Decline of unions; technological displacement of skilled workers; jobs sent off
to where they can be done more cheaply; rise of the financial sector; political
power of the 1% and subservient governments; universities and colleges crammed
with young people who have nothing else to do = growth of the servant class.
But wait! What about the growing anger of the 99%, revolution & chaos?
Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Hudson
To: RE-DESIGNING WORK, INCOME DISTRIBUTION,EDUCATION
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 10:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Futurework] AlterNet: Is Our Future Going to Be Keeping Rich
People Happy in a Servant Economy?
Sally's right. The rise of temporary workers fits with a possible recreation
of a personal servant class. (As in the 19th century?) But this was only
possible in a world of the new industrialist rich and a new professional middle
class who were living off the profits of mass produced goods and a large
consumer market which was building upwards from classes at the lowest levels of
poverty. Today, we're in an entirely new situation with a declining consumer
population, Most parents can't afford to buy both the requisite number of
status goods (in and around their house) and also to raise and educate enough
replacement children. The previous "growth" economy of America, Japan and
Western Europe started slowing down seriously 30 years ago, Mean wages in all
these countries started declining in the late '80s and the only way governments
kept their GDPs growing (that is, notionally) was by unleashing credit and
allowing the banks to run riot.
Keith
At 21:01 08/11/2012, you wrote:
Is Our Future Going to Be Keeping Rich People Happy in a Servant Economy?
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