Changetheview
What really bugs me most about the student loan forgiveness issue is that the same people who support corporate welfare, tax cuts to ultra-wealthy, and other “economic boosting” policies aren’t supporting student loan debt forgiveness.
So you can give estate taxes more room, literally creating generation after generation of family dynasties of people that have yachts, multiple mega-mansions, and quite often never work a day of true labor in their life… BUT you can’t give the “elites” who are in DEBT for going to school a break? These aren’t the ones who graduated from Yale and went to work at daddy’s law firm. They’re neighbors, people who struggle to pay bills, part of the class that is trying to achieve the American dream by better themselves and shooting for the stars. Betting on themselves and creating a more powerful workforce, true labor, the true economic support. Because they went to go get additional training for advanced jobs, and they didn’t have the wealthy family to pay for it. And THOSE are the people that do not deserve help? What the fuck?
Call it what you want, but the only reason US students have loan debt is because it’s not covered by tax revenue, just like it is for K-12 (one of US’s ground-breaking strategies for positioning itself as an advanced world power) and like almost every other developed nation does. Punishing the poor by keeping them as indentured servants is the only truth about student loans that matters. Yet your neighbors will vote against you, support this nonsense, and then turn around and send money off to the likes of someone with a private jet. It’s so unbelievably idiotic.
What happens when 43 million people have to start paying a good chunk of their income to this expense? Will that not take away the money they could spend at other actual businesses? People who say taxes are too much will then say this is acceptable? Meanwhile supporting military spending that far outweighs student loan forgiveness? Supporting corporate tax breaks, the entities that get the actual benefit from all this additional education spending anyway? Does increased knowledge and labor not serve as one of the largest bases to our entire economy? If something is worth supporting with taxes in the name of the economy, it’s this training - which is what school is. Training for the workforce.
I’m so sick of this. I know it’s not the only illogical part of many people’s economic “beliefs” but it’s just so frustrating. The anti-intellectual movement in the US is a serious roadblock toward progress of many types, and this is one of the most severe. The US is far from the most knowledgable nation, and that’s going to make a difference. It already has. And it’s simply sickening how much some people wish pain and suffering on people in debt but will willingly support those who will never feel the pain of financial stress.
Legal basis for suing a company that uses another company’s product/creations without approval seems like a fairly pretty straightforward intellectual property issue.
Legal basis for increased taxes on revenue from AI or automation in general could be created in the same way that any tax is created: through legislation. Income tax didn’t exist before, now it does. Tax breaks for mortgage interest didn’t use it exist, now it does. Levying higher taxes on companies that rely heavily on automated systems and creating a UBI out of the revenue might not exist right now, but it can, if the right people are voted in to pass the right laws.
Pretty good read. I think the sentence about happiness is perhaps the most important. Despite all of the crazy productivity, energy, and geographical movement increases we’ve had over the last century, some people simply aren’t happy. Would be nice if we could judge growth based on other metrics more closely related to happiness and enjoyment. Find ways to live where people are more connected to one another and the world around them, not just through screens but in a tangible sense that adds to overall well-being. Not jetting around the globe to enjoy a new view for a matter of days, but living in harmony with beauty and nature on a regular basis.
It mentions a 4 day workweek, which could be a good start, but doesn’t really even dissect that although we fought for a 40-hour week, many people now work well more than that, despite the productivity gains. Why is the backward drift happening and what can we do to stop it?
Growth objectives could be revisited beyond GDP and oversimplified metrics about the “health” of the economy rather than its people. But of course, capitalism has its inherent focus. And we’d have to decouple our government leadership from that of large corporations, or at least remove the exclusive focus on profit growth. Companies judged based on the wellbeing and happiness of those who work for it. One hell of an uphill battle, but change can happen. Fiduciary duty is the only true legal obligation most executives and board members have. Why not add more to that list? It may seem daunting, but a swipe of the pen can add responsibilities to corporate leaders. EPA, OSHA, etc. all once didn’t exist. Time to put on our forward-thinking caps again.
Also, I understand that energy storage is a monumental challenge in the face of EV and sustainable energy production, but this article doesn’t really address how it compares to the alternative (fossil fuels). To the untrained eye, it might seem that sustainable energy production isn’t a net positive, which obviously isn’t the case. If we start dumping more money into energy storage research and development, it seems inevitable that we’d figure out a way to minimize the harm, especially when combined with decreased movement. This is yet another amazing opportunity for us to advance beyond the known limits of today, and when prioritized/incentivized properly, who knows what can happen.
Citizens United is part of the problem. But it is also simply part of how every corporation runs. And if run in the same way, nationalization doesn’t necessarily fix this issue, especially when led by similar people with similar motives/understanding of the “way things work.”
