He sounds very idealistic. I'm older, and I've gotten much more cynical, but I have to admit I feel hopeful.
Here's the thing, IMO. Right now, everyone is kind, and there hasn't been much violence; certainly none from the 99%. But there will be ugliness. You can take that to the bank (under your mattress). When things get ugly, and I predict that ultimately there will be ugly dangerous situations, when things get ugly, people with options leave. E.g., George Harrison visited the Haight, but he certainly got the hell out of there when he began to see some its underbelly. He could afford to get out. Ideal are nice, but they won't keep you safe and warm and fed. When the latter essentials get threatened, most with alternatives flee.
The problem for our ruling class is that, unlike the 60s, we are not a bunch of pampered self-indulgent middle-class kids with tons of prospects. We are unemployed, or in danger of losing benefits, or facing paycuts and layoffs. When things get ugly, we can submit to our ever increasing impoverishment, or we can soldier on.
There's always idealism in the beginning. But the fuel which feeds the fire is anger at being driven into poverty.
He sounds very idealistic. I'm older, and I've gotten much more cynical, but I have to admit I feel hopeful.
ReplyDeleteHere's the thing, IMO. Right now, everyone is kind, and there hasn't been much violence; certainly none from the 99%. But there will be ugliness. You can take that to the bank (under your mattress). When things get ugly, and I predict that ultimately there will be ugly dangerous situations, when things get ugly, people with options leave. E.g., George Harrison visited the Haight, but he certainly got the hell out of there when he began to see some its underbelly. He could afford to get out. Ideal are nice, but they won't keep you safe and warm and fed. When the latter essentials get threatened, most with alternatives flee.
The problem for our ruling class is that, unlike the 60s, we are not a bunch of pampered self-indulgent middle-class kids with tons of prospects. We are unemployed, or in danger of losing benefits, or facing paycuts and layoffs. When things get ugly, we can submit to our ever increasing impoverishment, or we can soldier on.
There's always idealism in the beginning. But the fuel which feeds the fire is anger at being driven into poverty.