This article really struck a chord with me. Maybe it’s confirmation bias, but I feel so much of the same things described here, and I do see NYC changing as it was told. I love NY for exactly the diverse and no-nonsense, hard-working attitudes that persisted here for decades. All of the color of life that makes NY so unique is rooted in the working class population… And they’re being squeezed out of every space, not just here, but everywhere.
Moving past feeling “lucky” to be able to pursue my desires in life, I can’t help but feel shame when I reflect on the multitude of reasons why Afghanistan has deteriorated to this state. Yet another tragic victim of foreign invasion and meddling, of which my country is complicit.
Such a good blog post. It covers so much important information in an entertainingly snarky tone.
I think I get how this can be related to politics, but maybe the discussion lies in the conditions where capitalism is positioned to thrive off of the backs of working class folks by stealing their precious little free time.
You talk about the effect that it has and that does have value. But if we’re to learn how to fight against oppressive systems, we have to start somewhere by focusing on a sector to improve the awareness or interest in, say, mutual aid networks.
How do they serve us, the working class, and how might we reclaim this precious free time by changing our approach to something we do day to day? Fighting capitalism and oppression takes time because we have to learn why we’re being oppressed.
And if I may, you might focus on union busting tactics and legislation. What’s the friendliness factor toward labor movements in your local government? Who in your city council is a thorn in the side of labor movements? How do they systematically prevent people from helping people through collective action?
Just a few observations and thoughts that might get any conversation on track. Hope it’s helpful!
That really puts it in perspective.
It’s always disturbing to see the influence that money has on information flow. Kudos to Bianca Graulau for having immense journalistic integrity and not backing down on sharing this story!
Hell yeah! I hope they continue to get ‘TUF’ on bad housing policy… 😎
100%. I had to find news about this young boy being killed by Utica Police on social media - I heard nothing about the follow up before this, and nothing in any common media source. Much appreciated to see this and know that the people of Utica are standing up for justice!
Lots of corp-friendly entities are making big moves in the courts lately, and it feels like previous efforts by Republicans to install conservative judges everywhere are showing. The time needed to undo this damage could take years.
What part of the world are you in, if I may ask? Nice pics!
This is my hope as well. As a mostly independent voter, she’s gonna have to do more to convince the Greens, PSLs, and Liberals that she won’t renege on things she’s signaled have her support and what will be challenged.
The fact that so many international companies have decided to side with a major aggressor during this terrible event in history is one of the most awful things I didn’t expect to witness. We all know that big business and money shapes world politics, but damn… This is straight up horrible. It could be any of us for any reason moving forward.
There is a procedure in place for granting permits to industry like this in every state. In New York, for example, when a potential site is selected, the business must apply for the permit to build and goes through a process of reviewing environmental and human harms in the area based on their operations. They are also required to notify residents and hold public participation events to ensure residents can ask questions about the development. “Good neighbor laws” are sorely needed in Texas, but the state would never allow that cause there’s no money to be made in protecting the people and the planet.
Agreed that we need to talk about this more. Say you get a ticket you can’t pay because your car broke down or you couldn’t miss work at your minimum wage job. You could be doing everything legally right and still have a warrant out for your arrest, get put through the “justice” system, and eventually lose your job, your livelihood, and be set up for recidivism. If you’re charged with a felony, or are locked up, you cannot exercise your right to vote. It’s so easy to be caught up in a cycle that systematically strips away your rights and ability to provide for yourself and your family.
Disenfranchisement is a broad and complex issue that is caused by policy choices and local/subjective policing of historically overburdened communities, like BIPOC/LGBTQ+/disabled peoples. I’m sure it’s also much more involved than I can speak to. And don’t get me started on how for-profit and private prisons everywhere essentially use slave labor to make money. With the Supreme Court effectively criminalizing homelessness, you’re getting more inmate labor on the way. I believe inmates should have access to education and federal minimum wage jobs so they have incentive to get out and contribute to society, and aren’t forced to start their lives over just to make ends meet. Especially for those that were locked up for low level crimes. It doesn’t make sense to damn someone to hell for small crimes and never allow them to get back on their feet.
Same, and so many others I know share this sentiment. We’re working on it by advocating for a just, equitable, and overall better world. Keep spreading this message!
I’m with you on the last paragraph 1000%. Biden isn’t left enough for me, so I’m going Green this year.
Exactly all of this.
Do. Not. Trust. The. Police.
Is that all these “officials” know how to do? I only ever hear them lying, spinning, redacting, harassing, bullying, shaming, and spewing hate filled messages at people they deem “lesser,” which seems to be a lot of people. (Not to mention the ongoing genocide they’re leading…)
Absolutely stellar breakdown.
We’re in an era where money is power, and it affords you the time, energy, and other resources to mostly ignore anything you want, even laws. While the working class comparatively has little to no control over their few resources, those that organize are doing so because they feel they have no other choice, and it’s literally about survival. I’m sure most folks involved in protests have important things to do in their daily lives and they wouldn’t be demonstrating en masse unless it was deemed important.
Strength in numbers is all we have, and to understand the scope of an issue, we must organize, educate, and then disrupt and demonstrate if we ever hope to reform or dismantle systems that continue to exploit every single thing with value in this world. We’re seeing the consequences of inaction in real time, and guess what? Climate and ecosystem collapse + severe economic inequality is what we get when we do nothing to course correct.