In Steinbeck's footsteps: America's middle-class underclass (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Paul Mason
Economics editor, Newsnight

In The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck describes the harrowing journey of the Joad family - migrant workers forced to leave their home during the Great Depression - a story still relevant to those facing the realities of America's current economic crisis.

"To the red country, and part of the gray country of Oklahoma the last rains came gently, and they did not cut the scarred earth…" That is how Steinbeck begins The Grapes of Wrath.

This year the last rains came in May to western Oklahoma. They lasted long enough to produce the last alfalfa crop but the winter wheat was already lost.

Brett Porter, who farms 3,000 hectares, unrolls the last of his hay in front of a thirsty line of prime Angus cattle. With just 18 bales left, and at $200 (£123) a bale on the open market, when he runs out he will have to sell the cows.
***
more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14296682




Hoooooooly crap -- what a read! Touches on so many of America's problems, including the fact that the problems are not covered by the American media. Packs a lot into one column.

[WCGreen]

1. And yet they vote for republicans.....

[BlueMTexpat]

2. I would bet that many of the people in this story are not able to vote

at all because they have no fixed address.

But you are correct in that too many of the most vulnerable are brainwashed into believing that Republicans really care for them when the truth is right in front of their faces if they would only open their eyes to see and their brains to process what they see.

[eShirl]

3. thank you for posting this. n/t

[era veteran]

4. One of my favorite all time books, so powerful.

The Joads have been in my mind a bit lately. The last two times people had to ' refugee out' were the Civil War and the Great Depression/ Dustbowl. I heard tales of the depression all my childhood.
I bet FDR read this book but I'm sure no teabag Republican has. Should be required reading in school.