I must admit reading the e and z chapter on capitalism and socialism is somewhat depressing for me, maybe it's just confirming what I already have experienced myself. Like George Ritzer says on page 379. " The assembly line is clearly a dehumanizing setting in which to work. Human beings equiped with a wide array of skills and abilities, are asked to perform a limited number of highly simplified tasks over and over. Instead of expressing their human abilities on the job, people are forced to deny their humanity to act as robots. People cannot express themselves in their work."
I have worked the past seven yrs. in a production job. The pay is good for this area, but the conditions, and the lack of human relations that go with it don't seem to matter to anyone. This qoute by George is really the way it is. Repetion, along with abnormal conditions, and an everyone for themself type attitude leaves the people going home everyday complaining about their jobs. Yes, they can change their situation, but it's different when your caught up in it all. Many have families, others have wives that are not working, etc.
The jobs pay about $17.50 hr. so it's good pay, but at the expense of your sanity. Yes, I know what your thinking, that's good money, I'd sell my sanity, but the more you get the more you spend, and when it all comes to an end you realize your 40 yrs old about to retire in 10 more yrs on the reirement plan, hating what you have been doing, and wishing you had done something else with your life. The company I work for is definately capitalist. Unions such as ours are afraid of the companies, because if they say too much, the companies will move to another area or out of the country. Let's face it the unions are getting money from the employees also. They don't want to lose any money either.
What's the bottom line? The company calls the shots,usually in their behalf, the unions run scared, and the employees are left with nothing more than empty promises or an answer of " The next contract we will ask for more."
I am presently on unemployment, temporary of course. The first time our company has laid off our product line. I saw the writing on the wall when the top officials were retired early all at one time a few months back. The good thing is I'm 30 yrs old, and young enough to diversifie my portfolio. That's the key in my opinion, don't settle with one opertunity. If it does'nt work out you can always do something else.