Neoliberal notion of reverse shopping...

[brogdale]

In a stark reminder of how tough things still are for low-income families in America, McDonalds has advised workers to dig themselves "out of holiday debt" by cashing in their Christmas haul.

"You may want to consider returning some of your unopened purchases that may not seem as appealing as they did," said a website set up for employees.

"Selling some of your unwanted possessions on eBay or Craigslist could bring in some quick cash."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...lays-bare-the-ongoing-struggle-in-the-US.html

Good of them to offer such advice for free.

 

[yield]

More Tips from McDonald's on How to Live on Poverty Wages thread from November

 

[xenon]

No. It's xmas. Let's remain calm.

 

[yield]

No. It's xmas. Let's remain calm.

Fuck calm. Why aren't people rioting?

Hundreds of thousands reliant on foodbanks.

The precariat you ain't got nothing to lose but the queues.

 

[Awesome Wells]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

 

[Pickman's model]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

anti-catholicism so passé - riots more likely from sports events

 

[Greebo]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

Because people are just too busy trying to survive from one day to the next? Rioting requires energy, which you might not have after yet another very long day.

 

[Pickman's model]

Because people are just too busy trying to survive from one day to the next? Rioting requires energy, which you might not have after yet another very long day.

doesn't explain phenomenon of food riots

 

[Awesome Wells]

Because people are just too busy trying to survive from one day to the next? Rioting requires energy, which you might not have after yet another very long day.

And that's where we're heading.

 

[bi0boy]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

Rioting is probably much too socialist for them.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Rioting is probably much too socialist for them.

Or too atheist.

 

[shagnasty]

I think most people are fearful of their wellbeing to riot.the little they get may be lost

 

[SovietArmy]

America got a guns as well but apparently no revolution.

 

[tbtommyb]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

The entire culture is designed to be just inclusive and encouraging enough to keep you toiling, while disdaining what little government support is available.

 

[samk]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

The world's largest prison system?

 

[brogdale]

I really don't understand how there aren't mass riots in America.

Paul Mason (partially) addresses this in his Guardian piece today:-

The scale of repression now, even in stable democracies, is so high that those with a grievance take much longer to trip over into action that risks arrest. Though their armed forces are increasingly wrapped up in concerns about the laws of war, there is no Geneva convention in the modern conflict between riot cops and protesters. So what looks like acquiescence is not that. What looks like social order is merely the skin on a deep disorder. China watchers are used to this concept. The Chinese internet is seething with discontent, even as everybody in public bows down to the official line. But at a more general level it is true across the developed world. In the past there was very little to fear from movements that were all ideas and little action. But we live in an information economy now. Critical ideas have a materiality to them, and repression seems to fuel critique.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I think most people are fearful of their wellbeing to riot.the little they get may be lost

Agreed. However, how much more can be taken from people before they don't have enough left to lose to keep them passive?