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Quote by Paul Krassner

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Confessions of a Raving, Unconfined Nut: Misadventures in Counter-Culture

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Paul Krassner
Paul Krassner

Paul Krassner (born April 9, 1932) is an American author, journalist, and satirist. He was a founding editor of The Realist, a pioneering satirical magazine known for its political commentary and investigative journalism. Active in the 1960s counterculture movement, Krassner became known for his work on political conspiracies, the JFK assassination, and UFOs. His blend of humor and serious investigation has influenced generations of writers and journalists. more

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“The U.S. socioeconomic system, like the hustler, makes false promises, the principal one being that social mobility is available to all who work hard. By its very nature, a hierarchical system cannot possibly keep such a promise. The number of positions at successively higher levels decreases very quickly and is always less than the number of hardworking people who want the positions. This structure sets many ambitious workers on a collision course with the reality of limited opportunity. When they are finally hit with the tragic disappointment, they may become angry or resentful, and so the hierarchical system must engage in widespread cooling out. It does this not only to protect its agents who stand at the gate and do the dirty work of exclusion, but also to make sure that those who have been disappointed do not become opponents of the hierarchical system itself and enemies of its power elite. It is vital to the system that the losers serve the hierarchy respectfully, and not sabotage it, when they find themselves with jobs that have lower social status than the society of “unlimited opportunity” had led them to expect. Cooling out is therefore an integral part of the socioeconomic system. Those who say “That’s life” should understand that there is nothing natural about a system that kills the spirit of large numbers of people by first putting them in a position where they need opportunity, then promising them virtually unlimited opportunity and finally making them losers.”

AmericaEconomicsSystemScamsWasted LifeHustler
Book:Disciplined Minds: A Critical Look at Salaried Professionals and the Soul-Battering System That Shapes Their Lives
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