I think the end result of this economic situation will be a generally harder life

[TwixVoy]

The multi-billion dollar retailer I work for is running a massive anti-union campaign recently. After having watched the latest propaganda video on unions everyone is being forced to watch I am convinced the mega corporations see us all as powerless fools.

Really I wouldn't even call it a propaganda video even though it was. I would call it more of a implied threat from the people at the top. I say threat because the video literally comes across with the message "we aren't saying we'll retaliate against you for trying to join a union, but we will".

The fact that they are bold enough to create and mandate this video to thousands of employees speaks volumes to me. It tells me they are convinced they can literally border on threats to subdue a workers right to form a union and feel no consequence is possible against them.

There are too many americans who are barely holding on who are having to live paycheck to paycheck. Many have become accustomed to this. Debt is a fact of life to many, and is a form of slavery. While in debt the loss of a job can cost you everything.... because you may not actually own everything. You may not own your house or your car.

This results in a population that is weak. A population with no savings to fall back on and requires that paycheck to make monthly payments is much less likely to rock the boat. Especially with the bankruptcy bill making you a slave to the bank should you need to declare bankruptcy.

I see this cycle continuing. I see a system in which people will be forced in to debt for school, homes, a car, even food. I do not see the mega corporations giving a fair wage anytime soon. (hell, the video our multi-billion dollar company is showing pretty much says that) This is a great system that we have now if you're interested in consolidating the wealth of an entire nation in to the hands of a few.

And look at our representatives run to the rescue of these people once they get a little too greedy. We should call this bail out "The Act to Continue to Indebtedness of the American People". That's what it is. Legislation designed to keep the status quo going.

We will have a hard life going forward. Our wealth will continue to go to the top. We will continue to be nickel and dimed every day. Most people will continue to have little if anything in savings and a negative net worth. One day we will wake up one morning and realize we as a nation are bankrupt. We will realize the american citizen is poor because we have allowed our wealth to be consolidated in the hands of a few. Congress should be looking at getting criminal charges filed against these people. The fact they are handing them even more of our nations wealth tells me we are royally screwed.

[Maccagirl]

1. We, as a nation, are already there.

n/t

[TwixVoy]

2. Not quite

because the average american still hasn't realized his wealth belongs to someone else.

[marmar]

3. Absolutely. The easy access to credit is history.....

.... Lots of people are going to readjust what it means to be successful. All those pricey status symbols will be unattainable.

[TwixVoy]

4. Exactly

and the people at the top who have all our wealth now won't care. We won't be getting that money back any time soon, and it sure as hell won't trickle down to us.

[RainDog]

5. I was in management in a biz while my (ex) hub was in grad school

and in the training manual, it stated explicitly that if you heard anyone talking about union organizing, you were supposed to report this person to your boss.

I would've never reported anyone, and I was one of those who supported unionization, but of course, I didn't tell them that either.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Why labor needs to organize IN SPITE of the threats

labor did ONCE

Oh well....