This was originally posted as a reply to a member on GLP, but I feel I covered quite a great deal of information that may be useful in understanding
this better so I have included the quote it responds to as well as the reply. I hope this clears up some misconceptions regarding what is currently
occurring in Wisconsin...
[quote:Anonymous Coward 1063859]
The people protesting the cuts are mentally unstable. They have an abnormality of the brain that allows them to believe that a government can spend
more than it takes in forever without any consequences. They are like children that want to eat nothing but candy all day. Eventually, the mature
adult has to step in and say "No". Because of this mental imbalance, these protesters are a danger not only to themselves but also the decent and
civilized people that go to work everyday and whose taxes pay their bloated salaries. The governor is doing his job, standing up for the taxpaying
citizens of his state instead of the parasitic union special interests. Unions are parasitic scum that need to be broken up and dissolved.
[End quote]
I'm sorry, you seem to misunderstand how the world works so please let me correct you.
The people whom are for the dissolution of organized labor are the ones whom are mentally unstable. Yes, if the situation was black and white as you
describe, and these people had overspent money they didn't have, and were personally responsible for this, then perhaps forcing "austerity" upon
them is justified. Unfortunately, and I know this may upset some of the selfish people who look to displace their rage onto a certain population
segment i.e. unions, teachers, govt. employees., etc. but these people are NOT responsible for this mess.
Here, let me try to make this more simple for those who may not comprehend this. Anyone who has EVER, at ANY time, paid attention or studied
economics of "capitalism" at ALL realizes that in capitalism there are only 2 segments of the population. These two, are Capital and Labor.
Since the majority of the population has little to no capital or access to means of productions, they sell their "labor" at a price to be able to
use said means of production. Thus, this segment of the population is able to survive.
Capital, the other faction in the equation, are those whom own the means of production and possess "capital" for which to invest. Thus, Capital,
employs the use of labor so that it may continue to thrive.
Now, notice how each of those descriptions end. One ends to survive, and the other to thrive. Inherently, since profit (for those
uneducated, true profit is an act of creation and addition of value, not a high-speed trading program) in this physical world is inarguably limited,
when either side gains an advantage it comes at the disadvantage of the opposing class.
Now to the point. Economics is governed by another law known as 'supply and demand'. How S&D fit into the equation is where our story truly begins
in terms of globalization. I'm sure anyone reading this forum has been paying attention for a decent period of time so it comes as no shock to hear
"our" (see Their) media exclaim of the benefits of globalization.
And Yes, globalization does have benefits, but only for the capital class. Back to the concept of S&D. In a free market, prices and wages are set by
the consumer and the market based on value, and this is where the agreed upon compensation between employee (Labor), and employer (Capital) is formed.
As history as well as statistics has shown, wealth tends to aggregate toward a small percentage over time thus providing leverage for which
capital may negotiate their prices.
Imagine a small city, and in this city are 100 people. Now out of these 100 people, only 5 belong the Capital class, and the other 95 belong to
labor. Now what do you suppose happens, when all of the other 95 people, with no means of production (see manufacturing)are able to survive, eat, and
afford shelter only by becoming employed through said Capital class. No problems yet right?
Next we'll add an extra dose of reality to our example by saying that these 5 Capital owners only have a need for 85 employees and not 95. (See
Unemployment rate of approx 10%)[Or if you really read between the lines, they do have a need for atleast 90, but will pronounce in various 'owned'
media publications how times have been rough for them so they can only hire 85] Well the employees begin offering their services to Capital for lower
and lower rates, because as we can see their is a heavy demand for such employment if it the only way to SURVIVE and eat. Now what happens one
year later to our town? Well, Capital, has gone through the city and has searched the lowest bidders, and then proceeded to explain to the unemployed
if they will not lower their bid (Wages) to meet the reductions of other citizens, than they will remain unemployed.
Now the whole town is awash with chaos as wages continue to decrease through demand, but prices remain the same and the people who now have
employment, don't have enough resources. They must now choose, will they eat, or will they have a place to live... and thats just the
beginning...
While I admit the above story could have been slightly more articulate, you'll have to forgive me as I incinerated a few plants prior to opening and
reading this thread.
Now, the real question... How can this time tested fact/tragedy of the economics of capitalism in which Capital, using shortages (real or artificial)
to take advantange of and exploit labor, be prevented.
Well for those of you who still haven't gotten it, its called COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. Now let me make this even more painfully clear.
Here's how our example goes in our small town with COLLECTIVE BARGAINING (See unions). Well now, our 5 members of the Capital class
have decided to go around town to find the lowest bidder so that their profit margins can be as high as physically attainable. Unfortunately, and to
their suprise, Labor, as a society, rather than fighting amonst themselves, paid attention to what Capital did the last town they came through, and
instead of fighting each other to see who can be paid the least, they decided to form a COLLECTIVE BARGAINING Agreement (See union).
