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“The Entire System Is A Massive Scam”: 69 Depressing But Relatable Posts About Working In Today’s Economy
Growing up, most kids are extremely optimistic about the future. We’re told that we can do anything we set our minds to, and we’re expected to have a dream job from the age of 5. But the reality that’s waiting for us after graduating from college is much more bleak, especially in this day and age.
Below, you’ll find a list of posts from r/RemoteWorks that are brutally honest about the capitalist hellscape we’re currently living in. People are waking up to how dystopian our world has become, and they’re tired of being told to just accept it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the most uplifting article, pandas. But we hope it inspires you to start questioning the systems that you don’t agree with!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
We Could Learn From Denmark. Denmark Understands How To Be Happy
Spencers slave no more 1 day ago
I can't reply to manos but his "facts" are complete BS according to the Danish Government's welfare statistics.
RELATED:
#2
Did You? "Well
#3
What's Jeff Bezos's Secret?
It’s not exactly easy to accept that you’re living in a dystopia. It’s more fun to pretend that everything is going to be just fine. And some optimism is necessary if you want to maintain your sanity. But nowadays, more and more people are unable to pretend that everything is okay. The economy is in shambles, the job market is horrific, and it’s starting to feel like another world war will start any day now…
But according to your boss, your job is extremely important, and it better be your top priority in life! No, you can’t have a raise. You’re supposed to give every day 110% just because you care. We’re currently in late-stage capitalism, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to get better any time soon.
#4
The Old Myth That Socialists Just "Want Something For Free" Is A Lie Perpetuated By The Billionaire Class
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
Also I believe many, many people aren't meant to have a "normal" job. Many people are meant to create art, do charity, take care of their family or just live to be kind to others. But no, we're all forced to have a nine-to-five otherwise our life is meaningless.
#5
Billionaires Have Convinced Americans They Have The "Best Healthcare In The World"
#6
Working Class And The Billionaire Class Both Have Worries
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 day ago
Tax the poor even more! Leave the rich alone because they have earned all their money. I've just sarcasmed and now I ache.
According to Trevor Jackson, a history professor and author of The Insatiable Machine: How Capitalism Conquered the World, the stage of capitalism we’re currently in “is characterized by a sense that something has been and continues to be profoundly broken.”
He explains that in the past, we hoped to see a much better future by now. Many people expected a utopia with flying cars. So the fact that the current time is so bleak makes many of us wish for a time that never actually existed. We feel cheated and disappointed with how things currently are, and it’s difficult to feel hopeful about the future.
#7
Amazingly Based
#8
News Flash! Billionaire Owned Newspaper Comes Out Against Taxing Billionaires
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 1 day ago
Pretty much all social ills could be solved or at least minimised if we taxed the rich appropriately.
#9
Thanks God I Can Just Stay Home
Despite how bleak the world may feel at the moment, though, Jackson still wants people to imagine a better future. He notes that it’s likely too late for those of us who are currently here to see a better world. But massive, sweeping social changes might come someday, and perhaps your grandchildren will get to experience the benefits of that. It’s impossible to predict the future, but we do know that the change from feudalism to capitalism took an extremely long time. So we can’t expect any massive shifts overnight.
#12
A Lesson In "Financial Literacy"
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
Workers living paycheck to paycheck isn't a bug, it's a feature. It keeps the workers in line so they're easier to a***e.
If you have a 9-6 job, you know just how soul-sucking the current work environment can be. But there’s something even worse nowadays: the 996 job. This is when employees work from 9am to 9pm for 6 days a week. And although the practice first originated in China, it’s recently been popping up in Western countries as well. In fact, some in Silicon Valley say it’s the new norm in the tech world.
#13
Wealth Envy Is A Sad Sickness
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
Billionaires strive for unlimited growth in a limited system. In other words - cancer.
