Slaves

 

Don't be mistaken: Class struggle is still a daily reality in the industrial world. The haves want to have more at the expense of the have-nots.

This process is currently taking place both in France and in the U.S of America.

In France, like everywhere else, when progress occurs in the social situation of the masses, it is not due to a sudden and benevolent act of generosity from the ruling elite, e.g. the owners of the capital of course, but it is the outcome of a violent confrontation where the strongest wins.

Nevertheless, after the capitalists have been compelled to yield a tiny bit of their immensely huge wealth they have no other goal than to gain back what they deem an illegitimate -though legal- deprivation of what is "naturally" theirs. 

This thirst for reappropriation has been a permanent fixture in French history since the Revolution up to now.

The latest example can be observed with the full steam attack of the right-wing to scuttle and abrogate all the social measures that were implemented by the Socialists since F. Mitterrand was elected president in 1981. 

Namely the retirement age which he lowered from 65 to 60 has now been raised up back to 62. Also, the 35-hour workweek has largely been emptied of its contents and now another third-rate rightist politician questions the life-long employment guarantee for civil servants.

The point of the post is to highlight how hundreds of thousands of people who actually profit by these social measures complain that said measures bring France down to her knees and must be repelled. One  may wonder what the motivations of these voters are who want to be deprived of their welfare. Is it their own fate? Is it the future of the Nation?

The ultimate answer is that they've been brainwashed by the permanent and unrelenting propaganda campaign led by rightist politicians into believing that any social progress is detrimental to their personal well-being and that they must elect the sensible politicians (understand the rightist ones) who will protect them from the nasty and irresponsible policies of the Socialists.

In other words, the master tells his slaves what is good and what is bad for them. Coincidentally, the concept of what's good and bad is different for slaves and masters.

For what I know, the same is to be observed in the U.S where a major social advance such as the universal health care system which would benefit several dozens million American citizens is fiercely under attack by the Republicans. So much so that they've succeeded in making about half of the American people believe that the health care bill would be un-American, unconstitutional, dangerous, socialist, contrary to the interest of those most in need of this "universal" system etc. ad nauseam.

Once again, the wealthy tell the poor what is good and what is bad for them. And many of the poor believe what the master says...

It is impossible to convince a slave that he is being exploited by his master.

(It also raises the questions of universal suffrage and democracy but this is another story)