The prevalence of these TV shows may explain why so many Americans remain convinced of the prospects for upward mobility.

    • lascaux [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      liberal individualist deology taken to 100. i've got an uncle in the same boat. structural issues don't exist, society doesn't even exist; all of the world's problems are the result of individuals making bad decisions for themselves. very popular for boomers

      • Ursus_Hexagonus [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        If everyone took care of their finances, they could earn enough passive income that nobody would have to work!

    • cawsby [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      In the early 20th century there were movements to force people into undesirable jobs "for the good of the economy" - aka slavery by another name. I can see shit like this coming back.

      “A Suggestion on the Negro Problem”. Gilman wrote that the mere fact of Black people in America caused “social injury”. Her “suggestion” for that “problem”? A forced labor corp, complete with uniforms and bases.

      https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/07/kitchen-design-history-society

      • sgtlion [any]
        ·
        edit-2
        3 years ago

        Coming back? This is already the modern reality. In the UK recently, average wages threatened to go up slightly and Amazon/McDonalds struggled to hire minimum wage workers - The response? Increases to cost of living, drop unemployment payouts, further restricting eligibility for benefits and recently a demand that employers stop giving employees wage increases.

        Lo and behold, McDonalds and Amazon do not have trouble getting workers anymore. We live in a slavery system right now.

    • Florn [they/them]
      ·
      3 years ago

      if everyone had their shit together, nobody would eat at burger king