Nurses are proletariats. We don’t own any means of production and sell our labor power causing hierarchical conflicts between us and other members of the healthcare realm.
We are exploited for our labor at the lowest expense possible to the bourgeoisie while we struggle to maximize our wage potential. Capitalism fosters this class struggle resulting in dissatisfied and disenchanted proletariats (nurses).
This oppressive environment causes high levels of lateral violence between nurses and horizontal violence between nursing management and nurses.
The history of nursing as a feminized profession does not help the oppressive structure of nursing labor or more importantly, nursing pedagogy, which often encourages the acceptance of hierarchical power relationships.
Hence, this is why nurses can be the biggest, meanest bitches.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Obama Song is Brainwashing our Children
The Lyrics to the Obama Brainwashing Song
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama
This song is teaching our children values that have historically not been ideals taught by our American culture or American school system.
1. He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
All must lend a hand? Only the poor, the disenchanted, the hopeless, the vulnerable, and other members of non-elitist groups should have to toil in this country. Working together across classes, across genders, and across races! Are you insane? Why would we want to teach our children that? We must stay divided. Those of us who have been historically powerless and less fortunate need to stay in our God given place as the subordinates in society.
2. He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Are you fucking serious? Equal work deserves equal pay? Get the fuck out of here! We should abide by the age old customs that we have historically lived by.
For example, men deserve to get paid more than women. After all, women are too bogged down with hormones and emotions to ever get the job done as efficiently and impeccably as men. It is to our country’s duty to preserve the occupational and academic guidelines set long ago for women and minorities. We can’t let them receive equal pay! Fuck them! They have to work 10 times harder to get the equivalent compensation. You give them an inch; those lazy assholes want to take a mile!
3. He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Not everyone should be given a chance. Only select people of the population should be able to advance their lot. We need to enforce a strict caste system in the United States. Whatever caste you were born in, is where you must stay!
4. He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Why would we ever teach our children to think that all colors, races, ethnicities, and nationalities are equal? It is important to stay divided. Divide and conquer!
This song forces children to accept principles that surely demonstrate socialist ideals. In our capitalist society, we enforce strict guidelines on who should advance, who should work harder, and who is superior. Equality is not human nature. Division causes unrest and unrest makes money. War, famine, and violence. –These are money making endeavours. Destruction spawns profit. We must ensure that the next generation maintains a destructive, segregated, and biased agenda. There is money to be made, people! We must train our children to be obedient capitalist pupils!
Long Live the Bourgeoisie!
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama
Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama
This song is teaching our children values that have historically not been ideals taught by our American culture or American school system.
1. He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
All must lend a hand? Only the poor, the disenchanted, the hopeless, the vulnerable, and other members of non-elitist groups should have to toil in this country. Working together across classes, across genders, and across races! Are you insane? Why would we want to teach our children that? We must stay divided. Those of us who have been historically powerless and less fortunate need to stay in our God given place as the subordinates in society.
2. He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Are you fucking serious? Equal work deserves equal pay? Get the fuck out of here! We should abide by the age old customs that we have historically lived by.
For example, men deserve to get paid more than women. After all, women are too bogged down with hormones and emotions to ever get the job done as efficiently and impeccably as men. It is to our country’s duty to preserve the occupational and academic guidelines set long ago for women and minorities. We can’t let them receive equal pay! Fuck them! They have to work 10 times harder to get the equivalent compensation. You give them an inch; those lazy assholes want to take a mile!
3. He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Not everyone should be given a chance. Only select people of the population should be able to advance their lot. We need to enforce a strict caste system in the United States. Whatever caste you were born in, is where you must stay!
4. He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Why would we ever teach our children to think that all colors, races, ethnicities, and nationalities are equal? It is important to stay divided. Divide and conquer!
This song forces children to accept principles that surely demonstrate socialist ideals. In our capitalist society, we enforce strict guidelines on who should advance, who should work harder, and who is superior. Equality is not human nature. Division causes unrest and unrest makes money. War, famine, and violence. –These are money making endeavours. Destruction spawns profit. We must ensure that the next generation maintains a destructive, segregated, and biased agenda. There is money to be made, people! We must train our children to be obedient capitalist pupils!
Long Live the Bourgeoisie!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
We are the Dumbest Generation in History
My professor in my electronic media writing class conducts a mini audience analysis with the students in his class every semester. The audience analysis entails answering questions pertaining to what kinds of media we pay attention to. He noticed that as the years go by, more and more students pay attention to the news less and less. Our generation, the 18 to 35 male and female demographic, are plugged in, but plugged into media outlets that provide no real mental stimulation and no intellectual substance.
Boys and girls, we are currently the dumbest generation in history.
