The Upward Mobility Scam And The American Dream

: the capacity or facility for rising to a higher social or economic position

— upwardly mobile adjective First Known Use of UPWARD MOBILITY 1949

www.merriam-webster.com...

'Upward Mobility' is genius capitalist bs. Basically the capitalist is saying that his empire will be unfair,but dont worry because if you play by our rules and work hard you can leave your horrid life behind and step over the lower classes that you came from and become one of the beautiful people just like us. Its the American Dream.

Its interesting that we do not see this new speak term until 1949. Interesting when you consider that WW2 ended in 1945. 'Upward Mobility' belongs to the modern clever sophisticated American brand of capitalist empire. America was also telling other nations that the empire would not be fair but as the American standard of living rises,so shall yours. Upward Mobility is a way of telling Africa that it will be exploited but if it played by the rules,things would get better. Upward Mobility made Americans/Westerners feel less guilty about the inequity that the American Empire created and maintained. Citizens could comfort themselves with the knowledge that there was a social order among nations and the west was on top. The lesser nations just had to follow the leader and everything would work out fine for those helpless Africans. We could go on wearing the scarlet livery of the Iron Heel guilt free.

So 'Upward Mobility' is some kind of capitalist oligarchy doublespeak for 'exploitation is good'. Now if you consider that the 'American dream' is basically the same thing as 'Upward Mobility' you see that the American Dream translates to 'exploitation is good'. Now thats pretty crazy. Ignorance is strength hey.

Now think about where the term 'american dream' comes from. It was first written by writer and historian James Truslow Adams. In line with capitalist newspeak propaganda, the phrase presented to the masses has been twisted to mean the opposite of what Adams intended.

It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.

ask.yahoo.com...

Adams wrote this in 1931 but I think its safe to assume that the use of 'the American Dream' as a propaganda slogan would coincide nicely with the invention of the capitalist doublespeak propaganda term 'upward mobility'. It is easy to forget that before WW2 America was not the superpower that they have been in recent times. The use of 'the American Dream' is post WW2. It is clear that Adams saw the American Dream as equality between all classes. A place where a man could be valued for his worth.

A guy that went to college and is now having to work in the services industry because all the jobs are in China is not valued for his worth. On the other end of the scale a criminal called 50 cent that sings "its ya birthday" over the top of an Eye of the Tiger sounding guitar riff gets 50 acres of mansion across the globe,100 luxury cars and his own strip club in one of his many mansions that he flies between in a black helicopter. Thats bs. A CEO makes 24 million dollars in one year. Someone wins the lottery. Somebody wins American Idol. The rest of America goes to work. They work hard. Governments tell them that Austerity is coming and its poor people fault. Its actually funny. Then middle class people who somehow think they are rich think the starving lazy masses are coming to steal their pot of gold. The middle class agree with the oligarchy and decide that these people that send jobs to China and India are actually 'Job Creators' (its like the oligarchy think we are all stupid). We cant criticize the all knowing 'job creator' overlords because we would be lost without them.

We dont need them,they need us.

You could argue that 'upward mobility' has worked in India and China but if anything,they prove 'upward mobility' to be the bs that it really is. Follow the leader didnt work. The leaders are all broke and essentially bankrupt. The West is a mess. China and India have governments that played the game of the capitalist and beat them at it. China and India know that the Corporatist Oligarchy that controls Americas masses has no sovereignty. They would gladly sell out their,own country. They have sold it out. And many Americans continue to cheer for their own demise. Many want to blame the poor while they ignore the greedy.

Anyway,upward mobility is bs. The American Dream means exploitation and greed is good. I like the whole social equity thing better. Austerity will make social inequity in America even worse. Maybe instead of celebrating these CEO's/Pro Athlete's,Rappers/Musicians/Actors that get millions for contributing little of real value to society, America should make it better for the rest of you. Then the American dream would not mean working hard to escape your horrid lives. If your average Americans life was actually getting better through upward mobility like they promised,Americans would not be so very devastated when they are eliminated from American Idol and are forced to return to their horrid normal lives.

reply to post by Germanicus

Puddin' gotta tell ya that you're wrong this time.

The American dream is about success. About hard work and self-reliance and personal responsibility. It's about not relying on the government. It's about just relying on yourself.

Take off the socialist blinders you little hitler clone!

And take my hand, I'll lead you away from all that nasty socialist tripe and bring you into the land of. . . . dare I say it? Freedom!

reply to post by beezzer



Ha! you told me the American dream is the freedom to fail.

They have that in Somalia too.

Originally posted by Germanicus
reply to post by beezzer

 

Ha! you told me the American dream is the freedom to fail.

They have that in Somalia too.

In part, it is. The freedom to fail is unique. It's only found in America. How can one have real success if there is never the chance for failure?

Originally posted by Germanicus
reply to post by beezzer

 

Ha! you told me the American dream is the freedom to fail.

