• superkret@feddit.org
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    2 days ago

    He truly lived the life of an American:

    He worked in a local grain elevator. At some point, he injured his hands there. It stripped his hands, and the doctors told him they would have to cut off his fingers. He told them, ‘I’ll die before you cut off my fingers.’ His hands got better, although they were scarred and a little messed up.

    But he did go to college, build a house, and feed a family, all with a single manual laborer’s income.

    https://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2016/10/13/harold-jewel-walker-geronimo-oklahoma-2/

  • ssillyssadass
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    1 day ago

    A capitalist will look at this and think “What work ethic! He’s setting a precedent for other kids his age.”

    A sane person will look at this and think “we must not let something like this happen again.”

    • ace_of_based@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      I’d venture the problem’s more the rich “landowners” took over both the voting apparatus (so voters only get to vote between reps the landowners approve of) and that the landowners also own the news, the best means to disseminate that information (keeping voters from ever understanding the level of power those landowners wield)

    • seeigel@feddit.org
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      1 day ago

      That’s the common explanation but is it true? Voters have seen the poverty under Communism and they know that they are going to pay the taxes for all government handouts.

      Voters are not stupid. It’s not enough to be against wealthy landowners. There needs to be a realistic vision for a better future.

      Additionally, most voters at least sense that the west is living on exploitation of the third world. If you choose justice, many good things will come to an end.

      • TankovayaDiviziya
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        1 day ago

        Last time I checked, according to surveys, most Americans don’t actually believe in trickle down economics. Some probably do, but most don’t.

    • samus12345@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      That’s a blast from the past! The US version Anglicized her and removed her hands (too much like praying?)

  • shalafi
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    1 day ago

    Anyone picked cotton? If not, you have no idea what you would be getting into.

    See that cute, fluffy little cotton boll? See the brown, dried out petals? That are hard as iron and Ginsu sharp. First time picking, had one slide under my finger like a hypodermic needle. Even treated, it was infected for almost 3 weeks and I couldn’t bend it.

    Now go fast! And don’t wuss out and just get the tops, you gotta dig in there and get it all. At least a kid doesn’t have to bend over double. 🤷🏻

  • collapse_already@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    You guys just want to deprive him of his freedom to work. How else is going to earn the money to feed himself?

    (Sarcasm for the dim bulbs)

  • vane
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    2 days ago

    “He talked about helping his father in the fields. He was pulled out of school at about the eighth grade and forced to work in the fields. That was the name of the game. His father needed him to do that, so he did. However, I want you to know that he went back at a later time and finished high school.” –Lynda Baxter, daughter of Harold Walker

    Dude was living 90 years was married 3 times and have one daughter. I wish everybody at least the same long happy life. https://morningsonmaplestreet.com/2016/10/13/harold-jewel-walker-geronimo-oklahoma-2/

  • jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works
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    2 days ago

    And in about 15 years, Harry’s family will be forced to move to California when the soil they’re working is dried up and carried off in big black clouds by the wind.

    • kurwa
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      2 days ago

      Does that somehow make it better?

    • flandish
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      2 days ago

      Except it is unique to american capitalism, yes. Except child farm labor* is unique to capitalism - * labor being that he is exploited so someone can profit. Kids picking family farms is not “child labor.”

      • shortrounddev
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        2 days ago

        Not only is it not unique to capitalism, it’s DEFINITELY not unique to America lmao

        labor being that he is exploited so someone can profit

        That’s not what labor means lol

        • ahornsirup@feddit.org
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          2 days ago

          Also

          Kids picking family farms is not “child labor.”

          Yes it fucking is. What the hell. What else would it be? The fact that it’s the parents directly exploiting their children does not make it better.

          • flandish
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            A corporation owning capital is hiring children to labor while they knowingly exploit them.

            A parent exploiting their children to work in a family plot is also a form of child labor but it is not the same. Nor is it capitalist

            Both are abusing children.

            Both deserve prison.

            But only one is capitalism.

        • flandish
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          2 days ago

          You have a fundamental misunderstanding of what labor is, especially in regards to this picture. A) this is an american picture, it’s therefore unique to America. B) the child is laboring for someone’s profit. This is, sure, part of feudalism, but the system under which the picture is taken is capitalism.

          Do you also think the kid is pushing out a baby because they are “laboring”?

          • Whelks_chance
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            2 days ago

            “Domestic labour” is a term that refutes the point you’re trying to make. Labour just means effort, there’s no implicit connection to profit. In fact women’s labour has traditionally been unpaid forever, but it’s still work.

            • flandish
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              2 days ago

              Sigh. Capitalist labor is different than domestic labor than birth labor etc.

              Do you also think buffalos have wings?

              Stop being a thick ass.

  • leisesprecher@feddit.org
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    2 days ago

    I mean, obviously. They had no other choice after the woke mob and their “slavery is bad, mkay” destroyed the entire workforce market!!!

    (/s, just in case)

  • smokingpistol@lemm.eeBanned from community
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    2 days ago

    Capitalism isn’t perfect but it’s better than socialism and communism