Watching 60 minutes I.......

[Tessa Byrd]

I empathized with the community in peril. I often wonder was there any empathy
when my community was decimated. Capitalism
without production, some say a dying capitalism, profoundly influenced my
community starting not in 2010 but in 1980.
Wilson,
better than I ever could, eloquently chronicled the demise of inner city
communities in “When Work Disappears”….I recommend this book with high praise. Unemployment in my community grew into “joblessness”. The closing of large manufacturing plants,
steel mills, and foundries accounted for the loss of production that fueled
thriving inner cities. Neighborhood
enterprise was no longer viable…inner city residents had little if any
disposable cash. Available jobs, low
wage service industry jobs, did not and cannot support the already weakened
economic infrastructure of a big American city or it seems a small rural town. Since 1980 and before my community faced this
reality….

I see as responsible and causative what T. Veblen termed a “predatory business” class. Operating with the one priority of unfettered capitalism… maximization
of profits…the business communities have behaved with neither a social
conscious nor responsibility. It can be
argued that this predatory nature is inevitable when the regulation of
capitalism is eliminated. Business opted
to outsource rather than pay a living wage. The “race to the bottom” is proof. Business opted to deny pay raises in favor of
credit for all and any. Business opted
to watch as low wage service industry employment failed to provide the economic
resources needed to support a viable community. Most shamefully, I think, rather than address
these occurrences the business community holds firm to the position increasing
the pie is most beneficial for all. I
see that it is beneficial for their concerns but the benefit to my community
fails to be seen after 30+ years. Business
does not support rail service revitalization or the development of alternative
energy. The potential to invigorate my
community exist in these initiatives. I
support both these initiatives..

I am also convinced that my community was devalued or counted as valueless by previous Administrations and we have suffered for it. I will forever be affected by the way in which
the interests of my community were held with no importance and its demise is
sanctioned by public policy.

I didn’t hang around to see who they were voting for this mid-term. Polls say dissatisfaction will
account for a republican takeover. I
sure hope and pray not.

Business and the Republican Party have close ties. I personally see no change in a position that ultimately is responsible for much
of our current circumstance. I hesitate
to act in interest not favorable to my community and situation.