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Obama Tells Workers, When They Lose Their Job, They Lose Their Dignity | 80 comments (80 topical)

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Depends on the person (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by diplomatic on Mon May 05, 2008 at 03:27:48 AM EST
Some people feel there is no dignity in struggle while others are able to keep a positive outlook and hold on to a sense of self-worth regardless of extraneous circumstances.  Obama is just lecturing a little bit, as usual.

sociology (5.00 / 3) (#27)
by p lukasiak on Mon May 05, 2008 at 06:39:38 AM EST
Its obvious that Obama gets his understanding of working class people from his classes in sociology and social psychology --- and those conclusions are based on studies of groups over long periods of time and/or interviews with people who are expressing how they feel inside.

People don't "lose [their] place in the community...lose [their] dignity" when they lose their jobs.  They struggle with those issues perhaps, but there is no "lose your job >>> lose your dignity" phenomenon.  Obama doesn't understand that.

[ Parent ]

More than that, there is a factor in white collar (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by hellskitchen on Mon May 05, 2008 at 07:01:19 AM EST
professionals that makes them feel that they are not working class.  This is a snobbery that generally hits them in their dignity somewhere in their fifties, when they become too expensive to keep on, what with salary increases, extended vacations accrued, health insurance liabilities due to age.

When white collar professionals who are employees rather than business owners understand that as long you need a paycheck to survive and someone else has the sayso on whether you get a paycheck, you are working class.  Makes no difference whether you have life education, college degree, masters or ph.d.

The Democratic Party would be a lot further along in unity if the white collar class would wake up.

Problem is, when it hits them in their fifties, they think they're a special case.

[ Parent ]

Well they are a special case in a sense (none / 0) (#31)
by hellskitchen on Mon May 05, 2008 at 07:02:23 AM EST
By that time it's age discrimination.

[ Parent ]
It's changed so much, too (none / 0) (#50)
by Kathy on Mon May 05, 2008 at 08:55:42 AM EST
because it used to be that folks started out at one company and worked there until they got the gold watch.  You were loyal to the company and they were loyal to you.  Then came Reagan and the Greed Decade.  Now, it's the norm for folks move around a lot.  You don't think your life is over if you have to change jobs.

[ Parent ]
I disagree (none / 0) (#86)
by piniella on Mon May 05, 2008 at 09:40:32 PM EST
but there is no "lose your job >>> lose your dignity" phenomenon.

Yes there is.  

If you suddenly need food stamps amd Medicaid and can no longer take care of your family, you do feel that you've lost some dignity.

[ Parent ]

dignity (5.00 / 1) (#75)
by jedimom on Mon May 05, 2008 at 12:31:24 PM EST
I would proudly shovel shxt to support my family, PROUDLY and with dignity

[ Parent ]

Obama Tells Workers, When They Lose Their Job, They Lose Their Dignity | 80 comments (80 topical)

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