Letters From "The 99%"

What the hell is it with the left and this same internet stunt?

They did this before with the "Thank you" stuff from, at that time, the 52%. Same schtick -- snap a picture of yourself and post it online. Which is narcissistic attention-getting.

And shoot the picture while holding a sheet of your grievances and/or miseries. The confessional style is also narcissistic attention-getting, of course. People interested in policy speak about "economic pain;" people interested in narcissistic self-promotion speak about "my economic pain."

I think this is a major stylistic difference between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives prefer to keep it impersonal, while the left really likes the "politics is personal" thing. It's just a coincidence that you can become an Internet Star! using the picture & confessional mode of political expression, I'm sure.

Anyway, here are some perfectly absurd tales of woe from the 99%.

One very common thing here: They are all white and mostly college-educated. Some have multiple degrees. However, they mostly chose the degrees you're not supposed to choose unless you are some kind of standout or come from a rich family -- psychology and the other degrees that don't immediately scream out "Job prospects!"

Why did they do that?

Who knows. But they ignored advice to think practically about their future earning power and now find themselves lacking earning power.

So what they want is for the government (that is, you) to step in and make them whole, immunizing them against their own choices, giving them the earning power they believe is due them.

I don't see one goddamned accounting or engineering degree in the tales of woe.

Sorry, you lose.

We do see "Classical Studies" majors suddenly panicking at the idea of entering the job market.

This isn't entirely their fault, of course: Their colleges lied and lied and lied to them, encouraging to "explore themselves" and take whatever courses they thought interesting, rather than actually building towards some kind of hirable skill-set.

But none of the whining is directed at their teachers and provosts, of course. It's directed at you, because you don't have any use for a Classical Studies major.

This Confused Woman... is mostly complaining that 32% of her salary is going towards taxes.

So what does she demand? "We need help...," and she seems to mean "from the government."

A gallon of irony spilled but not a drop splashed upon her.

posted by Ace at 01:20 PM

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