The American working class last engaged in militant strikes in the Great Depression. First, the post-war economic boom absorbed unions into the Democratic Party, then deindustrialization demoralized and confused workers. The Communist Party led many of the union drives of the '30s, but McCarthyism crushed it in the early '50s. An upsurge of Marxism-Leninism from the Black Liberation and student anti-war movements of the '60s became demoralized by the fall of the Soviet Union and China's turn inward and focus on production. American workers are politically divided by politicians and media, fragmented into small service industries and gig economy, and influenced by individualistic American ideology. They react now to the rapid fall in standard of living and endless wars. A single spark could light the prairie fire, then a long process of organizing, fighting, failing, learning, developing leadership,
Americans are somewhat insulated from their bad decisions because there is so much excess in this country. They haven’t hit rock bottom yet, but it might still come. Great article.
Once again Neil hits the ball on the nose. The worst part is that we blame ourselves when we don't succeed because we aren't completely organized. And the system keeps grinding out fairy tales about individuals who overcome it all through hard work blah blah blah.
Pulled in too many directions, struggle to live/survive, exhaustion, distracting “entertainment”…and the ongoing circus of events that have no end in sight.
I told a friend last year that unfortunately it will likely take millions dying here due to a myriad of possibilities, over several years and individuals finally becoming personally affected to wake up the worshippers. Nobody wants to look like a fool and feel the shame of what got us here when waking up. That hard wiring is an instinctual response to protect oneself from that an existential crisis. Change is hard.
Believe me…many here are working hard in these streets for better for our communities and to try to make them safer. Certainly exhausting…can’t afford to feel defeated, there’s too much work to be done
We do need structure to throw off the chains as they say. I've been studying the Abolitionist Movement which is probably the first and only true resistance movement in our nation's history, although not centered on overturning monopoly capitalism as might be the challenge today. But it had early structure, being a movement led and driven almost entirely by Evangelical Christians and which led to a new political party, a new Republic, a new Constitution, and of course a civil war. I just don't see how a structure would form around today's grievances unless a new party is formed with the substantial innovation, moral, and spiritual basis required to build out and drive the movement.
Yes the Anglo Saxons have resisted revolt ( except the noble class in past centuring). But they do seem to love subservience. They love be able to look up to Royalty and the Wealthy class. They also love war. These Anglo-Saxons make up the driving force in USA politics and people.
Great analysis. Pamela H's comments summarize the causality well. I think that as the bourgeoisie is gradually withered by parasitism, its misery will get to the point where the perceived boundaries between them and the workers will be reduced, potentiating solidarity. The system is already reacting to this tendency defensively, pitting the government against the governed, the MAGATS against the liberals, the white against the brown, the Christian against the Muslim, the gay against the straight, etc... Maybe a sea change in our governance will ameliorate aspects of the problem within constitutional processes, but I doubt it, for reasons that your article makes clear. I'll demonstrate and vote (yet again) before I "go to the mattresses".
Great post. I keep thinking about this part: "A movement needs structure. It needs trust, leadership, discipline, and places where private pain can be translated into public understanding." Those four elements can be translated into different skillsets, and are so difficult to attain for so many, especially those in the lower/working classes. And too often we see criticism of various movements that read something like "they really need to get organized" but without many solutions about *how* to get organized.
Continuing to read so I can keep thinking about the "okay, but how" of it all. Your insights into the overarching structural issues are valuable and appreciated.
“The decisive shift will… come when enough of us stop interpreting… suffering as a personal failure…[,] begin to recognize it as a shared structural condition [and organize ourselves to care for each other independent of the failing system.]”
We're too exhausted and beaten down to revolt….plus…I'm pretty sure I am very sick…who can revolt when they are too sick to get out of bed….and stalking harassment and crime have left me so depressed and exhausted….
Everything is for the wealthy AND the government employees of all types who have lives of luzory compared to $7,25 an hour Iowa and Mississippi and South Carolina minimum wage workers..
Or no minimum wage at all for “independent contractors” delivering food and other similar jobs….left out of sick or vacation or holidays…
This makes perfect sense if you focus on post-WWII America but the country has been caught in this form of miasma for hundreds of years supported primarily by a sense of exceptionalism that flows through American veins like hormones. How many experiments have shown that no matter how crappy your job is, if you make $1 more than your neighbour, you figure everything is OK. That's America.
