Bacon's Rebellion

Democracy Thrives in Sunlight

“Working People” Resist

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by

James A. Bacon
in

https://www.tiktok.com/@rhondaleehughesgriffith/video/7022406132199165190?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id6933614770487657990

I don’t know who Rhonda Lee Hughes Griffin is, or where she’s from. And my aim here is not to comment on the validity of her views about COVID-19 vaccinations. Rather, I point to this 24-second TikTok video as a crystallization of the new class divide in our country. It’s not rich versus poor, or even Black versus White. It’s between those who perceive themselves as “working people” and those who don’t.

Says Griffin:

Question: They’re telling the working people, vaccinate or lose your job. I have not heard anywhere, vaccinate or no welfare, vaccinate or no food stamps. Am I wrong? Or are they just not saying that? They’re only saying that to the working people.

Griffin has struck a chord. Her video has racked up 456,500 views as of this posting — and I’ll expect it will get a lot more.

I am struck by Griffin’s use of the phrase “they” and the “working people.” Griffin obviously views herself as one of the working people. Who are “they”? The people who run the country.

The great divide in America today is between middle-class “working people” on the one hand and the educated elites and their pet “marginalized” peoples on the other. The elites are insulated from the consequences of the policies they espouse. The “marginalized” people are the beneficiaries (in theory) of the elites’ compassion. By contrast, the “working people” (of whatever race) are the ones who pay the price when neighborhoods become unsafe, when schools fail to teach, when taxes go up, when electric rates increase, when gasoline prices double, when hamburger costs $2 more per pound, and when their daughters get raped in high school bathrooms.

The elite “experts” may think they have all the answers, but the “working people” have lost all confidence in their judgment. Indeed, the “working people” have a sneaking suspicion that the judgment of so-called experts is hopelessly corrupted by ideology and self interest. “Working people” don’t read Nassim Nicholas Taleb, but if they did, they would agree with his characterization of American elites as “Intellectuals Yet Idiots” who have no “skin in the game.” Wary of what they hear from supposedly authoritative sources, “working people” increasingly view diktats from the elites on such matters ranging from COVID vaccinations to “anti-racism” in schools as forms of ruling-class oppression.

If you don’t understand that, you don’t understand anything about politics today.

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54 responses to ““Working People” Resist”

  1. kls Avatar
    kls

    There are two questions you can ask a politician/leader to see if he/she knows and understands ‘the real America’. 1. How many of your friends [friend being someone who you break bread with at least once a month] have only a high school diploma? 2. How many power tools do you own?

    Those answers will let you know if the politician/leader knows the vast majority of the American people, or how much gas costs, or the price of a steak at the grocery store, or what shelves are empty in WalMart or Target.

    Every politician I’ve shared this with has agreed as I’ve seen a light bulb pop up over their head.

    ‘They’ need to leave their bubble and mingle with the little people weekly.

    1. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      The two safest responses to say when a real ‘Merican says something and you can’t understand him because he flat out ain’t makin’ sense are;
      1) I heard that, and
      2) Well, there ya go.

      I heard that.

      1. RKW Avatar
        RKW

        Well Bless your Heart Nancy.

        1. Nancy Naive Avatar
          Nancy Naive

          Pea-pickin’

  2. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    This is EXACTLY what FOX news and other conservative channels AND Trump are doing to divide the country, and with success and with help from the dissemination of misinformation. Lies and conspiracy theories that people do believe.

    Any questions about BR being about Virginia policy and politics ought to be answered by now.

    Sorry to say that exploitation of ignorance and feeding untruths to further motivate ignorance is the politics of the right these days.

    While some spend time on Tik_Tok, this is what is going on:

    ” Congresswoman Liz Cheney did not mince her words as she called out her Republican colleagues as willing hostages to Trump and are endangering the nation.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxqUYXdvHAU

    1. Matt Adams Avatar
      Matt Adams

      This has nothing to do with Trump, your inability to make a statement without invoking him or disparaging anyone who doesn’t agree with you further discredits any of your opinions.

      1. Stephen Haner Avatar
        Stephen Haner

        Hell, he got the shots, and the last time he tried to advise it got booed by a friendly crowd! Do we blame Putin for vaccine refusal in Russia, Xi in China, BoJo the Clown in UK? This is largely driven by social media, source of most nonsense.

        1. Matt Adams Avatar
          Matt Adams

          I agree, social media doesn’t provide much if anything that is constructive. I think it boils down to not wanting to be told what to do. I at current don’t know how I feel about pushing the vaccine to children though, since we don’t know any of the longer term impacts it may or may not have.

          I’m also completely against mandatory vaccines, but that’s just my personal opinion. I got the shot when I was finally able, not because I was required but because I wanted to do so. Heck, I still wear a mask every where for everyone’s health as I have a younger child who cannot vaccinate. Again, that’s my and my wife’s choice.

    2. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      If all liberals and progressives are as blind as you are, Larry, they’ll never figure out what happened to them in 2021. Your level of self-deception is off the charts. There is zero point in trying to refute you.

      But that’s fine with me. Go ahead and believe whatever you want to believe. By misreading the signals, your team will fail to adjust, and you guys will get your butts kicked again.

      1. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        don’t talk about me – talk about facts.

        We KNOW what happened when most GOP elected are also denying facts and promoting lies and disinformation because it does work for some folks.

        Lies and disinformation might work for a while, but sooner or later people are going to recognize it for what it is and some already are.

        But in the meantime principled folks like Haner and Liz Cheney will be jettisoned… for calling it out.

        I’m really on no “team”. I care about the country and our ability to govern that includes Youngkin.

        If Dems and folks like Cheney do what the GOP has been doing with their lies and disinformation and “elite” demonization -we’re in a heap of trouble.

        I’ve watched you over the years slide to this and it’s sad. This is not principled Conservatism.

        1. Nancy Naive Avatar
          Nancy Naive

          Well, one possible reason that there is so much disinformation coming from the medical community could be because whenever some medical school, like UVa, attempts to weed out serious nutjobs, like Bhattacharayya, some bleeding heart conservative yells “cancel culture”.

      2. Eric the half a troll Avatar
        Eric the half a troll

        Those chickens are still gestating, JAB…

  3. James A. Bacon Avatar
    James A. Bacon

    As usual, Larry has derailed what could have been a useful conversation. I explicitly stated in the post, “my aim here is not to comment on the validity of [Griffin’s] views about COVID-19 vaccinations.” But in the way of Pavlovian dogs, Larry reads the word COVID and redirects the conversation to COVID.

    The post explores the idea that ordinary, everyday, middle-class “working people” are on one side of America’s class divide. Self-identified working people see themselves in opposition to wealthy arrogant elites and their electoral allies in the welfare class. Again, my purpose is not to endorse that view — it would make an interesting subject for debate — but to acknowledge the boundaries of the divide.

    I endorse most people getting the vaccine. But I find Griffin’s observation thought provoking. If it’s OK to force people working in a place of employment to get vaccinated, why is it not OK to force people on various forms of welfare to do so as well? Why the double standard?

    1. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      Well, there ya go.

    2. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      Nope. It’s not just about Covid – not at all. It has to do with spreading lies and disinformation about science and governance , education, elections, global warming – it’s the same basic thing… undermine with lies and disinformation, promote it on social media and right wing media and portray scientists, educators, public health, govt as “elites” – all you have to do is listen to Trump or FOX news or any number of blogs like BR these days.

      here it is: ” Self-identified working people see themselves in opposition to wealthy arrogant elites and their electoral allies in the welfare class. ”

      just bonkers… teachers and election officials and public health people and elected opposed to Trump ARE receiving death threats… from the “self-identified” , surely not from other “elites” since we only have two choices here…

      1. Nancy Naive Avatar
        Nancy Naive

        Well, the Republicans want to end food stamps and “welfare” anyway. What better way than for wefare recipients to not be vaccinated?

        1. LarrytheG Avatar
          LarrytheG

          no no no…. ‘working people” – the salt of the earth – not slackers or takers…

          the food stamp takers are the pawns of the elites…

          get your stuff straight!

          1. Nancy Naive Avatar
            Nancy Naive

            I noticed that JB referred to “marginalized peoples” as someone’s pet. Waxing nostalgic again, I guess.

    3. Eric the half a troll Avatar
      Eric the half a troll

      “If it’s OK to force people working in a place of employment to get vaccinated, why is it not OK to force people on various forms of welfare to do so as well? Why the double standard?”

      I believe there is some kind of work requirement to receive welfare that typically kicks in these days. Therefore, since you need to stay employed to receive welfare and you need a vaccine to be employed (according to the Right that is), you need a vaccine to continue to receive welfare. Imagine! A manufactured issue from the Right…!!

      1. Matt Adams Avatar
        Matt Adams

        “I believe there is some kind of work requirement to receive welfare that typically kicks in these days”

        Well you’d be wrong, but when has that ever stopped you from opining Mr. Partisan hack.

        https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/work-requirements

  4. Stephen Haner Avatar
    Stephen Haner

    Trying to get invited to Fox News again?

    Just had this conversation with my cardiologist, who is politically aligned with you and me and very mystified by the fools who are still ending up in hospitals or dead when a simple shot would protect them….

    Her point about who is NOT being pressured to get the shots, what buttons are NOT pushed, and the hypocrisy that points to, is valid. Steve Gillispie made the same point the other day in mentioning the lack of required vaccines as the crowds of illegal immigrants rush cross our border and are then released from custody. The blatant hypocrisy has added fuel to the skeptic’s arguments.

    1. James A. Bacon Avatar
      James A. Bacon

      I agree with you — the vast majority of adults should get vaccinated. I keep trying to understand why they don’t. I think Ms. Griffin’s TikTok provides an important clue of what’s going on. If I’m right about the massive reservoir of distrust that has built up, persuading them will take a lot more than public service ads and advice from doctors. Indeed, the more the “smart people” belittle the skeptics, the more the skeptics will dig in.

      1. Matt Adams Avatar
        Matt Adams

        I think it comes down to that people don’t like being told what to do in general. Especially, when it’s coming from Big Fed. The only reason people pay their taxes, is because Uncle Sugar will lock you up if you don’t (well most of us that is).

      2. LarrytheG Avatar
        LarrytheG

        The “mistrust” is a purposeful strategy from the right – just look at FOX and read other blogs and social media where lies and disinformation are widely promoted – and FB and Twitter are being pressured to remove…

        It takes chutzpah to engage in lies and disinformation as a political strategy, then claim that people no longer “trust”. yeah boy.

        1. James A. Bacon Avatar
          James A. Bacon

          Two words, Larry: Russian collusion.

          Your team perfected the political use of disinformation, and the mainstream media aided and abetted them every step of the way. That pack of lies has been refuted as conclusively as anything can be refuted. The distrust is thoroughly warranted.

          1. kls Avatar
            kls

            Steele Dossier, FISA warrant, Hunter Biden laptop open letter from IC Dems, Bugout Biden driving a big rig – his arrest attempting to see Mandala – his attendance at a HBCU – Popcorn……

          2. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Yes.. lets say the FBI did it badly wrong.

            So for that ya’ll want to blow up the country by promoting lies and misinformation about vaccines and elections…

            ya’ll are gonna reap what you’re sowing…

          3. kls Avatar
            kls

            It’s not the Russians…….I’ve done DISINFO ops.. Agents of Influence are much better cut outs.

          4. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            might need to translate a bit…..

            Haner says I’m “slow”….

          5. Nancy Naive Avatar
            Nancy Naive

            The correct word is conspiracy.

          6. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Russian collusion – true or not – has nothing to do with the purposeful spreading of disinformation. lies and outright conspiracy theories by the right to foster suspicion, doubt and really further ignorance .

            This is a strategy of the right not only on the vaccines… but on a range of issues to the point where the GOP as a party cannot and will not admit the lies.

            This is what the right is doing these days.

            The FBI – through the years has been guilty of misdeeds – go back to Martin Luther King…

            but the right’s war on facts and truth on things like vaccines has no parallel.

            One hour of watching Tucker Carlson should do it for most folks but he just energizes a ton of right-wing media sites as well as repeating it on social media.

            You guys are willingly participating in this on some cockeyed premise that two wrongs make a right – the country be damned.

            Liz Cheney has it right.

          7. Randy Huffman Avatar
            Randy Huffman

            I agree with Jim on his Russian Collusion comment, but its also the hysteria of many on the left about everything. Then they totally ignore legitimate points people want to bring up. A good example is natural immunity from previously getting COVID. It’s a legitimate point, a legitimate argument, but totally dismissed by the elites.

          8. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            and the words of real scientists – epidemiologists rejected by the ignorati because the right has impugned them as “elites”.

            Even is you believe the Russian Collusion is true – how in the world does it justify the lies and conspiracy theories now being believed by people?

          9. Randy Huffman Avatar
            Randy Huffman

            Conspiracy theories are not limited to one party. There is no absolute scientific final call on the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of natural immunity.

          10. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            there is the consensus of the scientific community, epidemiologists, FDA and CDC and others with credentials in the field.

            Conspiracy theories are what you primarily see and hear on FOX news and associated ‘right” web sites , facebook and twitter – and from GOP elected…

            Not so much on CNN or most mainstream media.

            In the right-wing world – if WaPo is “biased” then that means the right can spout outright lies and conspiracy theories ….

            On “natural immunity” – either go with science or choose who you would rather believe.

            The really odd thing is that people will pick and choose what they want to believe – like none of the disbelievers doubt the recommendations about 2 shots then boosters… why not no booster or 2?

            Hope… don’t get the shots and rely on natural immunity instead…

            why would you even take that risk if boosters are available?

            Amazing that some of the very people who say they don’t believe the science – STILL get the shots… Why?

            Finally, where is all this doubt for other vaccines – including polio and smallpox?

            Does this mean that those same idiots will now choose to NOT get their kids childhood shots and rely on “natural immunity”.

            How dumb can people get?

          11. Randy Huffman Avatar
            Randy Huffman

            Why take a booster if you have natural immunity, you are young and healthy, and concerned about the effects of the shot?

            Here is one of many articles on the topic of natural immunity.

            https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/good-news-mild-covid-19-induces-lasting-antibody-protection/

            I am not saying this is the final answer, researchers learn more every day. I am saying many inappropriately disregard natural immunity because it does not fit cleanly in a narrative. These are decisions between the patient and doctor, NOT politicians. Yet you have to be vaccinated in some places to go eat in a restaurant?

          12. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            Not saying to disregard the earlier study but to stay abreast of the science – not politics.

            You HAVE TO WANT TO KNOW the truth and not your own beliefs..OR you disregard the latest science and just believe what you prefer instead…..

            it’s not hard to find the latest science if you really want to:

            earlier study date: May 24, 2021

            here’s November 5, 2021

            A previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccination can provide immunity and protection against future illness.
            A new study has compared the level of immunity afforded by a previous infection with the protection provided by a COVID-19 vaccine.
            The results suggest that COVID-19

            mRNA vaccines are around five times

            more effective at preventing hospitalization than a previous infection.

            two links provided – the Medical News link and their referenced link in their article

            https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7044e1.htm

            https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-do-vaccines-protect-better-than-infection-induced-immunity

            This is a no-brainer if you believe the science. If not, then a zillion different reasons are given…for not…

          13. Randy Huffman Avatar
            Randy Huffman

            Two comments and I am letting this go:

            1) I read the second article, and they made the recommendation for vaccination. Ok, I’m sold, because of my age, etc. Heck I was vaccinated in April/May. But this article says at the end the study had limitations, and further research is needed… Hmmmm

            2) It talks about hospitalization. Heck, if your a young person with no medical issues, the likelihood of getting seriously ill from COVID is inconsequential. Yet the Government is forcing them into vaccination?

            That is the whole point of Jim’s posting.

          14. Nancy Naive Avatar
            Nancy Naive

            There ya go.

          15. RKW Avatar
            RKW

            Larry, you need to get out of your mother’s basement and get on with life. Make some friends and read a book. Turn off the TV and computer. Take a hike. Then, you might just understand that there is more to do in this world than being an internet troll.

      3. Eric the half a troll Avatar
        Eric the half a troll

        “Indeed, the more the “smart people” belittle the skeptics, the more the skeptics will dig in.”

        And, eventually the less the “smart people” will care…

    2. kls Avatar
      kls

      The inner city Black Trump supporters are the ones not getting vaccinated, according to the data. But it really doesn’t matter as we’ve reached ‘herd immunity’ according to CDC/NIH/Fauci, right?

      1. Stephen Haner Avatar
        Stephen Haner

        Wow, Trump got THAT many black votes? More than 40% in Virginia? Nah, I call BS on that one….(Only 56% fully vaccinated per VDH data today, compared to the hardly stellar 59% among white Virginians of eligible age.)

        1. how_it_works Avatar
          how_it_works

          Try this:

          The inner city (sarcasm on) Black Trump supporters (sarcasm off) are the ones not getting vaccinated, according to the data.

          It makes more sense that way.

        2. Eric the half a troll Avatar
          Eric the half a troll

          Now look at those percentages in absolute numbers and the problem will become quite evident… hint, it is not blacks…

    3. LarrytheG Avatar
      LarrytheG

      if your cardiologist is “aligned” with JAB and still “mystified” about the how and why – I might start looking for a replacement… this is not hard…

      1. Matt Adams Avatar
        Matt Adams

        What does his Physician’s politics have to do with his ability to determine heart issues?

        If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, you’re a partisan who can’t help but invoke politics into every situation.

        1. Stephen Haner Avatar
          Stephen Haner

          Yep, even picks his docs by politics apparently….After 11 years including two near death experiences, this doc and I have become pals…

          1. Matt Adams Avatar
            Matt Adams

            I personally don’t get how someone can be so jaded by political beliefs that you can’t see the points others make. This ideological purity requirement is nonsense.

            Not to mention belittling people who don’t agree with you is a surefire way not to o gain any traction for you side.

          2. LarrytheG Avatar
            LarrytheG

            I have no idea the politics of my docs and suspect most of them are GOP but I don’t think they have much trouble dealing with realities and facts… in medicine nor politics… so I’m happy with that.

            The last thing in the world I want is a Doc who gets his/her medical knowledge nor politics from social media and blogs… and I bet Haner has that same calculation when it comes to his own body!

            😉

    4. Nancy Naive Avatar
      Nancy Naive

      He’s angling for a spot with that bow tie wearing freak.

  5. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    It’s an American’s patriotic duty to work at whatever crappy low pay job they are offered. Paraphrased slightly from Elain.e Choa’s comments on Bloomberg.

  6. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    This is the first disease in the history of man that is selective. It kills the stupid and misinformed. Let ‘er rip!

    You’re fat, you’re 40, you watch Fox news, and you’re 40x more likely to die from Covid19 than a vaccinated person and raise the collective IQ.

    If the Packer’s offensive front line is down with it, Aaron’s got nothing to sweat. Guess he’ll find out how they feel about it on Sunday.

  7. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    Well, I had my fun, but more to the dear white lady’s question, all of these programs, while federally funded and/or mandated, are mostly managed by the State. Hell, even Obamacare has State based Marketplaces.

    For example, remember when Florida mandated “drug tests” for those in assited housing?

    Well, if Youngkin would like, he can mandate vaccines for SNAP, UE, and other program recipients just like Governor Rick Scott did for drug tests… too bad he ran on a “no mandate” platform.

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