The Grey Blur
8th June 2006, 20:35
http://mv.lycaeum.org/M2/ventura.html
And this written by a guy who has no knowledge whatsoever of Marxism - it just shows you how class consciousness is created
The purpose or service,
the short and long-term goals of the company, are considered quite literally
"none of their business" - though these issues drastically influence every
aspect of their lives. No matter that they've given years to the day-to-day
survival of the business; employees (even when they're called "managers")
mostly take orders. Or else. It seems an odd way to structure a free society:
Most people have little or no authority over what they do five days a week
for 45 years. Doesn't sound much like "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." Sounds like a nation of drones.
Slowly, very slowly, I came to a conclusion that for me was fundamental: My
employwers are stealing my life.
They. Are. Stealing. My. Life.
As a worker, I am not an "operating cost." I am how the job gets done. I am
the job. I am the company. Without me and my companion workers, there's
nothing. I'm willing to take my lumps in a world in which little is certain,
but I deserve a say. Not just some cosmetic "input," but significant power in
good times or bad. A place at the table where decisions are made. Nothing
less is fair. So nothing less is moral.
And if you, as owners or management or government, deny me this - then you
are choosing not to be moral, and you are committing a crime against me. Do
you expect me not to struggle?
Do you expect us to be forever passive while you get rich stealing our lives
Inevitably some of the conclusions he's drawn or wrong but it's still a good read
And this written by a guy who has no knowledge whatsoever of Marxism - it just shows you how class consciousness is created
The purpose or service,
the short and long-term goals of the company, are considered quite literally
"none of their business" - though these issues drastically influence every
aspect of their lives. No matter that they've given years to the day-to-day
survival of the business; employees (even when they're called "managers")
mostly take orders. Or else. It seems an odd way to structure a free society:
Most people have little or no authority over what they do five days a week
for 45 years. Doesn't sound much like "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." Sounds like a nation of drones.
Slowly, very slowly, I came to a conclusion that for me was fundamental: My
employwers are stealing my life.
They. Are. Stealing. My. Life.
As a worker, I am not an "operating cost." I am how the job gets done. I am
the job. I am the company. Without me and my companion workers, there's
nothing. I'm willing to take my lumps in a world in which little is certain,
but I deserve a say. Not just some cosmetic "input," but significant power in
good times or bad. A place at the table where decisions are made. Nothing
less is fair. So nothing less is moral.
And if you, as owners or management or government, deny me this - then you
are choosing not to be moral, and you are committing a crime against me. Do
you expect me not to struggle?
Do you expect us to be forever passive while you get rich stealing our lives
Inevitably some of the conclusions he's drawn or wrong but it's still a good read