i'd like to know how carrol squares this attitude with the same attitude he has about my use of the term "working class" and "middle class" or any attempt to make some distinctions for the purposes of analysis. that is, carrol thinks its an abominable practice because it makes invidious distinctions that reproduce the notion that we aren't ALL working class and therefore on the same side, ultimately. so why the hell aren't cops also potentially on the side of the working class, eh? what makes them different? that they police for the state? almost anyone who works in any sort of service job polices for the state anymore!!!! you honestly think some poor slob walking the cat walk at the local supermarket chain is somehow different from the cashier who checks your cart to make sure you've not stolen anything -- because she gets a bonus to do so? what about the retired dude standing at the front of the walmart? the one who staples the bag of items you're returning just to make sure you don't try to swipe anything?
i suppose this is just a reiteration of the tripe i read on the threads about the war this spring. those kids flying helicopters and etc were just oh so responsible for their decision and should be held accountable for actually going into the service.
what a bunch of stink to high heaven horse hockey! it is the sign of someone who hasn't a klew what it means to having no fucking choices or to, at least, feel as if there aren't many. a judgment on a poor kid who'd like to go to college and the only way he or she can do so is to enroll in the national guard or rotc or do a stint in the military for a couple of years so they can get some tuition help. oh wait, i remember, the point back then was that they were just macho punks? righto! that's it. somehow some poor kid's interest in the military is differnt from the kid who wants to become a rock star and bang out kick ass guitar riffs or pound on his drum kit? or the godamned macho pissing contest over music here at lbo? or the same one i watch among the boyz in the union meetings.
oh fuckmedead. i'll stop ranting. but this just pisses me off beyond belief and i'd like to kick whoever's ass it was carrol that planted this in your skull so firmly that you actually had the balls to post it to lbo as a serious question
and thanks to ken aspen for the great post on the 60s and working class insurgency. YEEEEEHAH.
eric beck and i get sick and tired of being the only ones on this list to remind everyone of that!!!!!!