All 95 of the towns people recognize the need to work and desire to do so. They also realize that capital maintains leverage while they are
divided and competing amongst themselves, but should they be able to reconcile their (meaningless) differences with each other and if they ALL
agree to REFUSE to work for any amount of $$ (money), less than said agreement, then the power of balance and leverage now swing in the
opposite direction. Now Capital has two choices, let itself die (or as Gerald Celente likes to say, "take a hair cut" because production shuts down
with out the needed labor input. Or Option 2, they agree to pay fair and reasonable wages. Now, while capital remains profitable(See Thriving),
Labor, now has the resources it needs to not only afford shelter, food, and fuel, but now has capital of its own to use to invest in society, and
perhaps escape the bondage known as wage- slavery. Now Labor AND Capital thrive!!
America, really the world, is like the above mentioned town. We have two choices, we can thrive together, or we can do as the poster I quoted and
complain, blame, and displace our feelings of true cause of society's problems.
Sure its the "greedy teachers" or the "evil labor unions" or "those people who have a different skin tone or religion than 'us". Its all
their fault.
Perhaps, rather than being critical of people whom have the spine and courage to stand up, shake off the chains of division and hatred, and truely
fight for a better future, perhaps, you should rethink, whether or not you are the problem...NOT them.
One last point: The finances of all 50 states as well as the federal entity are beyond repair. Aside from a bankruptcy which clears the fiat debt
heaped onto our society, there is little to nothing reduced benifits or spending cuts can do.
Yes, something must be done to fix our fiscal soundness. But, NO, IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT the correct solution to force "austerity" on ANY
segment of the population. We may have run into fiscal trouble, but our solution to this problem needs to come from an entirely different
archetype.
For centuries, organized capital has exploited the divided common people and aggregated as much power and wealth as it could, from whatever source was
easiest to take it from. Do you understand why the elite are referred to as INTERNATIONAL Bankers? Because they have no allegiance to any
country.
Would you like to know why they are so eager to set up a one world government? Because they are AFRAID of the Power of the state (please do not
associate our current fascistic regime with the word state, I am referring to "the state" as any free government that understands quite well the
laws of economics and employs safeguards(and regulations) to level the playing field between capital and labor. The state is one of the only vehicles
with enough wealth, resources, and power that can prevent the "Giant Vampire Squid" from sucking the life out of humanity.
Now second only to the state in power to protect citizens of the Labor class, are the unions. So if you want to erase one of the last vestiges of
power that the Labor class has to defend itself, please feel free. But perhaps history may not agree with your interpretation of the solution.
So I rebuke you, and say that those fighting against the people protesting the cuts, are the ones whom are mentally unfit. No, it is not possible for
a government or entity to spend more than it has forever, but asking the citizens of state to pay for this fiat "debt" is akin to this example.
Imagine a family, a father, a mother, and two sons sitting together around a dinner table (yes in America, I know this is a shocking concept that
may be hard to imagine) discussing their new budget. As it turns out one of the sons recently placed some huge bets on a new gambling attraction in
New York called Toxic MBS. Unfortunately he leveraged himself to the hilt prior to going and after losing, he now owes millions. Well like good
parents they say, our child is "too big to fail" so we'll bail him out. And so they do, thus liquidating their retirement, 401k, IRA, and all
other investments including a beach house and all of their property other than the house they live in.
The parents now have tough choices, as the amount they raised to cover the bad bets still was short of the figure necessary to clear the debt. They
decide to take on emergency loans with astronomical interest, as there is no other way to raise capital, but they have no choice since those are all
they are approved for. Now looking at their income statement and balance sheet, the family realizes they now have to cut back on their lifestyle
drastically since the interest is so high on all of their loans.
Ok so what gets cut from the budget? Does dad cut his Martial arts classes? He swears they are for self-defense but the majority of the classes are
really about aggressive and confrontational "interventionalism"?
Does mom cut her HomeYard Security Budget, which she swears prevents terrorists from destroying the garden, but she has no actual proof?
Ok well surely they wouldn't cut funding to little Johnny's music class would they? And they definitely wouldn't cut back on how much they pay for
food for their children, not when they could cut back on just those two and have more than enough to at least temporarily alleviate the fiscal
burdens, right?
Unfortunately though, The Answer, if you live anywhere in the western world is YES. The only items on the budget that are cut are ones whom affect
the children. But hey who cares, we don't have to acknowledge their input, their just children, useless eaters really...
And that is what you are asking. You are asking the children of the American family (and please do not interpret that condescendingly, it is used
only in relation to above story), to stop their education, and deal with "eating a little less", because they don't want candy, they just want to
achieve atleast slightly above sustenance.
Conclusion: Read the REAL history of labor day. And since certain people seem to be incapable of understanding, I'll use your own example. Guess
what? If you want to sacrifice your own and others well being and dissolve society's protection against exploitation, then please, LET ME BE THE
MATURE ADULT and step in and say:
"NO"