Back when I was broke and barely making it living check-to-check, thinking about the daily nonsense of politics was never a priority. It's because, like many Americans, they don't have the luxury of time to focus on anything other than survival.
The working poor have another great disadvantage, they are forced to live in reality. Plumbers, Uber drivers, delivery guys. All live in a forced concrete reality.
Think Tankers, political spin doctors and media experts can live in a fantasyland while others deliver their pizza.
Truth. It is always the educated, the “enlightened”, the “experts” who cause the most damage, knowing that their ideas are the best ideas. “Intellectuals” are the font of a host of terrible ideas.
Good observations and insights. Having time to care about politics is indeed a luxury, as is dental care and having time to read. Wages for low-level jobs seem to have improved in the aftermath of the lockdowns. However, gas and food prices have also increased under Biden.
Thank you. Economics are the quickest way to get people to pay attention to politics. Personally, I think that's the deciding factor for nearly every election: who they believe will help them keep as much money as possible.
It's the economy, stupid. Never goes out of fashion. While many of us agonize over exotic worries, most do indeed respond to the harsh realities of the economy. Especially what it does to your paycheck.
Wow Adam, another really insightful commentary learned from your presence in the real world. The elites in our country, from politicians to lawyers to doctors to business leadership and academics need to read about and understand the message you just conveyed in such a simple, straightforward and elegant manner. You have highlighted the fact that the real fissures in our culture are not based on race, gender or sexuality and other such trivial matters, and not even on politics, but rather our differences are based on class and income. And what is the way out of those differences? Education. Well done. Thanks for a great first column of the new year...I think this was your first column of 2024. If not it should have been.
All true, Mr. Coleman, and it's a good explanation of why "low information" citizens tend to react on a primarily emotional level and only to events that obstruct their daily efforts to survive.
It's also a clue about why mobs form around "hot button" issues, and it explains why political agitators developed and deploy their tactics.
Having undergone my own struggle to get on the first rung of the economic ladder, back in the late seventies and early eighties, the intervening years have been instructive. Watching the offshoring and automation of the means of working class survival, combined with deliberate increases in labor supply via migration, has been an interesting window into the way tired working people are used as toilet paper by those seeking power.
Awareness of the machinations of agitators and manipulators is an individualized form of utility. It's always easier to find work when you're already working, so knowing which demographic will be subjected to the next economic attack can help some avoid the worst of it, but by no means the majority of those about to lose their tenuous grasp on the means of survival.
Thanks for another thought-provoking expression of insight.
This is a good reminder to those of us in certain professions (mental health, e.g.) that most of our patients don't give a rip about our virtue signaling. It's yet another reason why "activist healthcare" is so objectionable.
Yeah, I've been there too. I could argue, however, that the bosses' focus is keeping us consumed too much with individual daily/weekly survival by design; bc it crowds out politics as a viable outlet for our energy. The bosses and their salesmen have spent 50 years and uncounted dollars molding us into an atomized, mistrustful, and viciously competitive society; where fraud is the rule and any semblance of cooperation that doesn't directly make them money gets bought up and torched. The bosses have demonstrated unusual 'solidarity' for their breed, in zealously crushing and foreclosing any chance of our having any. Of any kind. At all.
I'm thinking it must be powerful and addicting stuff. It's gotta beat this individual rat race, at least; where we're further behind the harder we've run for the last 40+ years.
Thing is, we can't go "back" to the old times and old ways; the ethnic clubs, union locals, precinct committees and other vehicles for "community". One peep from something like that and here come the bosses' troops, hired or bamboozled, to bust it up.
The old ways won't work, and today's excuse for a way sure don't either. Doesn't take a genius degree to see that. So what else can we find that will?
I hear you. You came very close to describing me in the 90s, though I was a little older. I was supporting my wife and kid and working 60-90 hours a week for several years.
I hardly every watched the news, and have little direct memory of the great events of the time.
I dunno, I’ve lived around poor people growing up in east orange/newark half my life. They waste a lot of time doing useless things and refusing the things that will make them better.