They have that in Somalia too.

Yes, there is the freedom to fail. There must be prospect of failure, of risk, for the reward of "success" to have real value. Socialism promulgates mediocrity for all. Is that your preference? If so, why not relocate to one of the socialist paradises like Greece?

Originally posted by DarthMuerte

Originally posted by Germanicus
reply to post by beezzer

 

Ha! you told me the American dream is the freedom to fail.

They have that in Somalia too.

Yes, there is the freedom to fail. There must be prospect of failure, of risk, for the reward of "success" to have real value. Socialism promulgates mediocrity for all. Is that your preference? If so, why not relocate to one of the socialist paradises like Greece?

Argentina looks like a good place right now. Im in Australia,its not as bad as America yet.

Greece is capitalist by the way. So is France. So is China. So is Argentina for that matter. Its a capitalist Imperial Empire. All nations within it are capitalist.

Argentina nationalized part of their Oil Industry recently. Socialists will convince the public that Nationalization is better than Austerity. It will be easy. Nationalize the Banking Industry and the Oil Industry first. Everyone hates them. Then Education and debt refief for students. then Nationalize the Medical Industry for the retiring baby boomers. It will be easy. Nationalization is the way of the future.

Originally posted by beezzer

Originally posted by Germanicus
reply to post by beezzer

 

Ha! you told me the American dream is the freedom to fail.

They have that in Somalia too.

In part, it is. The freedom to fail is unique. It's only found in America. How can one have real success if there is never the chance for failure?

The fredom to fail is not unique to the United States. Many nations have that freedom. They are called Third World Countries. Or 'developing nations'. We in the West are 'advanced' apparently. So all other nations in the West care for those in need. In America you cut them off welfare and expect them to starve. That is not advanced. That is backward. The demonic CEO salaries start in America too. America does not make me think of a dream at all. It sounds like a nightmare.

Originally posted by Germanicus

The fredom to fail is not unique to the United Staes. Many nations have that freedom. They are called Third World Countries. Or 'developing nations'. We in the West are 'advanced' apparently. So all other nations in the West care for those in need. In America you cut them of welfare and expect them to starve. That is not advanced. That is backward. The demonic CEO salaries start in America too. America does not make me think of a dream at all. It sounds like a nightmare.

Shall I cancel your reservations to the United States then?



Us backwards folks get along just nicely, thank you.

Originally posted by beezzer

Originally posted by Germanicus

The fredom to fail is not unique to the United Staes. Many nations have that freedom. They are called Third World Countries. Or 'developing nations'. We in the West are 'advanced' apparently. So all other nations in the West care for those in need. In America you cut them of welfare and expect them to starve. That is not advanced. That is backward. The demonic CEO salaries start in America too. America does not make me think of a dream at all. It sounds like a nightmare.

Shall I cancel your reservations to the United States then?

Us backwards folks get along just nicely, thank you.

Ha! I guess we just disagree on what freedom is. I think more and more Americans are getting ready to accept nationalization. Especially of Banking and Oil. Then once they see the benifits of that,Education and Medicine. Then reclaiming all Public Utilities and Infrastructure/public assets/resources. You guys can have your 'free market' after that. Its the happy madium for all concerned.

Way to call it like it is OP...

I'm glad you mentioned WW2 because I was reading recently that we borrowed the social conditioning concept of "school" from the nazis themselves... little american dream training camps.

Also while I'm far from a socialist and believe in all of the personal responsiblity, hard work, and freedom to fail opportunities Ron Paul's America has to offer () [no but seriously]
I do think that in the future we will have to start considering many more of our resources, technology and opportunities to be common property, and the right of productive persons to access them... So that we can really move forward as a species...
Lest someone someday own our damn air while they're at it anyway....

Originally posted by JRedBeard
Way to call it like it is OP...

I'm glad you mentioned WW2 because I was reading recently that we borrowed the social conditioning concept of "school" from the nazis themselves... little american dream training camps.

Also while I'm far from a socialist and believe in all of the personal responsiblity, hard work, and freedom to fail opportunities Ron Paul's America has to offer (

) [no but seriously]
I do think that in the future we will have to start considering many more of our resources, technology and opportunities to be common property, and the right of productive persons to access them... So that we can really move forward as a species...
Lest someone someday own our damn air while they're at it anyway....

Yeah,the 'nazi' actually had decent social programs though. They also protected the German people from corporatists and bankers. I think that to compare the American Government with the 'nazi' is an insult to the 'nazi' really.

And I like Ron Paul. He will curb American Imperialism. His 'isolationist' style policy is what I like because I believe in National Socialism. Ron Paul says all the right things about the IMF and Foreign Aid Scams. He is the choice of any self respecting socialist. I think he will do things like sell off Public Utilities and stuff like that but Im more concerned with his Foreign Policy since Im from Australia. Its not just about bring home troops. If you read what he says about the IMF you see that he is against Imperialism. He is the best thing for the American taxpayer as far as addressing Corporate Welfare. I dont think he is perfect but Jerry White from SEP isnt realistic. He isnt perfect either.

