who is the working class in America? those who participate in the production processes first-hand? those who _need_ to work to make ends meet? (as opposed to those who could be just as well not working)
i think that the distinction between "blue-collar" and "white-collar" is a harmful one to the potential for change in this country. the so called white-collar middle-class is a part of our society that needs to realize that they are at the will of many of the same forces as their industrial working counterparts - loss of job benfits, decreasing pay, higher demands from employers, etc..
that some (or is it most?) of the "middle-class" is _aspiring_ to something higher (i.e., more wealth) can be a point of friction, but i think that these groups need to realize a common ground as the distinctions between "blue collar" and "white collar" get blurred and the need for a more meaningful class consciousness becomes clear.
nick minneapolis