Uhh, Pour Some Sugar On Me and Shook Me All Night Long were both just posted in c/80smusic like ten minutes ago. Also, the answer is from about ten years before my time.

Edit: Oh, they were posted by you

I work a blue collar job deep in a very red state. The guys at work have really enjoyed the last few weeks over the news they’ve been seeing across their Facebook feeds and other preferred outlets. The elation from them is immeasurable. But some of them have relatives or even a wife who work for the federal government. They were discussing how their loved ones are afraid of losing their jobs, and so I take any opportunity I can to have any conversation with them about class politics and shoehorn in any broad analysis of the political landscape of the US. Not specific to the current circumstances, we’ve been having these conversations for years now. They often walk away saying how I’ve provided a new perspective, and that they weren’t aware of something I said and it gave them something to think about, only to turn around the next day as if they hadn’t heard a single word from me.

In these conversations, I’ve found out that of their own admission, some of them have never read a single book in their lives. That they have a difficult time understanding basic principles of science.

I have always tried my best to see the positives in people. To believe that if someone didn’t have knowledge in one area, they may be vastly ahead in another. Like the “hillbillies” who know nothing of the outside world, but understand mechanical systems well enough to keep an engine running with a paperclip and chewed gum.

But that’s what they know. They are not adept at piecing together even the most modest of intertwining political occurrences. What they know in their holler is their neighbor and their cousin. Their adherence to supporting the termination of democracy for the sake of oligarchy is a cultural wave bolstered by the algorithms that feed their scrolling habits. They hang onto anything that carries their ignorances. Many have never left the area and met anyone unlike them.

You’re right that it is maddening, to know that history is happening in front of our eyes. The analogous atrocities we show as examples burning holes in our conscious while we’re diving in all over again, with some people choosing obliviousness and even celebrating for their biases and propagandizing.

I believe that even among the aware, there are those who choose not to believe the worst could happen. They see these events and choose to internalize the roundabout language in the corporate news headlines or from any more relevant politician. It is, after all, a tough pill to swallow. So they too allow themselves to fall victim to shirking the naked obviousness of the direction we’re going.

That is to say, I don’t think we are at the Rubicon yet - trying not to doom post. But I wanted to say it isn’t difficult to understand why other people don’t see it. The world built around them makes it easier to look the other way.

Obviously, there is quite a lot to develop here, but I’m curious about future communications between whoever set up the website and social media for this general strike and labor organizers or leaders like UAW’s Shawn Fain. I perused the website briefly and there seems to be, as of this moment, no mention of labor union involvement. Not that it’s required, but Fain has already called for a general strike in 2028. (Which I know, is quite awhile away.) I like organic uprisings and gladly, I will strike whenever the call is sounded. Hell I’ve been telling people we need a general strike for years. I just think that an endorsement or open discussion with popular known figures on board would do a lot to convince way more people that this isn’t a dream.

There was so much fervor around the climate strike action in 2019, but ultimately, I fail to see much realization of change. I was a part of Occupy in 2011, and although I’m certain it and other actions bring an awareness and conversation that would have not materialized without it, it too is also pointed as the example of action having not met its goals, at least when I hear it referenced. I want a general strike that wins not just in spreading awareness, but also in material, legislative expediency.

I hate to sound doubtful, I want this to happen. I don’t know exactly what I’m trying to say here except that I’d have liked to see a mention or acknowledgement by the initiators of this call to strike that labor unions are already thinking on these terms and that there is or will be an effort to include them, as their involvement will greatly increase our chances at success.

I’m also open to hearing from anyone with a critique of my perspective, which is really born out of a cynicism and disillusionment with the world. I am often wrong about many many things. My heart is just, broken, man.