Workplace Massacre in Alabama: Did Endless Downsizing and Slashed Benefits Cause the Rampage

[marmar]

Workplace Massacre in Alabama: Did Endless Downsizing and Slashed Benefits Cause the Rampage?

By Mark Ames, AlterNet. Posted March 13, 2009.

If you keep squeezing workers to fatten filthy-rich executives' already-obscene bonuses, there can be very violent consequences.




The killing spree in Alabama fits a well-worn pattern of workplace-driven massacres that we've seen since the "going postal" phenomenon exploded in the middle of the Reagan revolution.

In spite of the fact that these killings have gone on unabated for over 20 years, most of the country doesn't want to know why they're happening -- least of all the people in power.

If we study the motive for Michael McLendon's shooting rampage Tuesday, which left 11 bodies across three towns in southern Alabama, and we look at the bizarre way that the causes of the shooting are being hushed up, you begin to understand why this uniquely-Reaganomics-inspired crime started in the United States, and continues to plague us.

But of all the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the murder spree, one of the oddest has to be the way Alabama authorities went from focusing hard on solving the shooter's motive to suddenly dropping the issue like a hot potato and running away from the scene of the crime, as if they didn't like what their investigation produced. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/workplace/131201/workplace_massacre_in_alabama%3A_did_endless_downsizing_and_slashed_benefits_cause_the_rampage/

[acmavm]

1. Another phenomenon that is tied into this is the men killing their

entire families lately, all because of their inability to 'take care' of them.

Some people are emotionally and mentally equipped to maintain their ability to understand that they have no right to take the lives of others no matter what hardship they face. BUT there are those who can't. People who just cannot take their family being hungry and homeless, broke and in need of medical/dental care, no where to turn.

But then there's what happened here in Omaha NE last night: an 18-year old and a 12-year old go into California Bar's liquor store to rob it. The 12-year old PISTOL WHIPPED THE OLD LADY who owns the place. Now what is the point of this? Who do we blame for that one?

[Bluenorthwest]

2. We blame the 12 year olds parents...

unless you are like many on DU, who would instead simply dock his teacher's pay.

[acmavm]

5. Whatever.

[doc03]

3. Oh no of course not it was the guns

:sarcasm: A guy locally cut his wife and sons throats then shot himself, outlaw butcher knives. He had financial problems because he was laid off and had medical bills but no it was the knife and gun that caused it.

[Rebubula]

4. In this case...

...NO.

This asshole was a failure in everything that he tried...except kill innocent people.

You can try to bring some semblance of reason as to why someone would do this type of crime...but sometimes there are no reasons. At least none that would make sense to sane, normal people.

Look at the history of crime...people have been committing mass murders like this since recorded history and in all types of financial times. Granted, it became easier with the advent of the cheap, available gun - but humans have been killing each other senselessly since we started walking upright.