Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

no_hypocrisy

(48,826 posts)
Sat Oct 22, 2022, 12:39 PM Oct 2022

Some workers don't "get it".

I've been musing about my late father.

His ultimate and last career was a medical doctor. Nothing wrong with that. (My best guess is that he decided to find a vocation where he could always be the boss and would avoid the risk of termination by another. Small business owner as well as physician.)

And he was fair to his employees at his medical office (office manager, x-ray tech, lab tech, nurses, patient assistants).

But he exuded an attitude of privilege that reflected his general disdain for employees. Specifically I mean that he had no sympathy for unions, for strikes, for collective bargaining, organizing. To him, it was akin to socialism, even communism (if he even understood the difference).

My father was a worker twice, perhaps three times, in his life before medical school. He was a chemist at a cement factory. He was an usher in a movie theater (where he say "Gone With The Wind" about 40 times). If you count the Army, that's three times. (As to the latter, he decided that being a grunt Private was not for him and hastened promotions to get out of that status.)

Having the experience of holding a job vicariously to the whim of one's employer, not making enough money to survive, making one's life dependent on one's employment, I can't understand how a person can turn his/her back on his/her experience and resent when one's former peers request then demand better working conditions, more security, more money for a decent lifestyle.

I can understand how Bush Jr., TFG, Trump Jr., Ivanka, Eric, etc. have their extraordinary sense of privilege. They were born into it and know no other way of life.

But my father, I just don't get it.

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Some workers don't "get it". (Original Post) no_hypocrisy Oct 2022 OP
A lot of people are lucky and think everyone has the same opportunities Farmer-Rick Oct 2022 #1
If he paid his employees substantially higher wages & benefits than others. MichMan Oct 2022 #2
On one hand, you have made a valid point. no_hypocrisy Oct 2022 #3

Farmer-Rick

(11,423 posts)
1. A lot of people are lucky and think everyone has the same opportunities
Sat Oct 22, 2022, 01:03 PM
Oct 2022

It's like a lottery winner wondering why everyone doesn't win when they play the lottery.

In capitalism some people win but much more people lose. The winners think they are either specially blessed by an imaginary god or think everyone else is just lazy. Or both.

I knew a white guy who was born and raised in the most outrageously racist place in Kentucky. He grew up to despise racists, bigots and Nazis. He was able to see beyond his own society and objectively see what was really moral.

A lot of people can't see beyond their own society.

Like Thomas Jefferson

"Despite working tirelessly to establish a new nation founded upon principles of freedom and egalitarianism, Jefferson owned over 600 enslaved people during his lifetime, the most of any U.S. president."

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/slavery-in-the-thomas-jefferson-white-house#:~:text=Despite%20working%20tirelessly%20to%20establish,most%20of%20any%20U.S.%20president.


MichMan

(13,228 posts)
2. If he paid his employees substantially higher wages & benefits than others.
Sat Oct 22, 2022, 02:39 PM
Oct 2022

He probably didn't think unions were necessary.

no_hypocrisy

(48,826 posts)
3. On one hand, you have made a valid point.
Sat Oct 22, 2022, 03:27 PM
Oct 2022

But generally, he had derision and contempt for workers wanting more than their employers were willing to offer them.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Omaha Steve's Labor Group»Some workers don't "get i...