Round of applause. Good work, folks. We are a generation that knows more about Paris Hilton's latest shag and what the hell the Kardashians are doing, than local events that undoubtedly will affect our lives and world events that will, believe it or not, affect us, as well. We are plugged in, but tuned the fuck out.
Whenever I say words like, IMF, World Bank, neoliberal philosophy, the new world order, etc, I get blank stares from my cohorts. Neoliberal capitalism is awesome if you don't really think about it too much and don't look into it too closely. Every part of your perceptual world can be as beautiful as a Monet just as long as you don't get too close to it.
I get called that crazy Berkeley chick that is always militantly talking about politics, world events, and conspiracy theories. Well, let me tell you something, son. These are not conspiracy theories that I'm talking about. If you paid attention, the things I'm talking about are plainly displayed in front of you, but you are too preoccupied with World of Warcraft, Facebook status updates, MTV, VHI, and other head rotting activities to notice the real world around you. You accept explanations for face value and are content to think about things however way someone else told you to. We are a generation of lazy spoiled brats.
We gladly accept the world painted before us as black and white complete with villains and heroes. We hardly ever question the assumed classification of good and evil. Capitalism = good. Communism = bad.
It is too disruptive to our happy world to consider other possibilities and other explanations for why the world is the way it is. Just because you haven't heard of something or thought about a particular situation in a different way than it has been presented to you, it doesn't make it a conspiracy theory.
Hegemony rules. That's why it's called hegemony. (Go ahead. Look this word up. It's okay.)
Never fear! We will soon not be the dumbest generation in history because soon our children will grow up and become even dumber adults than we are because we don't have any critical thinking or analytic skills to teach them.
Alas, some good shit to look forward to!
Boys and girls, we are currently the dumbest generation in history.
Round of applause. Good work, folks. We are a generation that knows more about Paris Hilton's latest shag and what the hell the Kardashians are doing, than local events that undoubtedly will affect our lives and world events that will, believe it or not, affect us, as well. We are plugged in, but tuned the fuck out.
Whenever I say words like, IMF, World Bank, neoliberal philosophy, the new world order, etc, I get blank stares from my cohorts. Neoliberal capitalism is awesome if you don't really think about it too much and don't look into it too closely. Every part of your perceptual world can be as beautiful as a Monet just as long as you don't get too close to it.
I get called that crazy Berkeley chick that is always militantly talking about politics, world events, and conspiracy theories. Well, let me tell you something, son. These are not conspiracy theories that I'm talking about. If you paid attention, the things I'm talking about are plainly displayed in front of you, but you are too preoccupied with World of Warcraft, Facebook status updates, MTV, VHI, and other head rotting activities to notice the real world around you. You accept explanations for face value and are content to think about things however way someone else told you to. We are a generation of lazy spoiled brats.
We gladly accept the world painted before us as black and white complete with villains and heroes. We hardly ever question the assumed classification of good and evil. Capitalism = good. Communism = bad.
It is too disruptive to our happy world to consider other possibilities and other explanations for why the world is the way it is. Just because you haven't heard of something or thought about a particular situation in a different way than it has been presented to you, it doesn't make it a conspiracy theory.
Hegemony rules. That's why it's called hegemony. (Go ahead. Look this word up. It's okay.)
Never fear! We will soon not be the dumbest generation in history because soon our children will grow up and become even dumber adults than we are because we don't have any critical thinking or analytic skills to teach them.
Alas, some good shit to look forward to!
Monday, July 20, 2009
A request to my cohort: Health care reform affects you
This is one of the most important times in our lives. Put away People and US Magazine for a brief moment and pay attention to what is going on right now in our country. We are on the brink of making an instrumental change to our health care system. We have a chance to restructure our current system to provide the necessary and vital health care to all Americans.
Obama’s health care proposal will in the long run save us money and more importantly lives by shifting away from expensive acute interventional care to primary and preventive care. Our health system is currently run by the free market, which only emphasizes monetary gain over humanity and healing. Preventive medicine would help purge us of our current epidemics: obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. These are diseases that can largely be controlled by proper preventive medical guidance, which millions of hard working Americans cannot afford to attain.
Most heroic interventions that are done in the United States today are done to repair the physiological damage that could have been prevented. These interventions are not cheap, making our health care system one of the most expensive in the world, despite millions of Americans who are uninsured.
As your cohort, I understand the barrage of pop culture, glitz, and glamour that appear to be more exhilarating to pay attention to than health care reform, but when our six day a week vodka water days dry up and we have children, aging parents, and our own aging bodies to deal with, health care will be something we will care about.
Watch for propaganda. Carefully research your own facts before you form your opinion. Don’t look to the politicians (Democrat or Republican) for your information. This is not the time to follow blind party mandates.
