middle class

76 items found

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donotdestroy:

“The rich get richer and the poor get poorer; a rat race where the rats are winning.”

— Percy Bysshe Shelley

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“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

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“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society.”

— Edward Bernays

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“Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men, for the nastiest of reasons, will somehow work for the benefit of us all.”

— John Maynard Keynes

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“Knocking down middle-class notions of painting as art, flaunting the reproductive techniques, mocking “the original,” skewering celebrity, and lauding it at the same time, laying on purposely bad technique, etc. Other pop artists were making similar efforts. But Warhol did it better. He made the point so strongly that repeating it today is a familiar strategy.”

— Robert Morris

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donotdestroy:

“The rich get richer and the poor get poorer; a rat race where the rats are winning.”

— Percy Bysshe Shelley

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The manifesto written by Theodore John Kaczynski

The manifesto written by Theodore John Kaczynski, titled “Industrial Society and Its Future”, was published in 1995. It consists of 232 paragraphs outlining his critiques of modern technological society, its effects on human freedom, and his views on what could be done to address these issues.

Here’s a broad outline of the manifesto’s main topics:

1. Introduction (Paragraphs 1-6)

  • Kaczynski introduces his thesis: The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been disastrous for humanity.
  • He sets the foundation for why he believes modern technology erodes freedom and causes widespread psychological suffering.

2. The Power Process (Paragraphs 7-37)

  • Explains the concept of the “power process”—a framework of achieving goals and experiencing autonomy in life.
  • Argues that industrial society disrupts this natural process because basic needs are too easily met, leading to psychological issues.
  • Introduces terms like “surrogate activities” (unnecessary hobbies or pursuits) that people turn to in order to feel purpose.

3. The Problems of Modern Society (Paragraphs 38-76)

  • Highlights the growing control of individuals by large systems (e.g., governments, corporations).
  • Discusses the impact of technology on human autonomy, nature, and small communities.
  • Critiques the loss of personal freedom due to modern societal rules.

4. The Psychology of Leftism (Paragraphs 8-36, 83-120)

  • Kaczynski claims that modern “leftism” stems from feelings of inferiority, oversocialization, and a desire for control.
  • He argues that leftists often oppose technology in ways that still reinforce technological systems, undermining true revolution.

5. Disruption of Human Behavior (Paragraphs 121-144)

  • Explores how technological systems force humans to behave in unnatural ways.
  • Asserts that people are manipulated into conformity by bureaucratic systems and societal norms.

6. The Future of Industrial Society (Paragraphs 145-182)

  • Predicts two potential outcomes:
  1. Technology continues to advance, leading to complete control over human behavior and loss of freedom.
  2. The industrial system collapses, providing an opportunity to rebuild society on a smaller, more natural scale.
  • Warns that technological “solutions” to problems often create worse consequences.

7. Strategy for Revolution (Paragraphs 183-232)

  • Advocates for the elimination of the technological system rather than reforming it.
  • Rejects political reform or violence aimed at small issues; instead, he calls for a comprehensive rejection of industrial society.
  • Suggests focusing on spreading anti-technology ideology to prepare for a potential collapse.

Conclusion:

The manifesto concludes with a reiteration of the main point: technology is incompatible with human freedom, and radical action is necessary to dismantle the system.

The full text can be found in archives or historical repositories under its title “Industrial Society and Its Future.”

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“Technology has always replaced jobs. Your children are going to live to 100 and not have cancer because of technology, and literally they’ll probably be working three and a half days a week.”

— Jamie Dimon/ JPMorgan CEO

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“Blue collar is a classification of working people by the types of jobs they perform. It typically refers to those in hands-on jobs that involve manual labor. Some of the industries that rely on blue-collar workers are manufacturing, mining, construction, and automaking. People who are considered blue-collar may or may not have specialized skills. Most earn hourly wages rather than salaries. The term refers to the blue uniforms or other work clothing that is usually worn for blue-collar jobs.”

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By Banksy

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“The art you collect is an extension of your personality and your pocketbook.”

— Jean-Michel Basquiat

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“I was broke. I had $50 million, and then I had nothing. I had property, but I didn’t have any money,” Pacino remembers about finally looking into his finances. “In this business, when you make $10 million dollars for a film, it’s not $10 million. Because after the lawyers, and the agents, and the publicist, and the government, it’s not $10 million, it’s $4.5 million in your pocket. But you’re living above that because you’re high on the hog. And that’s how you lose it. It’s very strange, the way it happens. The more money you make, the less you have.”

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“The financial media site Investopedia has done the math and calculated that achieving those milestones now costs a staggering $4.4 million—over $1 million more than most Americans will make in their lifetime, according to the researcher.”

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“The rich get richer and the poor get poorer; a rat race where the rats are winning.”

— Percy Bysshe Shelley