http://projectquestion.org/?page_id=61

http://projectquestion.org/?page_id=74

http://projectquestion.org/?page_id=88

Intro Narration:

Now, anyone familiar with failed attempts at socialism knows that classism does not go away just because you eliminate private ownership of productive property. Sure, it may no longer be a Capitalist apple pie. But what about the crust and the filling? What about the 20 percent of workers who run the show for those at the top – those who get paid more for doing work that is more empowering and/or more desirable? We’re not saying that these are bad or evil people. We’re just identifying class structure. If we intend to have a classless society, we must first identify what makes up class.

Of course a lot of people associate class with money and power. But often class can be just as much a matter of who does what.

Luckily, “Who does what?” is our next basic food group question.

And the answer is our next main ingredient, an economic institution we call a Balanced Job Complex.  In simple terms, it’s just you and I doing a fair mix of tasks at work, where some aren’t just doing the more desirable stuff while the rest are left to do all the shit work. In a Balanced Job Complex, the diversity in our jobs balances out. So there’s not this huge gap in the quality of our work lives.

Verse One:

If the thought of Monday got your face turned red / and the end of every break got you shaking your head / whether it’s aching shoulders – bad back – swollen feet / shivering from the cold or soaked from the heat / if you collapse from exhaustion or can’t stand up straight / still getting up early and going home late / all the while – those at the top wearing a smile / talking that 110 percent shit – going that extra mile / before you lose your mind – go on a killing spree / just know, cousin, this ain’t the way it’s gotta be / imagine a workplace where we all / share equitably the burden and the shots being called / Narration: yo man that’s bullshit – don’t even front – that shit don’t exist / maybe not right now, but in the vision we kicking / they call it – balanced job complex – Narration: yo man that sounds complex / nah, it’s all in how you look at the text / think of it like a fair share workload, kid / you do your fair share of nice – and your fair share of the bullshit / Narration: yeah but don’t nobody like doing that / precisely why it should be shared and not just for the rats / in the race we gotta face the kind of future we want / one with diversity and equity in the tasks we got / where the workers all sit down and rank each task / figure each workers share by doing the math / and if we simply can’t get the mix that close / well, those who got it worst get paid the most / the whole point’s to balance out the good and the bad / and give us equity so ain’t nobody going home mad

CHORUS:

a balanced job complex / is a balanced mix of tasks / no corporate division of labor / no reproducing class / a balanced job complex / is a balanced mix of tasks / where the quality of our work lives / ain’t no unfair bullshit

Verse Two:

Narration: yeah but everyone can’t be a brain surgeon / but that don’t mean the rest gotta be miserable working / and check it – doctors ain’t too good to empty bed pans / and lawyers ain’t too good to dirty they hands / and wage workers ain’t too low to use they minds / all we need is proper training and a chance to shine / now that don’t mean that you gotta give up your specialty / it just means that we got proper diversity / you won’t do just one thing, but a fair mix of tasks / if we all work a balance – ain’t no need for class / where a few spend they 8 calling the shots / while the rest of us spend our 8 rotting

another day another dollar – what a sad cliche / to know the value of a dollar but the not the value of a day / and it’s ironic, ’cause ain’t no mystery what you’d choose / if your ass had to pick the kind of work you do / the empowering, interesting, challenging, diverse / fun and rewarding – or would you rather work / the boring, the mindless, repetitive, stressful / uncomfortable, unhealthy, exhausting – in a cestpool / would you rather be in the boardrooms or the coalmines / do your business on the golf course or assembly line / end your day popping champagne tops / or sleep under your sewing machine in a sweatshop / ask yourself: why’s it gotta be one way / where some act the master and some the wage slave / from hard hats to loafers, go-getters to go-fors / in a PARECON, this nonsense is over

CHORUS:

a balanced job complex / is a balanced mix of tasks / no corporate division of labor / no reproducing class / a balanced job complex / is a balanced mix of tasks / where the quality of our work lives / ain’t no unfair bullshit

Verse Three:

Why should some have it easy while others bust they ass / the only justification’s a justification of class / but it ain’t just about how hard it is on your spine / but diversity in how you utilize your mind / what you think that it does to your mind when you / spend 40 straight a week screwing in one screw / you know some jobs develop our brains and skills / while most just deaden us and drain our will / ’cause power ain’t just money, it’s about info / that’s why so many jobs is need to know / it’s about the big picture and how it adds to your flow / and if they bogart that shit, well then they run the show / but when a job nurtures learning and tasks more diverse / they can’t rule your shit ’cause you know how shit works / transparency so everybody know the score / nobody holding all the cards, hollering they worth more / nobody thinking they stars, but rather wanting what’s fair / and solidarity, ’cause everybody doing they share

CHORUS:

a balanced job complex / is a balanced mix of tasks / no corporate division of labor / no reproducing class / a balanced job complex / is a balanced mix of tasks / where the quality of our work lives / ain’t no unfair bullshit

(repeat)