Neoliberal economics began in the Regan Era. For us, who are born in the 70’s and 80's, it is all we know. We have been taught that time is money and material wealth will bring us infinite happiness. I have faith that our current climate of change will change us as a generation from the pursuit of money to the pursuit of happiness and humanity for all.
Obama’s health care proposal will in the long run save us money and more importantly lives by shifting away from expensive acute interventional care to primary and preventive care. Our health system is currently run by the free market, which only emphasizes monetary gain over humanity and healing. Preventive medicine would help purge us of our current epidemics: obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. These are diseases that can largely be controlled by proper preventive medical guidance, which millions of hard working Americans cannot afford to attain.
Most heroic interventions that are done in the United States today are done to repair the physiological damage that could have been prevented. These interventions are not cheap, making our health care system one of the most expensive in the world, despite millions of Americans who are uninsured.
As your cohort, I understand the barrage of pop culture, glitz, and glamour that appear to be more exhilarating to pay attention to than health care reform, but when our six day a week vodka water days dry up and we have children, aging parents, and our own aging bodies to deal with, health care will be something we will care about.
Watch for propaganda. Carefully research your own facts before you form your opinion. Don’t look to the politicians (Democrat or Republican) for your information. This is not the time to follow blind party mandates.
Neoliberal economics began in the Regan Era. For us, who are born in the 70’s and 80's, it is all we know. We have been taught that time is money and material wealth will bring us infinite happiness. I have faith that our current climate of change will change us as a generation from the pursuit of money to the pursuit of happiness and humanity for all.
If free market health care is what you want, then you better tip well!
The term, "socialized medicine", has begun to hold a stigma. Socialized. Like Socialism. We Americans don't like that! Many have argued that the American health care system is doing just fine the way it is. Socialized medicine would be the downfall of us all. Although Obama’s health care proposal is not stringently socialized medicine by definition, critics are slapping this label on it.
Let's take a closer look at how health care in the United States is actually structured. Neoliberal philosophy and principles of capitalism have found its way into medicine. So much so, that textbooks are being re-written to change the word, "patient" to the word, "client." Health care professionals sit in on in-services that instruct us to treat patients like consumers/customers. The customer is always right, right?
If you want a free market health care system that runs on principles of neoliberal capitalism, let's not half ass this thing! Let's go all the way! I am proposing a new health care system that is wholly in tune with spirit of capitalism and free market principles.
As it is now, some people can't afford health insurance. Too bad for them. They must have not worked hard enough in life to be able to afford this luxury. Remember: it's a luxury, not a right.
Just like in other industries, money gets you the best products. Why drive a KIA if you can afford a Mercedes that is suped up with all the latest technological safety devices, right? In our health care system, I propose a similar primary principle: the more money you have, the better health care you can get.
We will divide hospitals into tiers with the best hospitals costing the most. There will be the five star hospitals with the best health care practitioners doling out the best and innovative health care, just like how the hospitality and food and beverage industries are structured.
The rest of us lazy people who did not get our lives together to be wealthy enough to deserve such superb care will go to the other hospitals, the affordable and decent service hospitals, the Applebee's of hospitals, if you will. The dregs of society who are poor will go to the McDonald's of hospitals, getting mediocre health care from health care practitioners that are not getting paid enough to care.
I'm a nurse. So, I want to get a piece of the big business hospital action. I propose instituting a gratuity policy in health care. If you want good health care service, you better tip well. Because if you don't, when you go into cardiac arrest, I might not run on over to your bedside with the crash cart as fast as I can. I might be too busy catering to my other patient that was smart enough to leave me a hefty tip. Tip your nurses well, folks!
As it is, we are already marching toward this kind of health care system built on the principles of neoliberal philosophy. We should just be honest about it. The relationship between health care practitioners and patients has been reduced to a relationship based on financial exchanges. Health care professionals have invaluable services or products and patients have a demand for these goods. There will be no humanity in health care. There is no room for that when there is money to be made.
In my proposed health care system, hospital and medical groups will treat patients like how corporations treat consumers by spending large sums of money hiring consulting and advertising firms to figure out how to get and keep their clients. Actual medicine will take a backseat because it will not be about how well you treat your patients, but how well they think you are treating them.
We will treat our patients with the primary focus on how much money we can make off of them by ordering labs, tests or various other diagnostics, or performing interventions they may or may not really need. (Wait. We may already be doing that. Score!) But who cares? We want to bill them and their insurance companies as much as we can!
Socialized medicine? Who wants that? Health care for all? Are you crazy? Look at all the millions we could be making off of people's illnesses, their suffering, and their pain? Patients are vulnerable. They are lay health people. We can tell them anything and because they are fearful of death and disease, we can make a killing!
