tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287083504637839691.post3792932219550780277..comments2023-07-22T04:29:29.897-05:00Comments on longwalkdownlyndale: Where did the Working Class Go?longwalkdownlyndalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13173899547449318257noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287083504637839691.post-77763327361612130762012-10-22T13:21:36.295-05:002012-10-22T13:21:36.295-05:00nice comment. i'm reminded of a "Roseann...nice comment. i'm reminded of a "Roseanne" episode from days of yore where the focus was on the election, Roseanne gets canvassed by a candidate talking about lowering taxes for the rich in a classic model of trickle down economics. To which Roseanne eviscerates the politician describing the plight of the middle class working family, and how her husband on the picket line facing union bust thuggery wouldn't be benefited by taxes being lowered, blah blah blah. I don't have the transcript and couldn't find a clip. Point being, she laid into him, perfectly describing the current 99% movement back in a day when taxes for the upper bracked compared to the current rate would be unthinkable.<br /><br />Comedy's greatest strength is relating the common person's plight to the masses through satire and humor. If people can see things through a lens of humor and laughter, they'll pay more attention than reading a Salon article, or whatever blah attempt exists these days at actual independent journalism.<br /><br />I think television comedy has become a parody of itself as of late, but without them knowing it. Everyone involved in the t.v. process is unthinkably wealthy compared to the average family. Even the writers, once through their pilot season are paid so well they start to forget their "starving artist" beginnings. People write about their experiences, they act what the feel day to day, they publish and push for things they feel are relevant, which can only be seen through their own eyes and personal experience.<br /><br />Once someone loses touch with "the people" their day to day reflects that and in the case of tv writers, they'll start focusing on things like the hilarious car wreck, or jerk cutting in line at the coffee shop. Not about struggling to find a job or to put food on the table - what the rest of us feel.<br /><br />An argument could be made also that people are so depressed/conditioned/used to their lives, t.v. is an ultimate form of escapism and they'd rather watch the hijinks of the upper 1% than have to think about relating to their situation. Free market applying to t.v. ratings. <br /><br />However, with the right premise and writing, entertaining satire/reflection of our current landscape should be achievable. It's just easier not to.alexnoreply@blogger.com