Another Labor Day in an American economy slow boiling its workers and people

Another Labor Day in an American economy slow boiling its workers and people.  

I popped into the Labor Fest in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Sunday.  It was once a huge affair. And, it's always free to get in.  Always free bands. Of course, beer and chow is always a la carte - got to keep the lights on some how.  But, even a couple years ago, well into the throes of the Great Recession,  the event was a multi-day vibrant laid-back fellowship.  It is always held on the grounds of the Labor Temple on the south side of Janesville off Center Avenue.  

But this year I was shocked.  The event was relegated to one day.  The huge food tent was gone. The hugh main stage was gone.  There was a beleaguered beer tent, and a couple taco wagons.  Beer was three dollars a 12-ounce can.  I passed and headed to one of my haunts that serves up 16-ouncers for a buck.   

I wanted to participate. I wanted to have a good review to report to the banal reader.  But, I can't paint lipstick on this starving pig.  The collective new-norm American mission to destroy the American worker and the Middle Class has been a resounding success - jobs sent to China; a culture of underemployed; and, an American work force relegated to scratching for low-paying service and part-time jobs.

Right under everyone's noses, the simple celebrations and once reliable American middle class that enjoyed them, have both been nuetered.  Mission accomplished.  We are in trouble peeps...., 

..., peer past the social media blur and just look at what is left of your own town and neighbors. 

Janesville, Wisconsin's, Fourth Estate of it's economic misery

Janesville, Wisconsin's,  Fourth Estate of it's economic misery.  

The odious governmental supplemental.  What right wingers call, "entitlements."  

Last week I pontificated about the undercurrent of worker frustration in Janesville, Wisconsin, in a rant entitled, Janesville, Wisconsin, "new norm" underemployed prison city with invisible fence of steel.  

In said literary masterpiece, I mentioned the "new norm" (if the last 25 years is considered new) top industries in Janesville.  The number one industry if you will, is health care (sick people). Number two industry? Public schools (Taxes). Also, number two facilitates Janesville's biggest export..., its children after graduation, to other cities, states, and countries to find jobs. And the third industry? Well of course it is taverns and fast food (drunks and fat people).

I was remiss in not mentioning our fourth estate of economic misery in Janesville not to mention and let alone, much of rural America - The odious governmental supplemental.  What right wing's call, "entitlements."  

But, in another piece just yesterday where I excoriated businessman and writer John Torinus for his perennial apologies for our lousy Wisconsin economy,  where I add the fourth estate of economic misery in my chiding of Torinus.  

In short, just off the top of my head, governmental supplementals could include the following: Child Support, Aid for Families with Dependent Children (W-2), Food Stamps, Unemployment, Disability, Veterans Benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. 

The above list is a short list of money given to people with various needs. I am sure the list is incomplete.  

If it were not Social Security and Medicare, my mom would have lost here house in her old age.  Be that as it may, it is an example of how these governmental funds are a large part of the economy.  And, as various factions try to chop away at all of the above, with each falling chip less money flows into the economy.  Our paper thin leaders tend not to like to talk about that aspect of governmental help to people in need.  
The prevailing wisdom and conventional wisdom of pontificators who spew verbal vomit about what ska-flaws people are that receive this help, is disturbing.  Working in the underclass myself, I am surrounded by people who receive help.  They ain't liv'n the high life oh great pontificatiors

It intrigues me that a Neo-Ayn-Randian-Libertarian like Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan will receive much of his votes from the electorates that receive funds from the above categories of governmental aid.   Ryan of course, has spent years honing the dismantling of the above government help. He has made rocket science out of his task of grinding people in need into the dirt. 

Just a sidebar; Ryan's First Congressional District in Southern Wisconsin, has perennially had some of the worst unemployment in United States.  The peeps just keep him com'n back. Hell, they almost elected him Vice President of the damn country a couple years ago. 

Suckers! Word on the street is Ryan's own mother got governmental help to raise his ass as a kid.  You good citizens will no doubt re-elect him this fall yet again. 

Kiss your stipends good-bye?

Here in economically beleaguered Janesville, the Fourth Estate of the economy is part of a quad-economy that is here at least, a big deal.  And, the fact that it is such a big deal is a commentary on just how bad Janesville's prospects for economic vitality really are.