We want your money even after you're dead. If you die... Oh, well. At least, we can still bill for it. Even when you are dead and cold, we will still be able to spend your money. And that's what matters the most.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
In Bad Taste
Some privileged folks out there have not taken much notice of the recent economic conditions. Perhaps they are too busy scouring the pages of People Magazine, Us, or In Touch to keep tabs on important matters like: what Angelina and Brad are eating. If the hottest celebrities are maintaining their lavish lifestyles, then we must not be in any serious economic crisis, right? This privileged group is most likely the same members of the upper echelon of society, that in step with the Hollywood elite, are still devoted to the mass consumption practices that have resulted in our current economic downturn, not to mention our world pollution.
These individuals are undoubtedly dutiful followers of neoliberal philosophy, where material goods, commodification of human relations, and consumption by any means necessary are major tenets of living a full and happy life.
But wait. Maybe some of these elitists are not so ill informed. Maybe some have stumbled across a CNN report or two while flipping the channel to The Bachelor or Dancing with Stars. Maybe they actually have a slight inkling to the devastated families who have lost their homes, their health care, and their financial security.
Sadly, even with this information, some of these privileged people continue to consume without much foresight and with little modesty. Some have the audacity to consume with pride by openly bragging about their new Manolo Blahniks or their recent purchase of the latest Chloe bag.
That’s what neoliberal philosophy teaches us, right? Material wealth makes you happy. Most importantly, the more of it you have, the more people you are superior to. Neoliberalism also emphasizes the individual. One person's misfortune should be of no concern to someone else. Why pay attention to other people's hardships if you are still basking in financial security?
So, for all you lucky superior beings, who have remained unscathed by the economic recession:
Good for you! Keep proclaiming your superiority to others by buying the latest Balenciaga clutch and then boasting about your newly acquired goods to your friends, family, or any other person worthy enough to be in your expensively clad presence. Please keep us all meager peasants updated on your avid consumption practices through social networking devices (Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace). Please don’t put down that People to read other forms of media to be exposed to the pitiful stories of unemployment lines and disempowered people. And whatever you do, please do not change your attitude! It looks fabulous on you!
As of today, 12.5 million people are unemployed in the United States. New Ferragamos only prove that you are better than 12.5 million people. That’s 12.5 million people you can flaunt your fresh Rock and Republic jeans to. You are so awesome!
Is your life a display of conspicuous consumption? No way! Is this the commodity fetishism Marx talked about? No! Marx didn’t know what he was talking about.
Is it in bad taste to wave your good fortune and accrual of luxury items in the midst of an economic crisis where millions of people are struggling to afford food, shelter, and health care? No way, sweetheart!
No one has better taste than you.
These individuals are undoubtedly dutiful followers of neoliberal philosophy, where material goods, commodification of human relations, and consumption by any means necessary are major tenets of living a full and happy life.
But wait. Maybe some of these elitists are not so ill informed. Maybe some have stumbled across a CNN report or two while flipping the channel to The Bachelor or Dancing with Stars. Maybe they actually have a slight inkling to the devastated families who have lost their homes, their health care, and their financial security.
Sadly, even with this information, some of these privileged people continue to consume without much foresight and with little modesty. Some have the audacity to consume with pride by openly bragging about their new Manolo Blahniks or their recent purchase of the latest Chloe bag.
That’s what neoliberal philosophy teaches us, right? Material wealth makes you happy. Most importantly, the more of it you have, the more people you are superior to. Neoliberalism also emphasizes the individual. One person's misfortune should be of no concern to someone else. Why pay attention to other people's hardships if you are still basking in financial security?
So, for all you lucky superior beings, who have remained unscathed by the economic recession:
Good for you! Keep proclaiming your superiority to others by buying the latest Balenciaga clutch and then boasting about your newly acquired goods to your friends, family, or any other person worthy enough to be in your expensively clad presence. Please keep us all meager peasants updated on your avid consumption practices through social networking devices (Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace). Please don’t put down that People to read other forms of media to be exposed to the pitiful stories of unemployment lines and disempowered people. And whatever you do, please do not change your attitude! It looks fabulous on you!
As of today, 12.5 million people are unemployed in the United States. New Ferragamos only prove that you are better than 12.5 million people. That’s 12.5 million people you can flaunt your fresh Rock and Republic jeans to. You are so awesome!
Is your life a display of conspicuous consumption? No way! Is this the commodity fetishism Marx talked about? No! Marx didn’t know what he was talking about.
Is it in bad taste to wave your good fortune and accrual of luxury items in the midst of an economic crisis where millions of people are struggling to afford food, shelter, and health care? No way, sweetheart!
No one has better taste than you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)