Consuming America (very pre-election) 11.12.03

I have been thinking, the thing that really bugs me about America is the fact we are called "consumers." "consumer confidence," "consumer expectations," "consumer purchases." Does this not offend anyone else?

I was reading some editorial in one of our local newspapers and he was ranting on about how 'democrats' are always complaining about the fact manufacturing jobs are on the decline...something like 20%, but they fail to address the fact many business sector jobs are opening up, like bank jobs. Okay, now the problem with this is bank jobs and the like, generally do not pay very much, certainly not as much as a manufacturing job. So, why is this such a wonderful turn of events? Who feeds their family and truly meets all their needs on a wal-mart salary?

He went on to say that the reason manufacturing jobs have went down is because our factories are getting more high tech with their automation and need fewer workers...See, from the conversations I get from my family and their friends, regarding factory machinery, most of it is from the 50s and needs constant maintenance. From my perspective most of the jobs go to temp workers who don't require full-time benefits or pay. I also see factories closing up and moving to Mexico.

The problem here is I am not a statitician, nor am I an economist, but I do have family, and come from a small town very dependent on manufacturing jobs. Step-father numero uno was laid off from his job when his factory, where he worked for over 30 years, shut down and moved to Mexico two years before his retirement kicked in. He has since had a heart attack and been diagnosed with Diabetes. His unemployment runs out in December, and he has been turned down for disability. Now, what I want to know is what the fuck is he, and many people like him, supposed to do? Get a job at a bank?

I am actually pretty tired of both sides, 'leftist democrats,' and 'rightist republicans' bitching about numbers and blame, instead of seeing this as a social problem, hiring some anthropologists who 'get' people and figure out a way to save small town America...you know, where most of the population lives. It is no coincidence that in these small towns where factories close, downtowns choke, and river boat gambling sucks up what is left, meth addiction is a huge social problem, teen pregnancy is on the rise, and a general air of depression is felt on the streets.

Fuck the numbers...what is going to be done about this? And to make things even worse, Bush is really trying to get that policy of 'no more overtime' passed...which, of course, will help the lobbying corporations, but will have a devastating effect on working families, that luckily still have a job in manufacturing and rely on those overtime hours.

Finally, wasn't it nice when America was known as a 'producer,' and our farm lands in the Midwest fed the world, and industries throughout the country actually supplied, period. Now, we are a nation of consumers, and we are consuming.