#14
They Want Us To Work Until We Are Gone
#15
This Is Why Remote Work Feels So Fragile
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
Capitalism is built in a way that the rich can't lose any money EVER. It's always the workers who are asked to do without. See how the workers who worked remote during covid were forced to go back to offices even though it wasn't necessary, because it would devalue the office buildings which is unacceptable.
The idea of working 72 hours a week sounds like most people’s personal hell. But the unfortunate reality is that, in this day and age, a regular 40-hour workweek might not earn you enough to pay the bills. PBS News reports that millions of Americans working full-time jobs still can’t afford a place to live or a fridge full of groceries.
Because of this, millions of Americans are on the brink of becoming homeless at any moment. If their boss doesn’t schedule them enough hours, or they unexpectedly lose their job, they could lose their home in a matter of weeks.
#16
We Can Save Social Security
#17
Governments Can Help Their People; It's A Matter Of Priorities
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
"But they didn't EARN it!!!" Please kindly keep in mind that I don't give a f@ck.
#18
*chef's Kiss*
This capitalist dystopia isn’t only destroying our spirits, though. It’s also wreaking havoc on the planet. The Guardian reports that because nobody wants to talk about their environmental impact or address climate change, we’re slowly but surely destroying the Earth.
But of course, it’s not really the average person’s fault. The billionaires and massive corporations are doing the most damage. The world’s richest 1% produce an average of over 70 tons of carbon dioxide per person per year, which is more than 30 times what one person should produce if we want to stop warming the planet.
#19
Occasionally A Worker Wins. Congratulations, Linda!
Riley Quinn 18 hours ago
Atkins was fired for consuming company products before paying – an infraction the company calls “grazing.” Dollar General refused Atkins to keep her own orange juice at the register due to the policy of no food or drink allowed. They company "neglected" to inform her that allowances could be made for medical reasons. The court awarded her $27,565 in back pay and $250,000 in compensatory damages. --CNN report
#20
In Every Crisis, The Working Class Pays The Price. Why Are We Always The Ones Making A Sacrifice?
#21
The Problem Billionaires Want AI To Solve
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
With the current speed of mechanization and automatization of work, there are only two options now: either we start talking about the universal basic income, or the society will collapse. I see no other outcomes.
Even supposedly “green” initiatives supported by the ultra-wealthy don’t always help the planet as much as they should. For example, Bill Gates advocated for the switch to biofuels. But this has actually been a massive cause of habitat destruction, as forests have been obliterated to produce wooden pellets and liquid fuels. At the same time, soils have been ruined to produce biomethane. Even when something seems like it's a positive change, it might be harming our planet in another way. It’s hard not to feel like we’re doomed.
#22
Everyone Deserves To Be Happy
#23
I Can’t Stop Laughing
Nikki Sevven 1 day ago
Why else would someone apply for a job? Obviously, people are applying for the money. That's what jobs are for, ffs. I'm selling you my labor. Of course I expect to be paid what I'm worth.
#24
Learning About Wage Theft
We sincerely hope that you’re not feeling depressed about the state of the world after seeing these posts, pandas. But if you are, you’re certainly not alone. Keep upvoting the pics that make you want to eat the rich, and let us know in the comments below what dystopian experiences you’ve had recently. Then, if you’re interested in checking out another article from Bored Panda featuring similar posts, we recommend reading this one next!
#25
True
Rowley Birkin, QC 21 hours ago
My godson is 30 and lives with his mum. Not ideal, so I looked at setting him up in his own place. He works hard doing the best job he's able to and brings home ~£1,800 a month. Found a little flat - and when I say little, it's bigger than my kitchen but not twice the size of my kitchen. Rent's £1,050 a month, council tax is £150. Maybe £250 for utilities, phone, internet etc, £150 for travel to work. By the time he's bought washing powder, soap, and had a haircut he'd have maybe £25 a week - which no one can survive on. I have no idea how people manage to get by these days, how the find the strength to get out of bed and go to work, but something has to change.
