One word: Republicans.
It has been their meme for years and years and years that “labor” is the faceless evil Socialist/Communist horde that must be fought tooth and nail.
And the idiots buy it – that’s what enrages me. I can totally understand the evil involved when the people who benefit outrageously from abolishing the rights of working people (i.e., corporations and the wealthy) tout this kind of shit – I get that.
What I don’t get (and never will) are the goddamned freaking bobble-headed lemmings who obediently toe that line – even though it’s against their own best interests.
And no, no Republican snake oil salesman (or woman) touting the Ayn Randian virtues of selfishness and the “free market” is going to convince me that lower wages, fewer protections, no safety standards in the workplace, no minimum wage and a horde of teenage workers is *better* for me.
You might as well tell me that I’d benefit from having my leg cut off – because then, I’d get to use a pair of nice, shiny crutches!! YAY!
Welcome to the Leftside 
Posted by Underground Politics on June 15, 2011 at 1:28 am
You make a lot of good points!
Posted by Leftside Annie on June 15, 2011 at 2:12 am
Thanks. And thanks for reading!
~Kate
Posted by Jim Lewis on June 24, 2011 at 7:47 pm
It’s not that difficult to get people to vote against their best interests. Just convince them that corporations create all the jobs (they don’t), that socialism is a dirty word (it isn’t), that the news media are liberal (some of them are, but most of the owners aren’t), keep telling them that theirs is the greatest country on the face of the earth (it isn’t), and just keep creating a bunch of bogeymen so that Americans are too busy hating and fighting someone other than the people who are screwing them every day.
I don’t really blame the people who believe all these things. In one of his final videos, George Carlin said that our masters want it all for themselves, that they want to take back our social security, and that eventually they’re going to get it.
And I’m truly sorry to leave you with that depressing thought.
Posted by Jay on June 26, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Kate,
I enjoyed your blog…If you would like, I’ll be glad to add a link to it from my new website (www.antidrudgereport.com). I’ve just started it as an alternative to some of the aggregate news sites that favor a right wing agenda. (btw, this is your neighbor who recently traded business cards with you). Its good to know there are some others fighting the good fight nearby.
Jay
Posted by Leftside Annie on June 26, 2011 at 4:06 pm
I love it, Jay! We’ll have to ‘have cawfee’ sometime and trash some Republicans! I’d be delighted to have you link up my blog. If I knew how to do it, I’d put up a link to yours off mine. ;o) And oh, yeah, I keep up the good fight – have been since March 2003. It’s wonderful to meet you!
Kate
Posted by Orwell's Bastard on June 28, 2011 at 11:24 am
The question of why people vote against their own interests is something many of us struggle with. The short answer, and it’s only part of the explanation, is because they’re not equipped to think critically. It’s because of that that all the other strategies – external bogeymen, rah-rah ersatz patriotism, consumerism, and a succession of shiny objects – are effective.
If anyone figures out how to counter that, please let me know.
Posted by Leftside Annie on June 28, 2011 at 1:49 pm
If we did, we’d have to bottle it – and sell it in every 7-11 and Circle K in the country. ;o)
Posted by Jay on June 28, 2011 at 2:28 pm
Annie,
I added a link to your blog to my page (www.antidrudgereport.com). I appreciate your help spreading the word. Maybe we’ll get a chance to have coffee or something over the holiday weekend. have a great day!
Jay