A campaign against class discrimination

Campaigning against race discrimination, gender discrimination, sexuality discrimination, even age discrimination, is an accepted part of politics now, even if the progress made is limited. However, class discrimination is in a different category, somehow. We are aware of it, but it is accepted as a routine part of political conflict between Left and Right. A very unequal conflict, of course. This conflict is inevitable, but somehow the human consequences of class discrimination seem lost in this transcendental political struggle. It is like capitalism itself, seen as a natural phenomenon by most and, therefore, a routine part of life. We have, the assumption is, to achieve a fundamental change in society, before we can go much beyond ameliorating its worst effects.

Why should this be so ? Why shouldn't we campaign specifically against particular forms of class discrimination ? There are some people who seem condemned, in many cases, to low standards of living by their particular circumstances. People with disabilities of all kinds, for example. Not that they don't sometimes prosper, but the odds against them in a competitive society are frequently much greater than the norm. Can this be regarded as a form of class discrimination ? Are carers a class, or a category of the working class, and should their particular situation condemn them to economic degradation ? The low paid are an economic category and, in some circumstances, are thought to be deserving of a minimum wage, although not necessarily a living wage. They are the deserving poor, unlike the disabled and carers who, although thought to be 'wonderful' when hypocritically convenient, are somehow considered undeserving. Do we need to win a class war, the existence of which is not even noticed in passing by many people, before we can seriously confront issues of class inequality ? Perhaps by campaigning on particular class issues we can raise awareness of the general class nature of society, nationally and internationally. That may just facilitate its replacement by something better.