The board and the executives, which together make nearly every strategic decision of importance, have one legal obligation above all else: their fiduciary duty. The duty to make money for the investors. This is by far their biggest obligation from a legal standpoint. Meeting this one goal means they’re typically protected from nearly any personal liability (apart from exceptional negligence or criminal actions - but even that can be excused if profits are high enough).
Worse yet, trying to get around this legal duty to be purely incentivized by money has proved to be extremely challenging. For example, corporate trustees have been told that even if the trust explicitly wishes to avoid investing in certain industries to avoid harm (such as oil and gas), the trustee must put the goal of maximizing returns ABOVE the trust’s explicit directives to avoid certain industries. It must choose to diversify its investments to the best of its ability, which almost always includes oil and gas, despite the trust creators saying otherwise. If they don’t, they open themselves up to legal liability for lack of living up to their fiduciary duty. How fucked up is that?
This purely profit-driven legal obligation is the root of many, many problems.
But if we can change it, if we can bolster and prioritize the well-being of employees, customers, and society at large - with a strong legal obligation to do so, or at least give companies the ability to set these as legal obligations of their leaders - then maybe things can shift. ESG investing is paving that way forward, but still faces many roadblocks due to the prioritization of fiduciary duty.
It doesn’t have to be this way. It really shouldn’t have ever been this way, but that’s what late-stage capitalism gets you.
Back in the 50’s to late 70’s during massive economic expansion, companies weren’t perfect, but many acted with a sense of civic duty that simply isn’t part of board room etiquette anymore. We can deprioritize money and increase concern for well-being.
Greed and institutional investors have swept across these leadership positions with downright disgusting ramifications, which have now bled deeper into politics (law makers), policy (laws themselves), interpretation of laws (courts, such as Citizens United ruling), and society at large (those living under these laws and their interpretations).
How do we change it? Start with lawmakers, let that bleed into laws and courts, then eventually it’ll allow companies/industries to prioritize something other than profits. Like just maybe the people who live under it all.
This article - and its headline - aren’t perfect. But the anti-intellectualism that’s deeply rooted into American leadership of what’s now seen mostly in the conservative platform is well documented and known. Check out Anti-intellectualism in American Life by Richard Hofstadter for a lot of support for what this short article tries to convey. And since that book’s 1964 writings, it’s only become stronger.
The conclusion paragraph is what I think most people are best taking away from this piece (not the overly-broad headline, which honestly is just clickbait compared to the substance of the article): “Ideas those may be, but the product of genuine intellectuals — those who employ critical reasoning and approach facts honestly — they are not. Ever since the Enlightenment, there has been a perpetual battle, a war of words, between those who would make the world a little freer, a little healthier, a little fairer and a little saner, and those who are viscerally repelled by such markers of secular progress. We see the practical consequences of this conflict everywhere, from the ruined cities of Ukraine to our own barbarously retrograde state legislatures. It is necessary for each of us to know which side we are on in the intellectual struggle of this chaotic century.”
There is a battle for truth, facts, and logic happening right now. And while there may be some conservatives who abide by those values, the party and its leadership have verifiably demonstrated otherwise. From trickle down economics to opposing universal healthcare (and nearly every major issue between), the facts simply do not support the party stance. Anti-intellectualism in real life, played out with real consequences, supported by masses willing to vote against their own interests.
I agree, the shift in even the most progressive US politicians is still center or even center right of the world stage, and more importantly, where we need to be to fix the issue. I also agree the stranglehold of the two-party system with its dark money pools fueled by super PACs and Citizens United leaves very few options for true change. The distance between what the population wants and what the representatives deliver is yet another despicable result of the current situation. But it also leaves room for hope. Despite the media coverage, most people do want progress and a more equitable society that lets people do as they please.
Launching a successful third party at the federal level is one hell of a battle, but not impossible. I’d say it starts at the local level, with municipal and state leaders willing to break from the status quo. The campaigns for these positions can be surprisingly non-competitive. If they can prove their integrity and willingness to fight for what’s necessary, it could attract the right investors (oh sorry, I mean campaign supporters) to potentially make a run for a federal position, starting with the House of Representatives - which is supposed to be the most diverse representation in the federal legislature and is the easiest to break into.
From there, it’s a relentless battle that must be fought by passionate people. As the voter pool shifts with the aging millennials (who aren’t following the usual path toward conservatism as they age) and Gen Z (who is dealing with a terrible hand of cards from the get-go), this will become easier and with a larger following.