And yeah. I agree that we need to ensure that public utilities and infrastructure remain in public control. Public services. If the public does not control these things then we have nothing to vote for. We are beholden to billionaire corporatists. A free market can exist seperate from security of a nation.

We are becoming consumers/customers more than we are citizens. Democracy means nothing if the public owns nothing.

reply to post by DarthMuerte


You talk about socialism like it's the plague. However, it's the reality in America at this point.

After, governments bailing out banks and car companies? What's that called?

SOCIALISM!

Propping up millionaires by allowing them to get away with paying less. What's that called?

SOCIALISM!

If you'll note the sarcasm, you'll realize that conservatives only support socialism when it benefits their rich buddies.

Originally posted by The Sword
reply to post by DarthMuerte

 

You talk about socialism like it's the plague. However, it's the reality in America at this point.

After, governments bailing out banks and car companies? What's that called?

SOCIALISM!

Propping up millionaires by allowing them to get away with paying less. What's that called?

SOCIALISM!

If you'll note the sarcasm, you'll realize that conservatives only support socialism when it benefits their rich buddies.

Its called State Capitalism when the Government does those things. Not socialism. In the case of Solyndra it was more like Crony Capitalism. The case of the Auto Bail Outs its actually corporatism. Obamacare is corporatism. Obamacare is missing the promised 'public option'.

Socialism is nothing like what we have today. Nationalization of the Banking and Oil Industries will ease the public into a more genuine socialist society. they will see the benifits and Education and Medicine will follow. With socialism we could achieve true upward mobility. It will be awesome. Nationalization of Banking and Oil is the future for sure.

How many millionaires has socialism ever made?

Go on how many?

How many millionaires are have been made getting their 99 weeks of unemployment?

How many millionaires are their getting those welfare checks?

How many millionaires,billionaires have capitalism made?

Hmmm?

reply to post by neo96


Seems you have quite a fixation with being a millionaire or even 'better'.

Personally I don't see that as the only measure of how successful or how 'good' a person is.

Sitting on an ever growing pot of money earned through the hard graft and sweat of other's isn't for me, (which is probably one of the reasons why despite all the money and relative success I have had in the past I am still more or less potless, but that's more by choice).
Me, I'd like to think I'd do something positive with it and helped the community and society from which I came and from whom the wealth was generated.

I'd like to live in a society where the divisions between the different social strata weren't so great that it required such a thing as social mobility....I guess you'd label me a socialist then.....and you'd be so wide of the mark.

Originally posted by neo96
How many millionaires has socialism ever made?

Go on how many?

How many millionaires are have been made getting their 99 weeks of unemployment?

How many millionaires are their getting those welfare checks?

How many millionaires,billionaires have capitalism made?

Hmmm?

Well socialists dont aspire to be millionaires. A true socialist should be somewhat of a minimalist. A simple person that is happy with a fair and simple life. That doesnt mean growing vegies and drinking milk from a goat though. Technology has advanced. There is a suplus that is wasted each year on war and stupid profit margins on things like energy that are manufactured bs prices with demonic profit margins. Basic needs can be met for cheaper. The world can be fairer and better for everyone. Austerity should not mean that we all go backwards. If anyone is straining society its all those millionaires that you speak of. most of them take more from society than they put back. That is the problem. All those unemployed would have work under National Socialism because the jobs would have remained in the country instead of going overseas. Cheap imports should have tarrifs. We should all be encouraged to support our own industries.

And you can still have a free market with socialism. Certain things should be off limits is all. If you take profit away from essentail things that the citizen needs to meet basic needs then you remove the power from money. All of a sudden,its not so demonic to be a millionaire because nobody is starving at your expense.

National Socialism. Join us comrade

Edit- capitalism also made all those unemployed people. The millionaires/billionaires did it. Nationalize is the only solution. Banks and Oil. Then Education and Medicine. Its the way of the future. Way better than Austerity.

I've said it before and I'll stick by it.

Nobody who's worth millions of dollars got where they are without stepping on someone else's back... I'm just not convinced it's realistic.

I mean, a million dollars or so.. Maybe. I do know a long-shoreman who's worth over a mil, but he's a penny pinchin dude who works like a dog... and even he has probably done a couple underhanded things to achieve his status in the union... Not to mention a million dollars just aint what it used to be

Also not counting windfall capital like winning the lottery etc..
So let's say like 10 million or more... No scrupulous person could ever be worth that kind of money... If nothing else, kinder souls would have spent it... Who hoards millions except the sick? If you won 10 million tomorrow wouldn't you have 5 of it spent just helping your friends and family and causes you believe in?

Anyway sorry if that's off topic OP