I work a blue collar job deep in a very red state. The guys at work have really enjoyed the last few weeks over the news they’ve been seeing across their Facebook feeds and other preferred outlets. The elation from them is immeasurable. But some of them have relatives or even a wife who work for the federal government. They were discussing how their loved ones are afraid of losing their jobs, and so I take any opportunity I can to have any conversation with them about class politics and shoehorn in any broad analysis of the political landscape of the US. Not specific to the current circumstances, we’ve been having these conversations for years now. They often walk away saying how I’ve provided a new perspective, and that they weren’t aware of something I said and it gave them something to think about, only to turn around the next day as if they hadn’t heard a single word from me.

In these conversations, I’ve found out that of their own admission, some of them have never read a single book in their lives. That they have a difficult time understanding basic principles of science.

I have always tried my best to see the positives in people. To believe that if someone didn’t have knowledge in one area, they may be vastly ahead in another. Like the “hillbillies” who know nothing of the outside world, but understand mechanical systems well enough to keep an engine running with a paperclip and chewed gum.

But that’s what they know. They are not adept at piecing together even the most modest of intertwining political occurrences. What they know in their holler is their neighbor and their cousin. Their adherence to supporting the termination of democracy for the sake of oligarchy is a cultural wave bolstered by the algorithms that feed their scrolling habits. They hang onto anything that carries their ignorances. Many have never left the area and met anyone unlike them.

You’re right that it is maddening, to know that history is happening in front of our eyes. The analogous atrocities we show as examples burning holes in our conscious while we’re diving in all over again, with some people choosing obliviousness and even celebrating for their biases and propagandizing.

I believe that even among the aware, there are those who choose not to believe the worst could happen. They see these events and choose to internalize the roundabout language in the corporate news headlines or from any more relevant politician. It is, after all, a tough pill to swallow. So they too allow themselves to fall victim to shirking the naked obviousness of the direction we’re going.

That is to say, I don’t think we are at the Rubicon yet - trying not to doom post. But I wanted to say it isn’t difficult to understand why other people don’t see it. The world built around them makes it easier to look the other way.

Obviously, there is quite a lot to develop here, but I’m curious about future communications between whoever set up the website and social media for this general strike and labor organizers or leaders like UAW’s Shawn Fain. I perused the website briefly and there seems to be, as of this moment, no mention of labor union involvement. Not that it’s required, but Fain has already called for a general strike in 2028. (Which I know, is quite awhile away.) I like organic uprisings and gladly, I will strike whenever the call is sounded. Hell I’ve been telling people we need a general strike for years. I just think that an endorsement or open discussion with popular known figures on board would do a lot to convince way more people that this isn’t a dream.

There was so much fervor around the climate strike action in 2019, but ultimately, I fail to see much realization of change. I was a part of Occupy in 2011, and although I’m certain it and other actions bring an awareness and conversation that would have not materialized without it, it too is also pointed as the example of action having not met its goals, at least when I hear it referenced. I want a general strike that wins not just in spreading awareness, but also in material, legislative expediency.

I hate to sound doubtful, I want this to happen. I don’t know exactly what I’m trying to say here except that I’d have liked to see a mention or acknowledgement by the initiators of this call to strike that labor unions are already thinking on these terms and that there is or will be an effort to include them, as their involvement will greatly increase our chances at success.

I’m also open to hearing from anyone with a critique of my perspective, which is really born out of a cynicism and disillusionment with the world. I am often wrong about many many things. My heart is just, broken, man.

Wikipedia, my state’s public broadcast network, local charities, a particular local non-profit (employees of which I’ve known for years) that organizes community events.

Vulcanize, haha. All good, though!

Now you have to make a giant guitar for him too.

It was similar in my school, I mean aside from objective textbooks like in science or history. Apart from a couple stories, I’ve never really enjoyed reading fiction, and as a result, I struggled in school as that was the focus for gauging reading comprehension and other metrics.

Where I lacked in desire to read fiction, I was obsessed with poring through the encyclopedias we had at home. I would read ahead in history and math and science. I had no problems grasping the material and applying what I’d learned. In many ways, I feel this was not recognized by teachers and that the education system failed me in this regard.

