A personal and unorganized commentary on Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” and modern day Corporate America
I just finished reading Upton Sinclair’s book, The Jungle. One of the better books I have read this year, The Jungle is best known for inspiring creation of the 1906 Pure Food and Drug act. However, the true aim of Sinclair was to throw light on the failings of capitalism and to inspire a socialist revolution. And while reading the book and being appalled at the inhuman working and living conditions depicted, I couldn’t help see some similarities between 1900’s life in the meat packing warehouses and modern life in the stockades of corporate cubicles.
So I just had to write a post about this although it is a departure from my normal post content. I bought my 2002 Ford Explorer XLS around a year and a half ago. It was a great deal and I bought the car way below Blue Book value price. Everyone knows the Found On Road Dead moniker. But I still had some sort of lingering faith in the company and wanted to support my country by buying American. Well those lofty idealistic ideas are gone along with well over $3,000. In the past month I have replaced the entire rear end differentials and bearings, brakes including rotors, discs, and pads, tires, windshield, and am now looking at a complete transmission rebuild. On the way back from Vegas this past weekend I lose second gear completely and start losing first. All before 90k miles! So, let this be a warning: Don’t buy Ford! The positive outcome of this ordeal is that I found some really great auto repair shops who have been really helpful so I’ll list them here for anyone in San Diego with car trouble.