Deer Hunting with Jesus
The outstanding feature, of Joe Bageant ‘Deer Hunting with Jesus’ is its boldness, which typically pictures the class issues as it is and in a language so raw and original. Joe enunciates the white-working class’ plight and diagnoses the factors surrounding their oppression dilemma. He uses the summery of his people in Winchester, Virginia to expound class issues between the elite class and the white working class; their attitudes regarding voting back president George. W. Bush being carried away in war debates informs his judgment on them and the class issues. The ignorance of his rural people is prominent through reference to a childhood friend, who is ignorant of outsourcing plans of the factory job where he works. The American corporate is bent on denying the middle class a livelihood through plans of outsourcing jobs to foreigners. The end would be keeping the working class in perpetual poverty. However, this argument seem to exceed the logical bounds by alluding to government responsibility over the poor’s fortunes; it ignores also the spending habits, he mentions earlier (Bageant, 2007).
His chapter on “˜The Deep-Fried Lifestyle,’ indicates feelings of indignation amongst classes, though there is a sense of envy in his honest outburst of feelings towards foreign developers. In the chapter, class division are clear from the media approach towards the middle white workers, the inhabitants are just but consumers targets of global economic pursuits to them. It is imperative to note that Joe construes the media as an instrument of the liberal elites. He demonstrates that the class war is present, being fought quietly and openly sometimes. The “˜Man’ wins always, owing for the ignorance of the working middle class. Joe enunciates the ease of convincing a working white to relinquish his interest and pursue those of the elites through what he calls ignorance that fosters vacant unity (Bageant, 2007).
The elite class, as such, exploits the working middle’s ignorance. Although, Joe’s idea has truth, its honesty and raw expression indicate more than exploitation. Some of the working class attitudes and priorities require no exploitation; they are sufficient in subjecting them to poor conditions per se. His argument on oil consumption and mortgage policies are devoid of a deeper sense of understanding as the modern structures may be only sustainable through their presence. The argument makes also a direct link between the complexity and pursuits of these policies to middle class exploitations; the link may exist but only through indirect ramifications of historical and present occurrences (Domhoff, 2005).
Bageant is informed largely by his heritage and articulates the middle class so well with superb ease and compassion. He positions his society at the centre of America’s capitalistic pursuits, and class endeavors, in which an individual struggles to dominate over another so as to protect self-actualization dreams. His analysis of fellow Winchester residents, while empathetic with them, offers an unforgivable account of their ignorance. He mentions their shortsightedness in consumption habits, automation of responses to issues without critical analysis and the NASCAR race. He quips that their programmed responses band ignorance allows exploitation through working conditions that sip humanity out of them. The working class forms the armed forces, they are firm and their plight stirs little interest in comparison to sports news (Bageant, 2007).
The book offers invaluable contribution into understanding the reality of class exploitation. It is particularly useful in a society where classes are denied and their wounds away from public eyes. The sheer anger alive in Bageant’s expression gives life to the middle class situation. The author does a noble thing by not suppressing the anger, but rather, releasing it in the most ingenious work of the mind-literature. He states that America lives within an illusion that all are equal, yet tags tell them apart, and he acknowledges that working individuals illustrate class best through their ignorance. He concludes that it is the ignorance, which politicians exploit. This ignorance blinds Winchester residents from knowing that it is their sons dying in Iraq, that their knee-jerk ideology of winning a war is senseless to them and that the elites do not care. Politicians understand that lack of education simplifies the ability to form conservatism. Bageant refers in President Bush’s re-election to this thoughtless conservatism. He argues that they cannot decipher that Bush’s policy reduces taxes for the rich and ignores the poor. It is ignorance leading to poverty; he concludes that makes the downtrodden abandon their needs and pursues their oppressor’s. He argues that educated liberals would not attend to bear drinking in the old pubs or pursue their Jesus and Bible infallibility on all topics (Bageant, 2007).
