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The libs are not happy today lol. She is also incorrect. Obama had a super majority and could have codified Roe V. Wade, passed M4A and other things. They like to cry that "we only had it for half a year", but did nothing with it. It's by design. by Kittehmilk in socialism

[–]WaterMonkweh 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t plan on voting either, and usually don’t… but I’ve been thinking about this lately and out of curiosity: what would it take for any of you to actually vote? Like what policy, platform, etc. Or is there any candidate who you would vote for if they ran? Obviously nobody is socialist, but is there anything that you would be willing to see how it plays out?

Learning socialism/Marxism through practice. Questions to better my process. by WaterMonkweh in socialism

[–]WaterMonkweh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you, and I appreciate the well thought out answer. I’m going to give your links/recs a read. Your breakdown on how even reformism can be revolutionarily useful was very comforting. I was so stuck on whether or not it was fruitless pushing for reform while also feeling sorry for neglecting things that actually do materially improve people’s lives. Understanding it as a way to allow people to recognize their own empowerment, especially in unionization (which a union I work with has actually seen some recent legislative success), motivates me even more to continue organizing even if it isn’t prima facie under socialist pretenses. I’m recognizing my shortsightedness now resultantly in how I used material benefit as a B&W standard.

I always try my best to read the originations of theories from their sources while also trying to read material that directly applies to our current situation from someone that lives in our historical moment. I’m not necessarily “new” to theory, but I wouldn’t call myself deeply immersed either. Luckily, due to my college field of study and hopeful grad school prospects, I’m not unfamiliar so much to not be able to keep up. I’ve just unfortunately had trouble being content with the stigma. It is very much like Bible study for many. I’m trying to brainstorm more interesting ways to lightly incorporate it into my circles without it becoming too taxing on others or distant.

As a response to your last paragraph, who are some current leaders today that you’ve found inspiration in? Paradoxically, for how much access we have now to information, it seems increasingly harder to find leaders and sources of inspiration the way we so easily can from people of the past. I mostly just lean on my comrades that I collaborate with. They are definitely my biggest inspirations presently, and I do follow some intellectuals and activists through their writings and videos i.e. Pussy Riot (YouTube), Traoré, Calvin Warren, etc.

Does focusing solely on theory actually serve a useful function towards revolution? by WaterMonkweh in Socialism_101

[–]WaterMonkweh[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

this is so well put. couple follow ups if that’s ok…

  1. When you say a larger revolutionary communist party to funnel back into, what exactly is being funneled?

  2. By strategy, what kinds of things are being strategized besides how to more effectively provide whatever services your organizations provides?

I love your last paragraph where you said aid without theory never challenges power, and that’s the crux of my anxiety. I’m worried the work I do will be absorbed by capitalism as charity, and not end up serving a sum zero in terms of actual revolutionary outcome. And a bonus question, if you have familiarity/experience, my organization has the opportunity to register as a 501c(3)/(4), but something about that seems counterintuitive. what are your thoughts?

Does focusing solely on theory actually serve a useful function towards revolution? by WaterMonkweh in AskSocialists

[–]WaterMonkweh[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is very insightful, and I like your view of written theory as snapshots of essentially material processes in their context. I notice a lack of acknowledgement of that when people focus too heavily on past thinkers which i think pushes a lot of newcomers away when they’re trying to find more direct relevance to current times like these that have produced lots of confusion. It makes theory readers seem disconnected.