Lately there’s been a lot in the news about coal miners (and other industrial workers) who lost their jobs, and who voted for DT in the hope of getting their livelihoods back.
As Globalization progressed, and as energy production evolved, it wasn’t hard to see that these jobs were gong to disappear or move elsewhere.
So why didn’t these now-jobless people see their job-loss coming, and do something about it. You’d think these people could have dedicated a few hours per week to Learning To Code, instead of watching NCIS or smoking pot or whatever they were up to. Hell, they were earning healthy middle-class incomes for years! You’d think they could have squirreled away enough money for a stint at a coding bootcamp, or a few classes at community college!
After all, entrepreneurship is an important part of the USA’s economy and culture! Why did these people think they could just sit back and work the same job for forever?
JUST KIDDING!
Seriously, if any of the above resonated with you, you need to rethink your politics. You’re probably a classist and maybe also a racist (well get to that later).
Why were these people too busy to learn to code? Because they were living their damn lives. They were working hard, coming home tired, performing reproductive labor, and trying to stay healthy and fulfilled. This is really the most that you could expect from anyone. Learning stuff is also exhausting and intimidating.
The condescending attitude (at the top of the page) is a consequence of our emphasis on Individualism, and our near-universal acceptance of Economic Liberalism.
It’s part of the underlying attitude that lets Forbes get away with publishing racism-apologist (racist) horse shit. It’s the part of the attitude behind your racist uncle saying “sure it’s a shame that food deserts exist, but they wouldn’t have to exist if the residents were more entrepreneurial”. It’s part of why mediocre white students feel entitled to sue over Affirmative Action.
On the Left, were supposed to be progressive. We’re supposed to believe that housing, education, food, and healthcare are all human rights. We’re supposed to believe that people deserve to be happy and comfortable even if nobody wants to buy their labor.
So, please stay on the lookout for when people weaponize the language of Entrepreneurship, and use it against disadvantaged and marginalized people. Call them out when you hear it.