In conclusion, Bageant analogy of corporate-sponsored hologram resembles many modern situations; the argument on ignorance is not devoid of shortcomings such as the revolutionary approach that offers a solution to the system after the revolution. Anger and rage also seem to crowd Bageant’s understanding of some technical issues. However, reality that affirms the class distinction abound. The corporate have more power requiring one to relinquish privacy for comfort. He argues that security cameras and tracking devices infringe on individual freedom, 25% of all earth’s prisoners are in the US and this indicates that the liberty chants are a sham to the working class. His analogy mirrors the current American obsession with security from terror attacks, which runs as a program in the majority of the people (Bageant, 2007).
Politicians are also likely to approve Bageant’s patter given the modern rankings of states by importance. Politicians understand that some are less likely to revolt; they are the ignorant working class; thus, they treat them condescendingly with little focus. Politically, Bageant’s book is congruent to current Democrats and Republicans debate. It justifies his analogy that they do not care for the poor, since Republicans and Democrats are happier while arguing, than facing real issues that would help the working class. Additionally, the side argument is that who should deliver that state into the hands of the corporate interest rather than why it is evident that Wall Street now rules and Bageant’s Hologram is inevitable. Obama administration acknowledges likely unemployment, continues to threaten Iran, send soldiers to Afghanistan, yet he will be likely re-elected just like Bush in Bageant’s book. On the other hand, the republican charm continues to exist, the rule of Democrats currently may not negate this; actually, it may be because of using that Republican tactics that Democrats won. It is not far from truth to note that both parties have mastered mimicry; they use the language of the working class to lure them. This is the aspect of ignorance, which Bageant refers to. However, it is, not outright, as he puts it, the working class only lacks sufficient wisdom to discern it (Domhoff, 2005).
Bageant’s book affirms its position by concerning itself with matters beyond profits and politics. He states that nearly every activity in the US has a profit motive informing it giving the argument a holistic approach. He may have issues of obtrusive thoughts or excess opinion, but his book is an unassuming articulation of people’s reality. This book stands out as the most in pragmatically stating that classes exist, and they enslave the mind. The biggest enemy of the working class is ignorance, not attacks or drugs. This predisposes the community to exploitation and perpetual poverty. Bageant’s ability of non-partisan analysis is sublime; he presents an empathetic resemblance of a love prose to his Winchester community, while critically washing their dirty linen of ignorance in public (Domhoff, 2005).
The American Ruling Class and the Peril of Revolution
This article is a succinct piece articulating the position of the working class within the American society. The writers start with bringing out the concept of the ruling class or the political class, who view their decisions as unquestionable. The common working class has no choice but learn his positions. The article highlights the Republicans and Democrats 2008 agreement to spend $700 billion as a buyout program alleviating market collapse. The subsequent widespread opposition by the people and the buying of equity in banks illustrates the working class lack of voice. The article illustrates the existent of these classes; since the parties assumed autonomy and used the money, emphasizes this reality anyway. The classes’ exercise control over the working class and their options is few. The absence of any Republican objection to some plans by the Democrats class reinforces the statement that they also want to be a part of the class and thus alleviate the working group (Codevilla, 2010).
The article’s gripping statement that the only difference between a democrat and a Republican is the degree, not their kind, resembles Bageant’s argument. The political system seems to thrive through exploiting the working class, and the occasional disagreement between the government and opposition is not interest driven but an official sham of publicity. In the article, evidence of common schooling and resemblance of preferences identify the ruling class. It is imperative to note that the working class could not have attended the same schools. Working could neither have had the opportunity to work in higher government levels that taught this class the diplomatic behavior. As such, this article identifies another class level in the US system stemming from historical aspects and expressing itself through politics and higher levels of governance (Codevilla, 2010).
The ruling class is uneasy with the majority and looks down upon them. This class identifies as democrats, which has 1/3rd of public favor and Republicans a 1/4th. The article indicates that outside this ruling class and the Republicans are 2/3rd of the Americans. The working class falls within this party less group; consequently, they miss representation when the ruling class makes decisions regarding their lives, economy and individual pursuits. The incompetency of the ruling class and the current high cost of living demonstrates the declining workers welfare. Their handling of the recent crisis, the frequency of meltdowns, debt crisis, and economic vulnerabilities attests to the ruling class’ inconsideration of the working class. These individuals have enormous dependence on government irrespective of their positions private or public sector. The article indicates segregation of the non-ruling class through demographic associations. The people, they surround themselves with enunciate their detachment from the working class. They cannot advance their goal or protect their interests as such (Codevilla, 2010).
