[lbo-talk] The Disposable American

kevin island kevin_island2003 at yahoo.com
Fri Apr 7 10:01:06 PDT 2006


A topical book (The Disposable American) was recently released. The author is interviewed here:

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/34283/

The author argues that layoffs impose a (largely ignored) toll on mental health. Well, yes. But I don't quite agree with the author's emphasis on self-esteem issues. The reality of insecurity by itself is quite enough of a blow, even if you recognize (at least intellectually) that you personally are blameless.

A lot of talk about self-worth, but perhaps the the real issue is "community-worth." (An awkward construction, I know.) Never mind cynicism at the individual level, what about cynicism at the collective level? Of course, there isn't supposed to be any such thing as society. But maybe society is in denial. Maybe society is sick, not just its individual members.

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