🧵*Content of below #LaborDayWeekend thread is my opinion.
1/ In the late 1980s, I was a college student working part-time as a supermarket cashier. We had a regular customer who paid for her groceries with food stamps.
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#ResistanceRoots
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1/ In the late 1980s, I was a college student working part-time as a supermarket cashier. We had a regular customer who paid for her groceries with food stamps.
#ProudBlueEditorials
#ResistanceRoots
#ONEV1
#VetsResist
2/ This lady, I'm guessing she was about 30, had two young boys that were often with her when shopping. The boys had holes in their clothing and her hands had calluses. Anyway, this mom and her boys always seemed happy, fun-loving and appreciative. She had an infectious laugh.
3/ I never knew her complete story. But as a cashier, I recognized the regulars and she was often far more pleasant than many customers.
When it wasn't too busy we chatted and over a few weeks, I learned she worked multiple jobs as a waitress, office cleaning lady and caretaker.
When it wasn't too busy we chatted and over a few weeks, I learned she worked multiple jobs as a waitress, office cleaning lady and caretaker.
4/ Our store manager, a Republican often debated politics with me. Somehow, even as he was my boss, we developed this rapport where he would pick issue fights with me but still let me have my say. He would joke, "You're a stupid college liberal but at least your a good cashier."
5/ He often hovered and scowled when I rang this woman up on my cashier line. One day I asked him why. His response, "She's too damn happy. A lady like that on food stamps with kids should have the decency to show misery and shame. My taxes are paying for that bitch's laugh."
6/ The cold cruelty of his response shook me. At 19, I was still very green.
I'm guessing he was in his 40s. I remember he was married. Although we argued politics, we also often had pleasant exchanges talking sports or he shared experiences from rock concerts he attended.
I'm guessing he was in his 40s. I remember he was married. Although we argued politics, we also often had pleasant exchanges talking sports or he shared experiences from rock concerts he attended.
7/ Soon after my mom called me at my dorm on the phone. I told my mom what happened. Mom who taught special education in the Bronx for 30 years said, "Honey, I've seen that so much. People resent others who get help. Especially if its women. They think they should be punished."
8/ Much of my political education came from my dad. But that sagacious observation my mom shared made me aware and observant of this peculiar sadism among a cross section of Americans.
That memory has me thinking today about labor, democracy, happiness and freedom.
That memory has me thinking today about labor, democracy, happiness and freedom.
9/ So what does freedom mean to you?
Ultimately, how any society defines freedom also defines its cultural ethos and civic character.
America's labor movement that we honor #LaborDayWeekend, is really part of a larger struggle to redefine terms of debate over freedom itself.
Ultimately, how any society defines freedom also defines its cultural ethos and civic character.
America's labor movement that we honor #LaborDayWeekend, is really part of a larger struggle to redefine terms of debate over freedom itself.
10/ Simply put, only broad based prosperity can truly facilitate liberty and justice for all.
Without broad based prosperity, freedom is reduced to a commodity to be rationed as the capital owning class sees fit to preserve its wealth, privilege, and dominance.
Without broad based prosperity, freedom is reduced to a commodity to be rationed as the capital owning class sees fit to preserve its wealth, privilege, and dominance.
11/ Franklin Roosevelt attempted to reframe the terms of debate with his Four Freedoms Speech to congress on 1/6/41 (see below).
Freedom from Want and Fear are what I often refer to as kaleidoscope freedoms as we all have our unique perspectives on FDR Freedom numbers 3 and 4.
Freedom from Want and Fear are what I often refer to as kaleidoscope freedoms as we all have our unique perspectives on FDR Freedom numbers 3 and 4.
12/ FDR was a protagonist in the fight against authoritarianism abroad as well as the struggle to overcome greedy "sunshine patriot" plutocrats at home. Plutocrats screamed that FDR's ambitions to enact a "New Deal" to provide a social safety net for workers was evil communism.
13/ Dixiecrats within the Democratic Party during FDR's presidency ensured that only whites initially benefitted from New Deal programs to facilitate Freedom from Want and Fear.
Nonetheless, FDR's New Deal established a seminal marker on defining freedom's terms of debate.
Nonetheless, FDR's New Deal established a seminal marker on defining freedom's terms of debate.
14/ FDR's coalition consolidated a center of political gravity that from the bottom up true freedom meant opportunity to earn a good living and retire with dignity and security. Within those defined terms, liberals pushed to expand boundaries for people of color and women.
15/ President Dwight Eisenhower essentially conceded those terms of debate. However, since FDR, kleptocracy con artists have exploited racism and misogny to redefine the freedom debate to favor wealthy elites living off passive income over everyone else.
16/ Ronald Reagan with his racist lies about "welfare Cadillac queens" pushed the center of debate over freedom in a punitive direction. Freedom as defined by Reagan was liberty from giving a damn about anyone other than yourself.
17/ So if you were born into big agricultural industry wealth you could benefit from government subsidies, dominate the grocery market, bleed consumers dry and be celebrated as a "job creator" while paying less in taxes than wage earners. If anyone complained, play the race card.
18/ If you did manage to cross over from humble beginnings, you were told it was all your doing and contributions others made from paying taxes for education or highway construction had no impact on your success. You had a permission structure to scapegoat others for struggling.
19/ When Newt Gingrich's party prevailed in the 1994, I distinctly remember him saying, "The Constitution guarantees life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Not the Department of Happiness. Not the government happiness program."
He said this in a condescending triumphant tone.
He said this in a condescending triumphant tone.
20/ Translation, if you're not happy, living pay check to pay check, and afraid, that's your problem. If you're a person of color living in a neighborhood in which police shoot people because of their skin color without actually giving a damn about your safety it's your fault.
21/ Protection from institutional racism and misogny that doesn't allow women to earn equal pay for equal work is not actually in the Constitution. Only the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness is guaranteed.
Life experience however tells us that's not true freedom.
Life experience however tells us that's not true freedom.
22/ If you have to fear both racist cops and criminals as people of color often do, you're not truly free. If you're forced to make massive financial and career sacrifices to look after elderly parents, you're not truly free. Kids scared of getting shot at school are not free.
23/ Doctors fearing incarceration for giving pregnant women life saving treatment are not free. Trans kids beaten up for using the bathroom are not free. Librarians terrorized for safeguarding books such as "The Diary of Anne Frank" or "Fahrenheit 451" are not free.
24/ All of us bled from price gouging corp monopolies are not truly free. Moms like the one I encountered in the late 1980s who provoke resentment for daring not to be ashamed are not free if they're punished for it.
Joe Biden's legacy is enabling a new pro-worker paradigm.
Joe Biden's legacy is enabling a new pro-worker paradigm.
25/ Now #HarrisWalz offer America an opportunity to live, love and learn without fear and move forward with the following:
➡️Social Freedom
➡️Financial Security
➡️Physical Safety
➡️Social Freedom
➡️Financial Security
➡️Physical Safety
• • •
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