#26
Mark Cuban Agrees Universal Healthcare Would Increase Jobs, Wages And Improve Affordability For All Americans
Barbara Liles 1 day ago
Mark does seem to be one of the few billionaires who’s remained a decent person and didn’t sell his soul. We will treat him with mercy when the revolution comes.
#27
Imma Just Leave This Right Here…
michael Chock 21 hours ago
We have a loneliness epidemic because people have no time or resources to socialize. This is what makes us slaves. People are happy to live the worst part of life if they would also get the best part of life. Unfortunately the best parts of life are reserved for the privileged.
#28
The Ruling Class Should Be Afraid
TotallyNOTAFox 18 hours ago
Not letting people own anything is a stupid idea, historically it were those who owned land that were the most interested in defending the country from foes and instability
#29
70 Years Later, Same Problem
#30
Okay, Boomers
otiose 1 day ago
And the generation before boomers got there before the boomers. The generation before that was the ones that started paying into social security, some paying seemingly nothing compared to what they pulled out. It's like blaming immigrants for collecting benefits they've paid into or dismantling the safety net for those in need because they should earn their own. Just wait, future gens will blame yours, too. Stop the in fighting and hold politicians accountable. They need a REAL code of ethics (one that doesn't rely on them for enforcement).
#31
This Is Bank Robbery. Banking Fees Need To Be Regulated And Capped
otiose 1 day ago
Some banks are still paying 0.1% interest on savings (while others are paying 4 or 5%). I can't believe people have savings accounts at Chase or Bank of america. Some banks charge monthly banking fees! Interest rates on credit cards haven't really come down at all in the last 20 years (I won't run a balance).
#33
The Epstein/Billionaire Class Deliberately Keeps Workers On The Brink Of Bankruptcy To Maintain Control
#34
Drowning Slowly
#35
Good Story
michael Chock 21 hours ago
It's true. I am autistic and can never pass those 200 question personality tests. People want to work, companies just don't want to hire.
#37
They Already Sold Off What Made Us Great, And All It Got Us Was Richer Rich People
Jeremy James 1 day ago (edited)
And then they told voters they could bring the manufacturing back with their amazing tariff plan that definitely won't choke small businesses and farms so they can be bought up for cheap.
#38
Ubi Will Not Work As Long As There Are Billionaires
michael Chock 15 hours ago
It's how they fixed inflation. Instead of capping what businesses can charge, the limited the amount the poor could spend.
#39
We Can't Afford Billionaires ; We Need To Trim Them From Our Budget
#40
Recruiters...genuine Question: Why Do Some Of You Do This?
#41
Instead Of Raising Wages, Companies Pay More To ‘Analyze’ Why Workers Are Unhappy
Luke || Kira (he/she) 1 day ago
And then they buy a freakin' ping-pong table and three cheap pizzas
#42
It's Amazing What They Have Convinced Us Normal And Acceptable
Geoffrey Scott 1 day ago
One big thing missing is an organized labor voice. Every hour you work over 40 MUST be compensated at 1-1/2 times your base rate. Working to 65 IS normal, used to be you worked until d***h, no Soc Sec. Every time you get a paid holiday, or overtime for working one, you have labor to thank for ALL of this..
#43
The AI Debate Is A Symptom Of The Class Divide
#44
Why Is The Audition Harder Than The Job
michael Chock 21 hours ago
Getting a job requires Connections, Timing, Personality, Education and Experience, in that order.
#45
We Don't Have "Free Speech" If It's Controlled By Corporate Media
#46
Makes No Sense Man
michael Chock 21 hours ago (edited)
I got turned down for a tech sales job when meeting the CEO after all rounds of interviews. Apparently wearing a tie exceeds the companies standard of business casual.
#47
People Complain About Taxes, But Their Bosses Take More
michael Chock 21 hours ago
Productivity and median cost of living have tripled since 1950s, median wages have remained steady. We have to pay more and produce more for the same compensation.
