[lbo-talk] notes from the road

[MICHAEL YATES]

So far on our book tour, we have been to Tucson, Flagstaff, Green Valley 
(AZ), Gilbert (AZ), Phoenix, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, 
Nevada City (CA), Eugene, Corvallis (OR), McMinnville (OR), Portland, 
Olympia, Tacoma, Seattle, Lake Forest Park (WA), Yakima, Spokane, Missoula, 
Butte, Bozeman, Ogden, and Salt lake City.  Nowher have we found 
contradictions to what I say in my book: that inequality is palpable and 
growing, the rich are more willing to flaunt their wealth  than at any time 
since the age of the robber barons, that most people do shitty service work, 
and that the environment is being ravaged.  And we have seen precious few 
signs of any progressive much less radical movements.  People do know or are 
willing to entertain that what I say is true, but there are no signs that 
they are prepared to do anything about it.  And not many leftists have been 
contemplating the sacrifices they might have to make to move from discussion 
groups to changing things (I'm not saying that they should be like us and be 
able to put all theri possessions in their car!, just that this system seems 
to engulf all of us one way or another).  When we see really good people who 
would be and are fighting the good fights, we know right away that they are 
a very tiny minority.  I remember reading (and reviewing) a book called The 
Next Upsurge by Dan Clawson.  He argued that there were many good signs for 
an upsurge in the labor movement.  I believe he was wrong to put it mildly.

One last point.  Jim Straub talked about working class young people mocking 
Antioch College.  This just won't do.  Poor and working class youth who 
think like this just create a reality that guarantees a continuation of 
fucked up lives.  This has to be challenged.  I was a working class youth, 
and college was the best thing ever happened to me.  But even if we don't go 
to college, why can't we educate ourselves?  And why wouldn't we want to?  
There are lots of working class kids homeless or living on the margins in 
Portland, Oregon.  Will they ever build a movement?  My guess is never.  For 
the most part, they just don't know much and show few signs of wanting to 
learn more.

Michael Yates