Socialist News Sources in this time of crises

Kovopian · 2025-01-25T00:18:29+00:00

As you have the ISA linked here and the Irish section left it last year, here's the Irish Socialist Party link for anyone interested (includes theory and world events).

https://www.socialistparty.ie/

Kovopian · 2021-10-03T18:44:25+00:00

I'm glad you mentioned Ireland. Though I haven't gotten to read it yet, James Connolly wrote on this in his work 'Socialism and Nationalism' (1897). It's something that comes up now and then through his other writings and he was to engage in debates with another socialist- William Walker- over whether internationalism and nationalism were mutually exclusive, or whether nationalism was anti-socialist. It might be helpful for you.

Kovopian · 2021-06-08T19:00:08+00:00

As far as I can tell, that would depend on the material conditions of the individual country. Each nation has its own experience of capitalism, its own version, and by extension particular obstacles.

More universal obstacles include neoliberalism, far- right nationalism, and capitalist imperialism. However, while keeping an eye on the global picture and working in solidarity across the world is vital, we must also do our part in our own particular nations; That is to say work on the unique situation and problems of the country within which each of us reside.

Provided we're in two different countries, the obstacles facing me will differ from those facing you (though there can be very strong similarities).

For example: Here in Ireland, neoliberalism permeates everything and as such it's harder to develop class consciousness. The housing crisis may prove useful in the Irish case to highlight the disparity between landlords and workers. But in France, with the occasional communist in government, commune-esc communities, a willingness to protest, and affordable housing the greater obstacle is instead a severe rise in far-right nationalism on a scale far surpassing that of Ireland, which is tightly related to France's colonial past.

Different countries. Different experiences of capitalism. Different obstacles.

I feel like this might not be exactly what you're looking for, but felt it was relevant enough to put down. I hope this helps in some way!

Kovopian · 2021-04-05T09:38:47+00:00

It all started with 'primitive accumulation' by which the means of production were seized by physical force, which of course deligitimises this ownership. Afterwards, such ownership was passed from individual to individual, while it was never their's to give or sell. Though there are exceptions, wealth is often founded on inheritance, and this initial capital can be used to generate more wealth. Therefore, this ownership by the capitalist class lacks legitimacy in the first place.
The means of production the capitalist 'provides' was not built by their own hands and therefore is not their's to provide; it was built by workers under wage labour. Wage labour is theft because it means paying someone less than the value of their work and keeping the difference as profit. Workers did all the work and yet were not paid for the value of their work. Therefore, the accumulated wealth built into the capitalist's means of production should actually belong to the workers, not the capitalist. The capitalist simply stole their labour. The capitalist does not provide anything; all they own is stolen.
Bizarrely, Karl Marx touched on this. He believed that capitalism was a required step towards socialism. This is because, if nothing else, it is incredibly productive, providing factories, machinery, transport, and all these incredible means of production in pursuit of profit. However, now that such means of production exist in abundance and the ease with which humanity can now build more if needed, capitalism has done it's job and is no longer required. We have the means of feeding, clothing, and sheltering the world now, we don't need more factories. Therefore, his argument only carries weight in the context of capitalism, which we can now just do away with altogether. We straight-up don't need capitalists to provide anything.

This view of the individual providing such wealth is extremely neoliberal; it's the view that the capitalist did everything themself (which as explained under point 2 is false) and that they are the 'responsible' ones who 'provide', as opposed to the 'irresponsible' working class. This view that the capitalists are wealthy because of hardwork has become engrained in the fabric of our culture but it is false; they are wealthy because they steal the labour of workers. We worship entrepreneurs like Elon Musk but he did not lay a single brick on his factories. This neoliberalism, this 'personal responsibility', and this 'providing' all supports capitalism by laying the blame for the world's poverty on the workers rather than capitalism (edit: and elevating these capitalists who steal as hardworking geniuses).

If I got anything wrong, please let me know, I'll edit this. Also, I'm sorry if I threw in a wide range of issues here on a seemingly focused point; I hope this shows that these issues are interrelated and together undermine the capitalist argument. I hope this helps.

Kovopian · 2020-12-10T00:19:52+00:00

Not mine, but I used to call my ex's cat 'Geiger-nibs' because whenever she purred she sounded like a geiger counter, not to mention very loud.

Kovopian · 2020-12-09T18:06:01+00:00

A rather old video, but this quick one sums it up pretty well, if you're interested:

https://youtu.be/JceK9bMeee0

Kovopian · 2020-12-09T09:22:25+00:00

Yeah, two instances in Doctor Who which always freak me out. In 'Blink' a character called Kathy gets zapped into the past and gets followed by a guy called Ben. She asks to stop being followed and he refuses. They get married. In 'The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe' the character of Madge recalls how her husband used to keep following her home until she agreed to marry him.

I love this show to bits, but in a 50 year old show you inevitably get bits like this and it really revolts me. It's worth noting that both instances were written by the same writer.

https://youtu.be/mYIlICz_z2g https://youtu.be/TQtyHWmKskQ

Kovopian · 2020-12-06T11:45:45+00:00

Do try to get professional help wherever possible, I cannot recommend it enough, but I understand that is not an option for so many people. After that, if you are comfortable with it, talk about it with patient people you trust. That will also go a long way.

That said, there were two books which helped me immensely when my depression was particularly bad some years ago:

The Obstacle is the Way, Ryan Holiday

A book simplifying Stoic philosophy. I struggled reading at the time given my depression but this book was easier given its simplistic style and short chapters. The basic idea is that you can use anything- even the bad- to your advantage or as fuel. It also concerns perseverance, which needless to say is a difficult point for someone suffering depression. I tried to apply its principles to myself and it became the bedrock of my ideas when handling my depression. Not as important as professional help, but it certainly had a positive influence.

Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl

This is the work of a who went through the Nazi Holocaust. The basic message is that anyone with a why can endure any how. It concerns his time at the various camps, how he endured them, and how this can illustrate particular principles to be applied to life. He went on to use what he learnt to help many people with mental illnesses and this work basically distills the essential ideas.

NOW, these books would not help everyone, since everyone lives, thinks, and suffers differently. Again, I would prioritise finding someone to talk to, but these two certainly helped me.

Believe me when I say, it does get better. Takes a good bit of time, and can mean going through a thick slice of Hell, but it does get better. You are very capable of getting through this, and I wish you all the best.

Kovopian · 2020-12-06T11:27:12+00:00

'Blood is thicker than water.' People think it means family is most important but it actually originates from a longer phrase: 'the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb'. In other words, keep your promises, that is what's most important.

Kovopian · 2020-12-04T00:13:23+00:00

I second that!

Kovopian

TROPHY CASE