The American working class last engaged in militant strikes in the Great Depression. First, the post-war economic boom absorbed unions into the Democratic Party, then deindustrialization demoralized and confused workers. The Communist Party led many of the union drives of the '30s, but McCarthyism crushed it in the early '50s. An upsurge of Marxism-Leninism from the Black Liberation and student anti-war movements of the '60s became demoralized by the fall of the Soviet Union and China's turn inward and focus on production. American workers are politically divided by politicians and media, fragmented into small service industries and gig economy, and influenced by individualistic American ideology. They react now to the rapid fall in standard of living and endless wars. A single spark could light the prairie fire, then a long process of organizing, fighting, failing, learning, developing leadership,
and resurging must take place.
I hope you are right about prairie fire !!
I see more and more people talking about whatever we are talking about there, good sign
thank you Bruce , this gives me a lot to think.
Americans are somewhat insulated from their bad decisions because there is so much excess in this country. They haven’t hit rock bottom yet, but it might still come. Great article.
Thank you Pamela, thanks for the support
Once again Neil hits the ball on the nose. The worst part is that we blame ourselves when we don't succeed because we aren't completely organized. And the system keeps grinding out fairy tales about individuals who overcome it all through hard work blah blah blah.
As someone who identifies as a communist, I appreciate your work so much. Thank you for trying to be a light in the darkness.
Thank you Tracey!
This is exactly "it". This is an excellent piece. It explains everything so clearly.
Pulled in too many directions, struggle to live/survive, exhaustion, distracting “entertainment”…and the ongoing circus of events that have no end in sight.
I told a friend last year that unfortunately it will likely take millions dying here due to a myriad of possibilities, over several years and individuals finally becoming personally affected to wake up the worshippers. Nobody wants to look like a fool and feel the shame of what got us here when waking up. That hard wiring is an instinctual response to protect oneself from that an existential crisis. Change is hard.
Believe me…many here are working hard in these streets for better for our communities and to try to make them safer. Certainly exhausting…can’t afford to feel defeated, there’s too much work to be done
We do need structure to throw off the chains as they say. I've been studying the Abolitionist Movement which is probably the first and only true resistance movement in our nation's history, although not centered on overturning monopoly capitalism as might be the challenge today. But it had early structure, being a movement led and driven almost entirely by Evangelical Christians and which led to a new political party, a new Republic, a new Constitution, and of course a civil war. I just don't see how a structure would form around today's grievances unless a new party is formed with the substantial innovation, moral, and spiritual basis required to build out and drive the movement.
Yes the Anglo Saxons have resisted revolt ( except the noble class in past centuring). But they do seem to love subservience. They love be able to look up to Royalty and the Wealthy class. They also love war. These Anglo-Saxons make up the driving force in USA politics and people.
Great analysis. Pamela H's comments summarize the causality well. I think that as the bourgeoisie is gradually withered by parasitism, its misery will get to the point where the perceived boundaries between them and the workers will be reduced, potentiating solidarity. The system is already reacting to this tendency defensively, pitting the government against the governed, the MAGATS against the liberals, the white against the brown, the Christian against the Muslim, the gay against the straight, etc... Maybe a sea change in our governance will ameliorate aspects of the problem within constitutional processes, but I doubt it, for reasons that your article makes clear. I'll demonstrate and vote (yet again) before I "go to the mattresses".
Great post. I keep thinking about this part: "A movement needs structure. It needs trust, leadership, discipline, and places where private pain can be translated into public understanding." Those four elements can be translated into different skillsets, and are so difficult to attain for so many, especially those in the lower/working classes. And too often we see criticism of various movements that read something like "they really need to get organized" but without many solutions about *how* to get organized.
Continuing to read so I can keep thinking about the "okay, but how" of it all. Your insights into the overarching structural issues are valuable and appreciated.
we can always look into histories for answers, let me think about this. thanks
Wow, Neil! Another amazing and eye opening article. This answers so many questions.
Once again, we've been showed that "the system is working exactly like it's supposed to".
Thank you Terri!
Excellent article, nd very well written!
“The decisive shift will… come when enough of us stop interpreting… suffering as a personal failure…[,] begin to recognize it as a shared structural condition [and organize ourselves to care for each other independent of the failing system.]”
We're too exhausted and beaten down to revolt….plus…I'm pretty sure I am very sick…who can revolt when they are too sick to get out of bed….and stalking harassment and crime have left me so depressed and exhausted….
Everything is for the wealthy AND the government employees of all types who have lives of luzory compared to $7,25 an hour Iowa and Mississippi and South Carolina minimum wage workers..
Or no minimum wage at all for “independent contractors” delivering food and other similar jobs….left out of sick or vacation or holidays…
hug*
This makes perfect sense if you focus on post-WWII America but the country has been caught in this form of miasma for hundreds of years supported primarily by a sense of exceptionalism that flows through American veins like hormones. How many experiments have shown that no matter how crappy your job is, if you make $1 more than your neighbour, you figure everything is OK. That's America.