So, here’s another mini rant from twitter I thought folks might be interested in. Enjoy/shun/mock, as you will.
6 thoughts on “Real Progressives Don’t Work”
I’m sorry, but did you just compare coal miners to foreclosure attorneys? Even if, as you write, “everyone is tainted by capitalism”, that doesn’t mean there aren’t differing degrees of culpability between us. Especially for licensed highly educated professionals like lawyers, who have plenty of options for how they make their money.
How do I feel comfortable judging foreclosure attorneys? Because I am one. Except I work for a small non-profit that represents residents facing foreclosures instead of the banks and mortgage companies that do them. And as you can imagine I could tell you some very sickening foreclosure stories. I also know the attorneys on the other side. I went to law school with some of them. And though we are cordial with each other, I do judge them for how they choose to use their skills and credentials. I chose the job I have, even though I know how much more money I could make if I switched sides, based on my principles. If I thought my choice and the choice of the foreclosure attorneys was morally equivalent, why wouldn’t I just switch sides myself? If we’re all equally tainted by capitalism, why not at least make a decent buck off it in the process?
I don’t know Imani Gandy. I’m not saying that being a foreclosure attorney for a time makes you an untouchable monster for the rest of your life. But I am not convinced by your apparent argument here that it deserves no judgment at all.
I wasn’t aware that it was a competition? What are your team colors, then?
Also, I notice you’ve posted anonymously. How do I know you are who you say you are, exactly? Maybe you don’t want people to check up on you and go digging around to find out whatever thing they claim is hypocrisy. That’s totally reasonable of course. But think about why you want to escape judgement, but feel it’s cool to judge others.
“Especially for licensed highly educated professionals like lawyers, who have plenty of options for how they make their money.”
That’s just not true. Or it’s certainly not true for everyone. People who get out of law school with massive debt sans some sort of familial wealth often are in a bind as far as work options go. “Only blue collar workers deserve sympathy under capitalism” is, in my view, bullshit. It’s especially pernicious in our current economy, as we move away from manufacturing. A left that’s only able to see how capitalism affects manufacturing workers is increasingly useless and irrelevant.
Imani hated her job, left it, and has been an activist and journalist for the last five years. But she worked doing something that isn’t the epitome of virtue for a bit in the past and so should never be able to talk in progressive circles again because something something Bernie Sanders. Please.
People of course make ethical choices around their jobs. But the ethics you can afford depends to no small degree on your financial situation, as well as on lots of other factors (ailing loved ones, as just one example.) To run around the internet shaming people you don’t know jack about because they made career choices you also know jack about is neither progressive nor helpful. People should cut that shit out.
a link for context, Noah? (I have no idea who/what fdb is)
It was all on twitter! sorry; fdb is Freddie DeBoer.
@Noah Residents facing foreclosures versus banks and mortgage companies seems like a pretty clear competition.
I’m sorry, but did you just compare coal miners to foreclosure attorneys? Even if, as you write, “everyone is tainted by capitalism”, that doesn’t mean there aren’t differing degrees of culpability between us. Especially for licensed highly educated professionals like lawyers, who have plenty of options for how they make their money.
How do I feel comfortable judging foreclosure attorneys? Because I am one. Except I work for a small non-profit that represents residents facing foreclosures instead of the banks and mortgage companies that do them. And as you can imagine I could tell you some very sickening foreclosure stories. I also know the attorneys on the other side. I went to law school with some of them. And though we are cordial with each other, I do judge them for how they choose to use their skills and credentials. I chose the job I have, even though I know how much more money I could make if I switched sides, based on my principles. If I thought my choice and the choice of the foreclosure attorneys was morally equivalent, why wouldn’t I just switch sides myself? If we’re all equally tainted by capitalism, why not at least make a decent buck off it in the process?
I don’t know Imani Gandy. I’m not saying that being a foreclosure attorney for a time makes you an untouchable monster for the rest of your life. But I am not convinced by your apparent argument here that it deserves no judgment at all.
For a blistering indictment of similar self-defeating behavior on the other side, read Bret Stephens’ WSJ editorial, “Let’s Elect Hilary Now.” – http://www.wsj.com/article_email/lets-elect-hillary-now-1450742854-lMyQjAxMTE1NDI2NDcyMjQ3Wj
” why wouldn’t I just switch sides myself?”
I wasn’t aware that it was a competition? What are your team colors, then?
Also, I notice you’ve posted anonymously. How do I know you are who you say you are, exactly? Maybe you don’t want people to check up on you and go digging around to find out whatever thing they claim is hypocrisy. That’s totally reasonable of course. But think about why you want to escape judgement, but feel it’s cool to judge others.
“Especially for licensed highly educated professionals like lawyers, who have plenty of options for how they make their money.”
That’s just not true. Or it’s certainly not true for everyone. People who get out of law school with massive debt sans some sort of familial wealth often are in a bind as far as work options go. “Only blue collar workers deserve sympathy under capitalism” is, in my view, bullshit. It’s especially pernicious in our current economy, as we move away from manufacturing. A left that’s only able to see how capitalism affects manufacturing workers is increasingly useless and irrelevant.
Imani hated her job, left it, and has been an activist and journalist for the last five years. But she worked doing something that isn’t the epitome of virtue for a bit in the past and so should never be able to talk in progressive circles again because something something Bernie Sanders. Please.
People of course make ethical choices around their jobs. But the ethics you can afford depends to no small degree on your financial situation, as well as on lots of other factors (ailing loved ones, as just one example.) To run around the internet shaming people you don’t know jack about because they made career choices you also know jack about is neither progressive nor helpful. People should cut that shit out.
a link for context, Noah? (I have no idea who/what fdb is)
It was all on twitter! sorry; fdb is Freddie DeBoer.
@Noah Residents facing foreclosures versus banks and mortgage companies seems like a pretty clear competition.