Another prong in the tools of change must address the corporate influence. So-called cancel culture can be a bullshit way to being knee-jerk reactions, but speaking with your wallet can be part of the change. It’s difficult because the vast majority of the economy is controlled by a small group of investors and conglomerates, but still, these bean counters care deeply about their beans. Shifting them toward even slightly better alternatives can push the profit-driven focus in the right direction. Look at EVs for a good example. They’re growing because a demand for expensive vehicles is shifting toward electrification, even though the good ole boys resisted forever. One crack in the industry can cause a major shift.
I also think it’s time for a renewal of the labor movement. Wayyyyy too many people are giving up nearly everything for poverty level wages and a futile existence, just so a very small group can add to their giant piles of gold they’ll never use. The truth is that this labor holds some of the most power in the entire economy and country. But it must be unified and willing to fight for better rights. Many people have been convinced that their interests are aligned with the elites rather than their neighbors (trickle down economics), making this a challenge. It’s also tough due to the lack of ability for most people to save an emergency fund mixed with a fundamentally flawed social safety net system (both by design). But once again, these groups have proven their power in the past and it can happen again.
Small steps in the right direction, local leaders, commitment to spending aligned with ethical desires, and a cohesive labor movement can all make the changes we need. It’s not an overnight change, but it can be done. Hope is still valuable.
Yeah, pretty sad that being in hospital administration is now typically more lucrative than being an MD.
But don’t forget about the insurance companies - they’re just groups of bankers and lawyers working together to figure out how to squeeze as much money as possible out of every aspect. The worse coverage they provide, the stronger the insurance company gets (the race to the bottom).
It is easy to be pessimistic, and I’ve had my more than my fair share of struggles as a result from the current inequality. But by putting things into a bigger perspective, there’s a lot to be thankful for. Many places around the world made massive jumps forward in the 20th century, going against long-standing traditions that typically offered little for the labor class or minority groups. Much of that progress is still here, even if it’s not perfect and even if it’s breaking down more than we’d like. But we can repeat that type of progress, we can bring back the light and overcome the challenges of the 21st century.
I see it as a numbers problem. The likes of Bernie and AOC are paving a new path, and that always means going against the flow with few followers at first. More charismatic people will follow and the rise in passionate voters that are now faced with a much more situation than generations past will accelerate this change. Plus, most of these few recent progressives have leaned more toward trying to call out every injustice rather than pick very specific battles. Nothing wrong with that. But we also need people who are more dedicated to specific issues, gathering support from moderates who are afraid of aligning themselves with those who tend to be viewed as extreme. No matter what, politicians always have to be extremely cautious about who they align themselves with. Hopefully this more targeted progressive focus will come through as leadership changes. Make some real progress on specific issues, backed by both the “extremists” and the moderates.
The elderly taking over our leadership positions has caused a shift toward established thought and strengthened the two party system. But many of these 30+ year career politicians are finally on their way out, basically for the first time since it all started in the 80s. Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, etc are all aging rapidly. It’s fucking wild that Biden is poised for another presidential run at his age, and everyone is sick of it. There are sure to be some new leaders that closely follow this establishment track, but we’re also seeing young representatives having a fighting chance for the first time in a long time. It’s tragic how Gen X representatives haven’t had their fair share of leadership time and it seems like they’re the generation that’s going to be mostly skipped over (along with some from both boomers and millennials). But change is coming. Even though these people act like they’ll live forever and have the right to hold power of every generation, nature’s laws are catching up. I don’t wish death on them, but it sure will be nice to have many of these geriatric leaders gone from their positions of power. I’ve worked closely with generational wealth families, and the same transition is happening within many of them too. The old patriarch and matriarchs are passing the torch to a new generation that doesn’t want to be the root of evil. They’re not perfect, but the younger ones (gen X and younger mostly) really do want to see positive changes for the masses.
The Supreme Court is a real problem now too, but it’s also a sign of the coming changes. It is much younger now than before, which would have been great if it wasn’t packed with obvious stooges. Term limits plus adding more seats can change that. So can holding some accountable for their actions, which CAN happen. The court changed quickly over the last decade, and it doesn’t have to be static in this way. This is one targeted fight that progressive politicians need to take on right away. And with the bullshit rulings coming from the court that go against public opinion, the support for these changes will continue to grow.
I’ve successfully replaced too much screen time with reading. To do so, I always have at least one “heavy” book (typically non-fiction) and one light book (typically fiction) that I’m reading at the same time, mixed with constant access to both (kindle with synchronized kindle apps) and a strong desire to change my habits. It takes time but is well worth the effort.
Your desire for change is the most important step, don’t belittle it. Many people never have that voice. Let it fuel you. Small changes will build into a big transformation if you foster them.