but not open their doors to local families who have lost everything.

donate to maui united way, the maui food bank, mutual aid, and maui humane society

#maui fires #just got off a very emotional and intense zoom call with coworkers #this is what it means to be native #the government and tourism industry spits in your burnt face

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