They will listen to poor music , watch Netflix or whatever streaming platform over watching a YouTube video that teaches a skill or looking for schooling. Go to a bar/club and gossip rather than other less expensive things
It’s an attitude about life that diverts their attention . It’s the priorities . They would often watch sports and argue about useless things they feel is important than actually follow things with pragmatic usage . Poor people have just as much time as others it’s what we use our time on that makes us who we are
However i think a lot of times following politics to the T is a waste of time also
"They waste a lot of time doing useless things and refusing the things that will make them better." That could describe trust funders or some that get paid much for minimal contribution. This is not to say some of the poor are that way because of their choices, but there are also those constantly working and trying to get themselves out of dead-end jobs. Then there's always the possibility of a layoff or firing. Poor people may or may not have as much time as anyone else depending on how many jobs they work, but they have the added stress of worrying about how to keep the lights on. There's nothing about being poor or well-off that makes one inherently a better person, but there's also nothing inherent among the low income that makes one spend time doing "useless things." To use an extreme example and someone most of us, imo, could never match, is Oseola McCarty. "Poor," but very accomplished.
“Accomplished” is subjective . Everybody has their own vision of success. We need to stop acting like people in poverty put in 18 hour shifts. Statistically this isn’t true. The problem is the lack of a vertical they want to stay in the same income field and live a better life… and that’s just not possible with all inflation and a technological economy
We also need to stop acting like people doing well aren’t putting in 18 hour shifts as well and still pushing forward .
Trust fund kids are living well because their parents understood economics and invested well early . You cannot have what you hate … to bring this up as if it wasn’t worked and planned for is trying to dismiss the effort and discipline it takes to actually invest successfully.
All this info is available at the click of a button. You can literally buy YouTube premium and listen to investing podcast and learn it all while working at a low wage job… instead of listening to the local radio station or hip hop playlist . It’s far too many excuses
The responsibility lies on parents to teach …. Not to complain about what others have and they don’t have. Resentment stops a lot of poors from copying the lessons of the rich
I never suggested people that are doing well aren't working long and hard hours. I also didn't "bring this up" as if to dismiss the effort and discipline it takes to invest. I don't hate trust funders. Some do well and some waste oxygen, just like those in every other social class. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but you seem to be of the opinion that if one is not investing to get wealthier, then one is making excuses. You also seem to be condescending to those who work in low wage jobs. Some don't mind working in a low wage job and are able to live within their means. Resentment works both ways. I know those who've made bad decisions that are very resentful of what others have, and I've also known some well-heeled people who resented the middle-class growing assets, with an attitude that it was ill-gotten gains. Resentment leads to things like the mortgage crash (which I believe was purposeful), no restructuring of loans (but a bailout for banks) and "investors" scooping up the former assets of the masses.
Just because i have a strong critique of the less fortunate … doesn’t mean it’s condescending. I think people cannot deal with honest truth about failings.
My opinion is that if you are not fully invested in going forward you are moving backwards. And this is truth . So given that stance . People have work to do. And if they don’t want to work or take life serious… well they probably shouldn’t be in a capitalist system.
This is not a country for the weak… resentment doesn’t cause the mortgage crash , no restructuring of loans and investors scooping up old assets.
Greed and pragmatism does. You have to remember every single asset has an opposite player on the side that needs saving… most of wall streets funds are indeed pension and retirement funds. In 08 if they did not save the banks your parents retirement fund would be completely at a loss as well as the bank. Do i think they deserve to be saved ? No . But was it a good argument to save it. Perhaps.
Being fully invested in going forward (however that is defined) is not the "truth," it's your opinion, as you stated. The working poor are working. How one defines being "less fortunate" varies. Life is not defined, imo, by a constant striving to increase income, it's defined by how you live according to your choices.
I don’t think you understand how the economy works … every year more money is being printed at an exponential rate. If you stay at the same job with roughly the same pay you are indeed making less money every year . Unless you are getting almost 5 percent pay increases or better …. You are losing money. So given that nature of actual money … it is the TRUTH. Sorry.
You need resources to live on this earth you cannot survive on love. Good luck with your endeavors however
The working poor have another great disadvantage, they are forced to live in reality. Plumbers, Uber drivers, delivery guys. All live in a forced concrete reality.
Think Tankers, political spin doctors and media experts can live in a fantasyland while others deliver their pizza.
