Suchergebnisse

Abstract Bruce Springsteen grew up in Freehold New Jersey. Supported by his working-class family he found his way to major success as a rock musician at a young age. This piece touches on Springsteen and his interaction with politicians, his infamous and misunderstood song "Born in the USA." Charity involvement including Boys and Girls Club of America and Hurricane Sandy relief efforts are emphasized as Springsteen reconnects to his roots at the Jersey Shore. Factories such as Farmland Dairies, Ocean Spray, and Mercedes Benz headquarters have been shut down and outsourced work due to high New Jersey taxes. "Trenton Makes the World Takes" was once a sign that gave working class people hope for a better life. As they worked on opposite sides of the bridge, supplying the world with handcrafted goods while they provided a living for themselves and their families. Statistics show now that many people in the state of New Jersey live dangerously close to the poverty level. Although not close enough to receive any benefits.

Research by labor historians on the acquisition of power by the working class tends to focus on labor relations (acquisition of power in businesses) or on political relations (power through elections, with the government, and so on). This approach overlooks the third source of labor's power, which is based on patterns of consumption resulting from the collective use of purchasing power. This essay examines this source of power. Because the topic is a virtualterra incognita, I will merely discuss a few observations and some very provisional hypotheses that are not always well substantiated.