[Pen-l] Harriet Swain gets it

[Sandwichman <lumpoflabor@xxxxxxxxx>]

"Two things have always marked out the financial masters of the
universe from the rest of us. First, their souped-up salaries, and
then their souped-up working hours. We mortals understood that these
were connected. The rewards were so high because the hours were so
long."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/oct/22/creditcrunch-banking-longhours?commentpage=1&commentposted=1

Swain's point about the strictly ideological "connection" between long
hours and big incomes is important. Joe the plumber says, "Well, the
reason why I ask you about the American Dream I mean, I work hard. I'm
a plumber, I work 10, 12 hours a day." And those "10, 12 hours a day"
that he claims to work elevate him above reproach because it makes him
an American Hero. Not even the "Socialist" Obama has the temerity to
challenge the logic of hard work and long hours!

I've been trying to say that this phony "connection" between long
hours and high income is a key to both understanding the nature of the
financial crisis and to mobilizing a progressive response to it.

-- 
Sandwichman
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