#48
The Sad Reality Of Working In An Office
#49
It Happened
Khavrinen 1 day ago
Management: "Sorry, we have no money to give you a raise this year." Employee: "I just accepted an offer from a competitor for 25% more than my current salary." Management: "No, don't go, we can match that offer." Employee: "Really? You said you couldn't afford to give me a raise, so where did that money come from?" Management: "Umm........"
#50
The Delusion LOL
#51
Dude Stole A Job This Decade
#53
Work/ Homelike Balance
michael Chock 21 hours ago
If we lived in a hunter gatherer society, every day would be a struggle. We don't. Productivity of modern society mainly benefits our "Lord's and Ladies"
#54
Then vs. Now
Daisydaisy 1 day ago
We could either blame late-stage capitalism and right wing politics, OR we could blame everyone over 65. Many of whom worked in low-paid jobs and were politically progressive, supporting unions, gay rights, feminism, indigenous rights, the environment etc etc ...
#55
If Workers Were In Charge, Automation Could Be A Good Thing
#56
Pay Workers More, Not Burgers
Michael P. 1 day ago
Yes, pay fast food workers more. On a positive note, the McDonald's CEO who seem hesitant to eat his own product led to CEO's from other fast food chains happily enjoying their product and bragging about who has the best burger. Best one out of them is the A&W Canada, given that the Canadian A&W is far more superior than it's American counterpart.
#57
College Scammed Them
#58
Breaking: Your Wages Are Worth Less Than Ever
Nikki Sevven 1 day ago
House cost to wage ratio in the Great Depression was 4:1. Today, it's 8:1. This is the Greater Depression.
#59
Being In The Office 5 Days A Week Is Outdated. Hybrid Positions Are The Best
#60
Word
michael Chock 21 hours ago
Not the right way to look at it. Focusing your entire life at doing one thing well is the only way to be successful. Take it from a failing "jack of all trades".
#61
No Loyalty From Employers Ever
#62
What A Difference 50 Years Has Made And Not For The Better
#63
Why You Need A Union Contract At Your Job, No Matter Your Job:
Upstaged75 1 day ago
That's total BS. Which is what happens when you elect Republicans to represent you!
#64
Freedom?
Roman Arendt 1 day ago
Greenland has some severe societal problems, but none of them would be solved by American style "freedom". On the contrary...
#65
You Have To See This
David Morgan 22 hours ago
This is at least technically true, and god-awful for companies. Setting aside the ethics of treating employees that way, it means you have no corporate 'memory' - no consistent pool of employees with knowledge of how the business works and how to do their jobs in the best way, only newcomers learning the ropes. The company is constantly retraining the same basic-level skills and paying for the privelege.
#66
Is That Too Exaggerated?
#67
Who Has An Extra 20% To Invest? Another Out Of Touch Multi-Millionaire Has Financial Advice For Us Poor Folk
#68
Yep
The Short Lady 22 hours ago
Nope. The corporate masters bought building or invested in long term leases.
#69
$2.5m vs. $100k Salary
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What do you think ?
Michael Grant 19 hours ago
The problem is not billionaires. It is American billionaires (why do yo think the emigrate here). Denmark has one of the world's richest men (the Lego guy) and they don't have a problem with him. American business is based on 1) winning the lottery ('discovering' an untouched unclaimed continent) 2) s***e labour, exploitation, genocide. They don't know how to do business otherwise. A German billionaire was asked why he is OK with paying high taxes. "I don't want to be a rich man in a poor country" was his answer.
Michael Grant 19 hours ago
The problem is not billionaires. It is American billionaires (why do yo think the emigrate here). Denmark has one of the world's richest men (the Lego guy) and they don't have a problem with him. American business is based on 1) winning the lottery ('discovering' an untouched unclaimed continent) 2) s***e labour, exploitation, genocide. They don't know how to do business otherwise. A German billionaire was asked why he is OK with paying high taxes. "I don't want to be a rich man in a poor country" was his answer.
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