A Liberal
Dose
August 3,
2023
Troy D.
Smith
“Dispossessing
the Poor, Part 9- Tying It All Together”
I realize I still need to wrap this series up and tie it all
together. I need a coda, if you will. First, I will briefly summarize the whole
series of columns, distilling it down into a single paragraph.
From the beginning of the Modern Era (which historians
identify as the 16th century), which was also the beginning of a
global economy with the discovery (by Europeans) of the New World, efforts have
been made by the “big shots” to force the poor and working classes out of any
semblance of self-sufficiency and make them, instead, part of the economic
system. Their role in that system, assigned by the people making the rules, has
been to become laborers, working as hard as they can be made to work for as
little payment as possible. This has often been done by making sure hunger and
want run rampant among them, so they have to scramble to stay alive. Any efforts
to maintain autonomy in the face of that economic system, such as by Native
Americans or rural Appalachians, has led to such groups being “othered” and
dispossessed, ostensibly “for their own good.” Racism has long been a tool, as
well, pitting the poor and working classes against each other to prevent them
from uniting to seek their mutual benefit. I gave several examples, from the
Rainbow Coalition to indigenous culture, to demonstrate that unity CAN be
achieved, and can work, which is why the powers-that-be try so hard to prevent
it.
I have acknowledged that the Democratic Party has its
issues. One of which, in my opinion, is that they are way too attached to Wall
Street. But that does not mean they are “just as bad” as the modern Republican
Party (which has spiraled way downward from what it used to be). That is a
false equivalency. The GOP stokes up the fears of its base, to the point of
paranoia (ratcheted into overdrive by the administration of Donald Trump).
Distracting white poor, working class, and middle-class voters with horror
stories about black people, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and “wokeness,” they seek
-just like the Civil War-era plantation owners -to solidify their own power and
privilege by hoodwinking that white working class into fighting for them, when
they would discard them in a heartbeat once they no longer needed them. That
has been clearly demonstrated. And it is especially true of the South and
Appalachia. Have you not seen the way Trump and his ilk have talked down to and
made fun of you out one side of their mouths, even as they stroke your egos out
the other?
Studies have shown -and those paying attention are not
surprised to learn -that trickle-down economics does not work. It never has
worked. By the way, in the 19th century it was known as the
horse-and-sparrow theory- don’t waste time feeding sparrows, give all the seed
to your horse and the sparrows can pick out what they need to survive from his
poop. Yet people still believe it when conservative politicians tell them
“lower taxes on the rich, and you will all benefit!” We know who benefits -and
that’s what it is all about. History shows that, over the past century, when
taxes on the wealthy were at their highest, the middle and working classes
prospered the most because income inequality was leveled. All the
smoke-and-mirrors around “wokeness” and social issues serve only to stir up the
base… to elect politicians who will lower taxes on the rich (even more) and
lessen regulations on businesses, and make things even harder for the working
class. If you know your Shakespeare, it is the voice of Iago, manipulating you
to your downfall (“Aye, sire, but what about her emails?”).
Remember your Appalachian heritage. Remember the “redneck”
coal miners who stood up against the man. Don’t let the bigshots use you until
they use you up.
--Troy D.
Smith, a White County native, is a novelist and a history professor at
Tennessee Tech. His words do not necessarily represent TTU.
You can find all previous entries in this weekly column HERE
A list of other historical essays that have appeared on this blog can be found HERE
Author's website: www.troyduanesmith.com
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