169
submitted 14 hours ago by yogthos@lemmy.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml
top 12 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] floofloof@lemmy.ca 28 points 13 hours ago

Two paychecks seems optimistic.

[-] Zephorah@discuss.online 17 points 13 hours ago

Agreed. 2-3 paychecks for the union workers and skilled trades. 0-1 for most others.

[-] humanamerican@lemmy.zip 26 points 13 hours ago

Lack of worker solidarity. We're too atomized and stressed to support each other through a GS. Hopefully that is beginning to change. I just hope its not too late.

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 12 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Lack of worker solidarity

In theory, the problem of "two paychecks" is solved (at least in part) by working people seizing certain critical means of production for the purposes of mutual aid. So, grocers strike not by closing the front doors but by shutting down the cash registers and handing out food for free. Landlord admins strike by refusing to collect rents. Teachers strike not by refusing to teach but by refusing to grade. Etc.

And if everyone knows this arrangement will be in effect, they can act together as a bargaining unit to threaten the control of the landlord class.

But if they aren't in close communication, because the public forms of media are censored and strictly controlled, then individuals can't express solidarity prior to the strike. And if they aren't in alignment, then you end up with the same "haves" and "have-nots" reproduced across the striking cohort, creating contradictions that landlords can exploit. And if they can't repeat this experiment of communication, trust building, strike, reap concessions, then they can't build momentum of numbers or expand the demands.

Hopefully that is beginning to change

I haven't seen much to suggest it has. Perhaps the soul is willing, but the body public remains weak and emaciated. We still don't have avenues of communication independent of the capitalist class. We haven't built trust between industrial sectors. There's little we can point to that's been successful, much less reproducible.

I just hope its not too late.

It's never "too late". All that changes is the players and the stakes at play.

But whatever comes next, you'd be foolish to believe you'll see both the beginning of it and the end. You'll be lucky to know what you're in the middle of.

[-] estrange_alien@leminal.space 21 points 13 hours ago
[-] pennomi@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago

The internet caused us to forgo our tight communities in exchange for being acquaintances with millions of people.

[-] Unusable3151@lemmy.ml 9 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

nearly a century of coordinated, targeted anti-union operations by corporations and the federal government will do that.

[-] JakenVeina@midwest.social 11 points 13 hours ago

Also, the average American barely knowing what a union is, much less being a member of one.

[-] anon6789@lemmy.world 7 points 13 hours ago

No universal healthcare for when they shoot you in the face with pepper balls or whomp you to a pulp with nightsticks...

[-] Etterra@lemmy.org 5 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

2? More like half a paycheck. Most people can't even afford to call in sick to work.

[-] jim_v@lemmy.ml 5 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Haha. Joke's on you!

It's the start of the month, so I have three paychecks to live. I'm going to celebrate with drive-thru coffee and avocado bread.

[-] Skyrmir@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

Debt servitude works better than any whip or chain.

this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2026
169 points (100.0% liked)

United States | News & Politics

8991 readers
274 users here now

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS