On that very same day, there was a train that carried tons of chemicals (mostly PVC) riding through Ohio. It exploded in East Palestine, unleashing the dangerous chemicals in the atmosphere. While The US was overreacting over the balloon, the chemicals were contaminating the air and waters. The chemicals were killing people’s chickens, dogs, cats, and other animals. The crows were circling and flying about in a strange motion as if they were drugged. The fish that flourished now lifelessly float along the river.
If the chemicals are getting to the animals, it’s getting to the people too. People who lived there experienced lung issues, breathing difficulties, and more. The PVC chemicals are causing higher risks of cancer. People are still not able to live in their homes due to the nauseating air. Those who come back are faced with dangerous conditions. Officials however, (including the FDA) have told everyone that the air is completely safe and the water is drinkable. People who drank the water described it as “smelling and tasting like chlorine.” So basically the officials were lying and trying to sweep it under the rug.
All while this was happening, you see the media overreacting over the balloon. And they pulled another stunt with Canada again this week. Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern lobbied to ease federal regulations and cut costs on the train.
Which makes me question… What are we living for? With the capitalist powers having it’s grip on the world, we are living to be slaves and to fill the wealthy man’s pockets while our lives are constantly in danger. We are just pawns in their game of wealth, power and fame. Tragedies are swept under the rug until one day there’s a large tragedy, and then there’s a compromise from those wealthy pigs that just isn’t enough. Then the cycle starts all over again.
In America, we are going backwards. At this point, we are entering back to the Gilded Age. Or maybe we’re already in it? Or never got out of it?
This is the natural and expected course of capitalist development. I’m not sure why you’re surprised, especially since you’re here so its safe to assume you’re a socialist. The only reason there was any increase in labor rights was because of the expansion of imperialism combined with a militant labor movement (extended by the USSR creating a massive threat to capital). Nowadays though the world is throughly saturated and the market has nowhere else to expand to. Combine this with a crippled labor movement and there are neither the economic nor social conditions necessary to improve or even maintain standards of living for the average worker.
Life under capitalism sucks.
It isn’t surprising that they would do this but I’m just disgusted by capitalism. I am partly surprised that I see this happening before my own two eyes. Capitalism and life just can’t coexist for everyone. It sucks, and I hate that some people defend it. Reminds me of that fable with the snake and the man.