WHEN WORKER INSECURITY IS A MUST. (SMART ASS CRIPPLE)

• Author: Ervin, Mike
• Date: 01 April 2024

I am about to break a promise I made to myself.

Long ago, I made a solemn vow (and sealed it with a pinkie swear) that I would never, ever, in a million years write anything about the federal government's monthly jobs report.

Why? Because I firmly believe that nobody cares about the federal government's monthly jobs report except for politicians, National Public Radio journalists, economists, and other wonks. Whenever one of these reports comes out, everyone goes on and on about how it shows how well or how poorly the economy is doing and the effect it will have on "consumer confidence."

President Joe Biden is mystified, because he can't figure out why polls show that voters aren't exactly giddy about the current state and direction of the economy. Haven't they heard the good news about all the bright and sunny job reports that have been coming out lately?

I don't think most people of working age judge the economy according to that criteria. People who don't have a decent job worry about finding one. Those who do have a decent job worry about keeping it. I've never met anyone who feels any better or worse about their employment prospects based upon what the jobs report says.

There isn't a ton of "consumer confidence" out there because most people will always feel insecure when it comes to their employment status. That's how capitalism works. If workers get too comfortable, they might start feeling like they have some agency, and the next thing you know they'll be running around demanding higher wages and benefits and whatnot. For a capitalist to accomplish their goal of maximum profits, worker insecurity is a must.

Say what you will about Biden's infrastructure projects or whatever. In his heart, he still believes in capitalism. And as long as he's unwilling to challenge that...