This is true
Truth. It is always the educated, the “enlightened”, the “experts” who cause the most damage, knowing that their ideas are the best ideas. “Intellectuals” are the font of a host of terrible ideas.
They are left hemisphere people. A world of fictional models, like climate change. This affects their perception of how the world works.
Your experiences have led you to be a light that shines brightly. Thank you for sharing this honest perspective. You are appreciated.
Thank you for the kind words and support.
Good observations and insights. Having time to care about politics is indeed a luxury, as is dental care and having time to read. Wages for low-level jobs seem to have improved in the aftermath of the lockdowns. However, gas and food prices have also increased under Biden.
Thank you. Economics are the quickest way to get people to pay attention to politics. Personally, I think that's the deciding factor for nearly every election: who they believe will help them keep as much money as possible.
It's the economy, stupid. Never goes out of fashion. While many of us agonize over exotic worries, most do indeed respond to the harsh realities of the economy. Especially what it does to your paycheck.
Exactly!!
Truer words were never written. A well written response from someone who's been there. Everyone needs to read this...
Wow Adam, another really insightful commentary learned from your presence in the real world. The elites in our country, from politicians to lawyers to doctors to business leadership and academics need to read about and understand the message you just conveyed in such a simple, straightforward and elegant manner. You have highlighted the fact that the real fissures in our culture are not based on race, gender or sexuality and other such trivial matters, and not even on politics, but rather our differences are based on class and income. And what is the way out of those differences? Education. Well done. Thanks for a great first column of the new year...I think this was your first column of 2024. If not it should have been.
Thank you!
All true, Mr. Coleman, and it's a good explanation of why "low information" citizens tend to react on a primarily emotional level and only to events that obstruct their daily efforts to survive.
It's also a clue about why mobs form around "hot button" issues, and it explains why political agitators developed and deploy their tactics.
Having undergone my own struggle to get on the first rung of the economic ladder, back in the late seventies and early eighties, the intervening years have been instructive. Watching the offshoring and automation of the means of working class survival, combined with deliberate increases in labor supply via migration, has been an interesting window into the way tired working people are used as toilet paper by those seeking power.
Awareness of the machinations of agitators and manipulators is an individualized form of utility. It's always easier to find work when you're already working, so knowing which demographic will be subjected to the next economic attack can help some avoid the worst of it, but by no means the majority of those about to lose their tenuous grasp on the means of survival.
Thanks for another thought-provoking expression of insight.
This is a good reminder to those of us in certain professions (mental health, e.g.) that most of our patients don't give a rip about our virtue signaling. It's yet another reason why "activist healthcare" is so objectionable.
Really like
Perfectly stated!
Tired---
of being taken advantage of.
of being ignore.
of lies about doing what is best for the working class.
of watching politicians get rich.
of rich getting richer.
of prices of everything go up.
of being unable to afford to get sick.
of the problems grow with each year.
I appreciate this reality check for all of the theorycels that can’t be bothered to realize how good they have it.
Yeah, I've been there too. I could argue, however, that the bosses' focus is keeping us consumed too much with individual daily/weekly survival by design; bc it crowds out politics as a viable outlet for our energy. The bosses and their salesmen have spent 50 years and uncounted dollars molding us into an atomized, mistrustful, and viciously competitive society; where fraud is the rule and any semblance of cooperation that doesn't directly make them money gets bought up and torched. The bosses have demonstrated unusual 'solidarity' for their breed, in zealously crushing and foreclosing any chance of our having any. Of any kind. At all.
I'm thinking it must be powerful and addicting stuff. It's gotta beat this individual rat race, at least; where we're further behind the harder we've run for the last 40+ years.
Thing is, we can't go "back" to the old times and old ways; the ethnic clubs, union locals, precinct committees and other vehicles for "community". One peep from something like that and here come the bosses' troops, hired or bamboozled, to bust it up.
The old ways won't work, and today's excuse for a way sure don't either. Doesn't take a genius degree to see that. So what else can we find that will?
I hear you. You came very close to describing me in the 90s, though I was a little older. I was supporting my wife and kid and working 60-90 hours a week for several years.
I hardly every watched the news, and have little direct memory of the great events of the time.
So well said; thank you.
Very well put ... !!!
