In this morning's paper, the Post covers the blithe world travels of a handful of Wall Street-types who've lost their jobs and decided to head out around the world and enjoy themselves. Yesterday (or the day before, can't remember), they ran a front page story about the particular dating challenges faced by out of work former masters of the universe, now forced to move back in with Mommy and scan the hip scene from their lonely table, unable to buy drinks or pay for dinners like they used to, rendering them feckless in a dating market driven by available male cash.
What do I see here? I think I see class envy at work. I think I see creeping class warfare (though I probably see it in more places than it really is). These stories are presented honestly and straightforward enough, but they are without context and they tell an incomplete story. So we, the great victimized unwashed mass, read about these poor souls, cast out of work by this financial crisis and forced to soak up their misery dressed like a chicken in Rio, or sipping their martini's alone in trendy U-Street bars--"good on them", we say from the comforts of our soon to be $400 tax cuts, our no-risk mortgages, and our limitless student loans....we don't get to see the folks who've lost their jobs in the financial industry--probably the majority--for whom this period of time is truly a wrenching financial disaster on a personal basis. Why not? Because that undercuts the narrative that is so convenient to this story. Good American public--bad Wall Street. Criminal mortgage industry--unwitting homeowner. Unethical investment banks--enraged Congress.
Friday, February 27, 2009
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6 comments:
Where do you think such young (generally early 30s) unemployed people of what appear to be considerable means, will fall in the neo-taxes? Recipients? Left alone? Increased burden bearers? The answer to that may dictate the the rate at which the next gen of political conservatives grows. BTW, a thought. What impact would a dramatic increase in Louisiana (and maybe, Mississippi) tourism have for helping build the political and financial capital for Jindal and, to assist, Barbour (not looking for Barbour to be a candidate for POTUS, but given the geo-proximity and their teaming as national GoP spokesmen of late, something to consider). I mean, what if we Conservatives had a deliberate practice of taking the money that the government overlooked taking, and instead of travelling to bastions of liberalism, focused our tourism to states where leadership was largely conservative, would that have an impact? Politico-tourism. Instead of spending your money in a community where the inhabitants vote consistently against your interests, why not spend it in places where people vote in support of your wishes? Just a sudden, not terribly well considered thought. Thrown out for comment.
Just read the invective in the comment section. Yikes.
I don't feel sorry for these folks nor do I envy them. They fact that they happened to make a lot of money in a now infamous industry doesn't bother me.
Other than for the point you raise, I can't understand the reason for the article. Disappointing.
The Boston Globe had a similar story the other day with the tales of having to forego shopping at Whole Foods and laying off the nanny.
I see the articles as less an example of class warfare and more an example of the reporters writing about people just like them for people just like them. The educated liberal reporter knows the educated liberal Post or
Globe reader will want to read a story about people just like them.
Couldn't disagree more, Tom. Reporters are not well-paid, and they are incredibly envious of people who do far less important things for far more pay.
Good Tom Wolfe pull on "Masters of the Universe"
When I was a kid, the Cadillac Sedan de Ville was THE car. I'd see people driving them and think that I too would like one someday. If I studied hard at school then worked hard and smart, that Cadillac could be within my reach.
Is what I described in the preceeding paragraph alive in America/the World today?
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