The article posits that the ruling class is neither justified in academic qualification, and one joins it by merit of a willingness to be like them. It has an argument similar to Bageant’s in ignorance, in this case, Americans had believed in some theory of natural selection, which is an extension of the ruling class dominance. The article demonstrates that this group is patronizing, using economic power to favor some while hurting the working. The bailout of AIG and the sinking of Lehman brothers show this segregating discretion. The ruling class parade themselves as superiors; they encroach on the common working class citizen in an attempt to change what he treasures. They attack marriage, Christianity and social norms allied to religion so that they remain an autonomous deity of instruction. Incongruence lingers and dominance take root, according to the article, the ruling class believes that they have a duty to push others into their definitions of freedom. This amounts to compelling the working class to abandon their lives since they share little with the ruling who assert their behavior as superior and appropriate (Codevilla, 2010).
The outstanding ingenuity of this article lies in its final analysis. The common class is seen as devoid of a means to achieve principles or a vehicle to further its interests. The article notes that it sometimes trusts the Republican Party for this purpose, but just as Bageant notes, the republicans such as Bush never deliver. They are the ruling class, or they envy belonging to it; the highest sublimity of the article relates to its analogy of the middle class leadership. Professor Codevilla in this article quips that the common/working class would have to imitate the Democrats if they were in power. Obama’s administration enunciates his predictions through a system that turns its policies into law. Codevilla’s argument is also faulty and contradictory. It starts by stating that America leadership is bipartisan, he goes ahead to state that democrats are the primary tool. The argument overestimates Democrat’s current leadership and control, and the party in power that is the primary ruler by default. There are also contradictions relating to the term and composition of the ruling class since it has no principle of inclusion or exclusion. The recent voting on the debt ceiling voting validates Codevilla’s argument over democrat’s dominance to some extent. Its prevalence despite opposition to raise the ceiling indicates its vast support and reverence. However, there is, a contradiction in the assertion that democrats are identical to Republicans. The professor seems to assume that the two parties are an individual with a mind of its own. It is essential to note that Bush, Obama and several others across the two parties may have made a similar decision s that do not favor the working class; but it is ambitious to assume that they share an identical philosophy and approach. Additionally, Professor Codevilla labels the ruling class as the chief source of the American problem; however, this class is just a sub-set of the real problem emanating from a history of ignorance. However, the differences between the two parties confer no benefits to the working class and do not concern his welfare (Martin, 2012).
Class war in the American situation is using now other aspects to drive a wedge between the white and blacks. It is not purely about exploitation or ruling class but sowing seeds of division, as well. The case of Zimmerman and Trayvon enunciates a difference in the way Republicans and Democrats approach their thinking. The ruling class concept is conspicuously absent, and there are efforts of each divide to win support to themselves. The republicans allegedly spread the gospel of racism as a class division through disguise and undertones; democrats are clear off this field of Black and White debate. The article fails to go a step further and understand that members of the republican and Democratic parties may have characteristics and a heritage that make them inadvertently similar and hence congruent to be in the same class, but this does not constitute a deliberate decision to belong or join the ruling class (Liberalslikechrist.org, n.d).
The two articles enlighten the American of the prevalence of class and it’s bent on exploiting the poor and organizing itself every day. They speak of the American’s ignorance and complacency, to let another control while he can. However, they do not end with a sentence of doom; their undertones linger in every line. They call on the nations to recall the battle at Gettysburg, latter, when the Republican and Democrats donned new gowns and the subsequent dream and assassination of A. Lincoln. It is imperative for the working class to make alive his dream, be awake in their roles and claim judiciously what is theirs. Failure to this elite class will dominate still, Wall Street and multinationals will become empires and the ruling class CEOs their kings. The working class will not long sustain as everyday blood is sipped from his veins (Domhoff, 2005).