I dunno, I’ve lived around poor people growing up in east orange/newark half my life. They waste a lot of time doing useless things and refusing the things that will make them better.
They will listen to poor music , watch Netflix or whatever streaming platform over watching a YouTube video that teaches a skill or looking for schooling. Go to a bar/club and gossip rather than other less expensive things
It’s an attitude about life that diverts their attention . It’s the priorities . They would often watch sports and argue about useless things they feel is important than actually follow things with pragmatic usage . Poor people have just as much time as others it’s what we use our time on that makes us who we are
However i think a lot of times following politics to the T is a waste of time also
"They waste a lot of time doing useless things and refusing the things that will make them better." That could describe trust funders or some that get paid much for minimal contribution. This is not to say some of the poor are that way because of their choices, but there are also those constantly working and trying to get themselves out of dead-end jobs. Then there's always the possibility of a layoff or firing. Poor people may or may not have as much time as anyone else depending on how many jobs they work, but they have the added stress of worrying about how to keep the lights on. There's nothing about being poor or well-off that makes one inherently a better person, but there's also nothing inherent among the low income that makes one spend time doing "useless things." To use an extreme example and someone most of us, imo, could never match, is Oseola McCarty. "Poor," but very accomplished.
“Accomplished” is subjective . Everybody has their own vision of success. We need to stop acting like people in poverty put in 18 hour shifts. Statistically this isn’t true. The problem is the lack of a vertical they want to stay in the same income field and live a better life… and that’s just not possible with all inflation and a technological economy
We also need to stop acting like people doing well aren’t putting in 18 hour shifts as well and still pushing forward .
Trust fund kids are living well because their parents understood economics and invested well early . You cannot have what you hate … to bring this up as if it wasn’t worked and planned for is trying to dismiss the effort and discipline it takes to actually invest successfully.
All this info is available at the click of a button. You can literally buy YouTube premium and listen to investing podcast and learn it all while working at a low wage job… instead of listening to the local radio station or hip hop playlist . It’s far too many excuses
The responsibility lies on parents to teach …. Not to complain about what others have and they don’t have. Resentment stops a lot of poors from copying the lessons of the rich
I never suggested people that are doing well aren't working long and hard hours. I also didn't "bring this up" as if to dismiss the effort and discipline it takes to invest. I don't hate trust funders. Some do well and some waste oxygen, just like those in every other social class. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but you seem to be of the opinion that if one is not investing to get wealthier, then one is making excuses. You also seem to be condescending to those who work in low wage jobs. Some don't mind working in a low wage job and are able to live within their means. Resentment works both ways. I know those who've made bad decisions that are very resentful of what others have, and I've also known some well-heeled people who resented the middle-class growing assets, with an attitude that it was ill-gotten gains. Resentment leads to things like the mortgage crash (which I believe was purposeful), no restructuring of loans (but a bailout for banks) and "investors" scooping up the former assets of the masses.
Just because i have a strong critique of the less fortunate … doesn’t mean it’s condescending. I think people cannot deal with honest truth about failings.
My opinion is that if you are not fully invested in going forward you are moving backwards. And this is truth . So given that stance . People have work to do. And if they don’t want to work or take life serious… well they probably shouldn’t be in a capitalist system.
This is not a country for the weak… resentment doesn’t cause the mortgage crash , no restructuring of loans and investors scooping up old assets.
Greed and pragmatism does. You have to remember every single asset has an opposite player on the side that needs saving… most of wall streets funds are indeed pension and retirement funds. In 08 if they did not save the banks your parents retirement fund would be completely at a loss as well as the bank. Do i think they deserve to be saved ? No . But was it a good argument to save it. Perhaps.
Being fully invested in going forward (however that is defined) is not the "truth," it's your opinion, as you stated. The working poor are working. How one defines being "less fortunate" varies. Life is not defined, imo, by a constant striving to increase income, it's defined by how you live according to your choices.
I don’t think you understand how the economy works … every year more money is being printed at an exponential rate. If you stay at the same job with roughly the same pay you are indeed making less money every year . Unless you are getting almost 5 percent pay increases or better …. You are losing money. So given that nature of actual money … it is the TRUTH. Sorry.
You need resources to live on this earth you cannot survive on love. Good luck with your endeavors however