I love reading to learn about the world, and I understand fiction can provide insight into other people’s perspectives, but it is still difficult for me to engage with fiction. It just doesn’t interest me the same way.

This isn’t to say we should change how we impart the joy of reading to kids. I’m not sure how I’d deal with my case, even if I could go back in time. There’s a good fiction plot somewhere in here, I guess. “Man goes back in time to spark new interest in himself to read fiction, ultimately fails, but the child reflects on it later in life and continues the time loop.”

To truly answer your question, I feel like I need to read about child development and the education system in general.

You’re in luck! The Kennedy half dollar, minted since 1964.

I am not a biologist or really anyone with any authority on the matter. Just some guy who likes to read and think about all manner of subjects, so I cannot adequately explain anything here, but if you’re interested in the why, it really boils down to the simplicity of morphological structures early in the development of life on earth, to more complex as evolution did its thing. That’s not to say that evolution has a goal, just that added complexity often means greater advantages. Also, it isn’t as though nothing similar to these creatures exist at all today. These basal forms were a prerequisite to the life we see in the oceans (and on land) today.

Definitely stay interested and read more about morphology and evolution in general! Fascinating stuff.

I’ve always understood SoaD to be overtly political, with songs like Prison Song, Attack, BYOB, A.D.D., and on and on… I listened to them for a long time because I enjoyed the music, but when I gave more than two seconds to think about the lyrics, I immediately understood them to be political in nature (which I actually enjoyed and appreciated more).

When I want non-political music, I almost avoid lyrics entirely, or listen to old-timey songs about broken hearts and love. I particularly enjoy early jazz guitar like Billy Banks, or The Ink Spots. Or some good EDM like Jaded and Noizu.

There’s a bit of politics in so much lyrical music, even if it is less transparent, seemingly nonsensical stuff. I do enjoy a good revelation about some bands, though. Like the amount of veterans my age that listen to Lamb of God but are very enthusiastic about military service and God and country types, or as has been mentioned in the thread already, that whole thing with Rage Against the Machine. I feel like SoaD falls into this category a lot too, with these particular people.

There are certainly moments of social commentary in RHCP songs, but I do enjoy Frusciante’s and Flea’s musical prowess to a degree that I don’t care at all what they’re saying at times, and just very much enjoy the tunes.

Edit: After reading replies in here, I oughta mention I’m wrong and political music doesn’t actually exist.

Not OP, but I am in a blue collar job and do the same. I get up at 4am and between brewing then drinking my coffee, eating a small breakfast, using the facilities, and doing general stuff getting ready to go to work, I then leave about 615am and clock in by 7am. I either read or listen to the news the whole time, or in this case, I also replied to your comment.

Not to mention corporate news. It’s impossible to find anyone else discussing particular events or raw video or even live streams without wading through what seems like thousands of every damn news channel with their talking heads and editors about any topic. I certainly understand why it’s important to have news easily accessible, but it kills me that I used to be able to find news media critique and videos of happenings from everyday people, and I just can’t anymore, at least not without serious digging. Obviously the rise of other video platforms plays a role, as does the need to ensure accurate information for specific things, like a pandemic or climate change, but I can’t help but see just how homogenized and corporatized it’s all become.

This isn’t to say there aren’t great channels out there that meet my needs, I just miss being able to type a keyword in and finding regular people, not trying to game the algorithm, not trying to make youtube a career, just getting their voices out there.

I think a lot of people are very much pissed about their situations, but also mislead and/or ignorant about what the problems actually are, how solutions can be enacted, and both who can lead and who to blame.

There’s also burnout. I think most people are just trying to make sure they can get to work, see their family, raise their kids, etc. The system works to grind us down so we don’t put up a fight, and the system is working well.

1. Behind the Bastards
2. Blowback

I didn’t listen to any other podcasts because there’s enough in these series to fill my work time and induce a rabid research of the topics discussed.

I think the word ‘conspiracy’ here is being conflated to mean ‘ridiculous, and false, conspiracy theory’. Conspiracies happen, but the word itself has the association with those who theorize and speculate on the absurd. I can say I don’t know for sure what the original commenter meant, but I think it is implied they meant they ‘know the Clinton’s murdering people isn’t true’.