Them And US: Not Politically Correct But...
To talk in terms of them and us or them versus us is not as fashionable as it once was. Such talk is condemned by those that will have us ”politically correct” or as faithful members of the global church of brutal capitalism. But let's face it the them and us division still makes sense in many many cases today.
To learn about the employment moves for the recently sacked Lapin Kulta workers is instructive. Those with the most money could afford to move house and family to another place. For most they needed to struggle and remain local. Those at the top of the pile suffered little. The everyday worker suffers.
The same difference is obvious between the rich and powerful politician and the poor everyday voter. The politician today can move side-ways or upwards as easily as Mr Vanhanen can avoid answering any straight question. For the everyday voter life is not so simple. It is not only the disgusting inequality of all this that matters. What makes this all worse is that this inequality and divisive life chances (this them and us condition) is structural and deeply embedded within the official and unofficial rules of the game.
Which people benefit most if we should lower the taxes on the transfer of houses and land through generations that are within a family? That is just one example of thousands. Inequality is passed down through time and place. Best to be born then into a rich and powerful family or group. If not born - then best to join as quickly as possible.
We are glad to find that Helsinki University remains in the top 100 universities of the world. But let us look hard at our other universities. What chance do they have to actually get into the top 100? It gets more obvious too when we see the top universities, like Cambridge UK and Harvard USA, stay at the top year in and year out. The power and financial muscle of these hallowed institutions has been passed down for generations. Most other universities cannot compete.
If we look at the EU and the growing frustrations concerning retirement ages and pensions we find the same story. We find the them and the us division. Those few at the top of the pile do quite OK thank you very much. Those in the vast majority and living well below the top sense big trouble and struggle. The retirement game and the pension rules are not a level playing field. They are totally unequal and politicians well know this but they are loath to admit it.
France today is the latest example of this growing sense of a them and us frustation. It would help the big boys who are actually making the rules to admit that we have forced (sometimes in subtle cultural ways) many many people to work in mind-deadening and risky jobs for over 40 years of their lives. Surely they deserve a break.
Most working folk cannot be compared to a Clint Eastwood who goes on forever working. Most working folk cannot be compared to the political elite either – let alone the business bosses. Them and us remains with us.
I would strongly suggest that all future European Union debates should allow the them and us division to be called just that. A them and us division. Then maybe the underdogs within the EU might be able to find a voice together.
What will stop this? Well there are two things that will stop this honest talk of a them and us. First the politicians are scared to open up this kind of direct honesty even when statistics are easy enough to find to qualify it.
Secondly and in a far more subtle way we find that talk and feelings of ”Nationalism” cloud this them and us reality.
Nationalism remains so strong that Finns in the north will identify with Helsinki? Why? As far as I can see Helsinki is almost a different planet to Lapland. So why do we fool ourselves through nationalist clap trap?
Surely a good EU would avoid such nationalism? Surely a good EU allows smaller and weaker units to have a voice?
We will know more on these matters soon I think. It is interesting to watch Belgium splitting up. Will Scotland find an indepence from England? Will Spain lose a very profitable part of itself to a seperatist movement inside the EU?
Steve Bowles
