Written history tends to be represent the past as a series of epochs, divided by periods of major change, such as he Collapse of the Roman Empire or World War 2. The people living in these periods did not experience such discontinuities but rather change woven into their everyday lives. The Roman Empire took many generations to collapse, an individual living through its collapse may even have experienced a life of relative stability as the collapse was a process of interwoven periods of stability and change with geographically-specific impacts. The final collapse was also restricted to the Western Roman Empire, the Eastern Empire centred on Constantinople, the
thanks roger... right on target and prescient... you have a typo up near the top ... it is mitt romney, not john mccain... - "Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and John McCain below"
i suppose it is impossible to edit once you've sent it out via substack...
The "they" I assume that you are referring to is the capitalist ruling class, the large-scale owners of the means of production (including cultural production). Not really that big a group, perhaps the 0.1% but probably even smaller than that. The "professional managerial class" (PMC) are their courtiers, working to manage their ownership, maintain ruling class hegemony, and provide well paid services - 10-15% of the population. Then a small layer of proprietor-operators, the petit-bourgeoisie (many not well off at all like owner truck drivers, others much better off such as specialist doctor practices). The remaining are working for someone else people (the middle and working classes) and the underclass (imprisoned, un/underemployed, somewhat disconnected from society, precarious). A rough sketch of society.
thanks roger... right on target and prescient... you have a typo up near the top ... it is mitt romney, not john mccain... - "Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and John McCain below"
i suppose it is impossible to edit once you've sent it out via substack...
Thanks, I can edit after sending out.
Perfect analyise and warning bell of the current situation of the World. Thank you for your very enlightening article
Good piece. Nice to know more about who 'they' are exactly, but...
The "they" I assume that you are referring to is the capitalist ruling class, the large-scale owners of the means of production (including cultural production). Not really that big a group, perhaps the 0.1% but probably even smaller than that. The "professional managerial class" (PMC) are their courtiers, working to manage their ownership, maintain ruling class hegemony, and provide well paid services - 10-15% of the population. Then a small layer of proprietor-operators, the petit-bourgeoisie (many not well off at all like owner truck drivers, others much better off such as specialist doctor practices). The remaining are working for someone else people (the middle and working classes) and the underclass (imprisoned, un/underemployed, somewhat disconnected from society, precarious). A rough sketch of society.
Thanks for your reply. I missed it.
The fist in the velvet glove needs to be seen for what it is, exposed, unclenched, and put down.