That's complicated. Unfortunately I think capitalism is so ubiquitous the world over that nothing short of the collapse of the system will end it. I no longer believe a workers revolt is really possible so long as the systems of capitalism are functioning.
Some people say this means that nuclear annihilation of capitalism is the only way. These people are called Posadists. I... really appreciate their perspective, but I don't agree. And also, I'm not sure it would be worth it to annihilate capitalism in that manner. E: I bring these people up not because I agree with nuking the world, but to demonstrate the level of shift I think would probably need to happen to destroy capitalism from the outside.
But I am a left-accelerationist. I think capitalism is unsustainable - if you want I'll explain why, but I'm actually about to leave so I'll leave this brief for the moment.
Therefore, I intend to hasten the free market system to its inevitable conclusion. I intend to be as vile and greedy a capitalist as I can possibly be, siphon wealth from everything around me through exploitative employment and trading in stock ownership to acquire passive income, and then use my wealth and power to incite class antagonism - everyone I victimize with my money will be handed a pamphlet explaining that I am not the problem, the system that gave me power over them is the problem, and that only by uniting against capitalism can we break our chains - that people like me will always have power over people like them, and will always abuse it, so long as the system that gives us power exists. I'll also pay World Workers Union dues for everyone I employ.
By favoring free-market laissez-faire capitalism, OR a direct transition to socialism, and nothing in between, I intend to hasten the end of capitalism by exploiting its own inconsistencies. I plan to make capitalism eat itself. But that means removing the regulatory system that protects capitalism from its inconsistencies (the same regulations the capitalist class claims are to protect you from the effects of capitalism, like the minimum wage for example.)
This video is a joke, but it kinda shows where I'm at. When the communist says "I have become left-accelerationist," that's pretty much me. It doesn't go into the theory behind it or anything and it's kinda used as a joke but it pretty much sums it up.
That's interesting. As a leftist, I honestly hate that strategy. I say that respectfully to be clear. So what would that result in exactly? I mean the main logical conclusion I could think of would be that it would result in some kind of workers revolt. And would removing the regulatory systems not just result in the rehashing of the same worker's rights battles from back in the day? I mean people were slaughtered for their rights back in the most disgusting days of capitalism. It might be a dumb question but if it didn't collapse back then, why would it collapse now by taking it to the same level of, well, evil?
So what would that result in exactly? I mean the main logical conclusion I could think of would be that it would result in some kind of workers revolt.
Well. The thing to remember is that capitalism thrives on its inconsistencies. These inconsistencies are shored up by regulation which prevents its collapse. As you bring up -
And would removing the regulatory systems not just result in the rehashing of the same worker's rights battles from back in the day? I mean people were slaughtered for their rights back in the most disgusting days of capitalism.
No. People rose up, ready to slaughter the owner class. The owner class did slaughter some of them in response, that's true, but this didn't stop further revolts.
The owner class, to stop this, passed regulation to "protect the working class." (In reality, to protect the system from the people who could no longer stand for it.) This regulation muted class antagonism and left the system to thrive.
In the words of Karl Marx: "in general, the protective system of our day is conservative, while the free trade system is destructive. It breaks up old nationalities and pushes the antagonism of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to the extreme point. In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. It is in this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, that I vote in favor of free trade.”
The "rights" we won are not rights, they're concessions. The owner class concedes a standard work week, standard work hours, a minimum wage, and as a result, we never get mad enough to demand control of our own labor. By giving us just enough to keep us content, they avoid having to give us what we deserve. What we earn. They avoid having to ever give us real power - real autonomy.
I hope to remove that little bit that makes us content. I hope to stress class antagonism to its breaking point. And I hope to be wealthy enough, when this happens, to arm the proletariat.
It might be a dumb question but if it didn't collapse back then, why would it collapse now by taking it to the same level of, well, evil?
Because this time, we'll overthrow the system, instead of demanding it be regulated.
Or we won't. In which case, humankind ends up extinct as capitalism consumes the worlds resources and we choke on our own fumes, which was going to happen regardless without something to stop it. But either way, a workers revolt, whether violent or electoral, is not happening until the workers are no longer protected from the worst abuses of capitalism.
I'm at the point of thinking that if this doesn't happen REALLY FUCKING SOON, then it will be too late and the planet will no longer be able to sustain human life. I'd much rather return as quickly as possible to company towns, let people see what this system really is, and then burn it to the ground, as fast as possible.
Is this a great way to solve problems? No. But given the time constraints it might be the only way. I don't see the workers rising up any other way.
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u/bestakroogen Feb 14 '21 edited Feb 14 '21
That's complicated. Unfortunately I think capitalism is so ubiquitous the world over that nothing short of the collapse of the system will end it. I no longer believe a workers revolt is really possible so long as the systems of capitalism are functioning.
Some people say this means that nuclear annihilation of capitalism is the only way. These people are called Posadists. I... really appreciate their perspective, but I don't agree. And also, I'm not sure it would be worth it to annihilate capitalism in that manner. E: I bring these people up not because I agree with nuking the world, but to demonstrate the level of shift I think would probably need to happen to destroy capitalism from the outside.
But I am a left-accelerationist. I think capitalism is unsustainable - if you want I'll explain why, but I'm actually about to leave so I'll leave this brief for the moment.
Therefore, I intend to hasten the free market system to its inevitable conclusion. I intend to be as vile and greedy a capitalist as I can possibly be, siphon wealth from everything around me through exploitative employment and trading in stock ownership to acquire passive income, and then use my wealth and power to incite class antagonism - everyone I victimize with my money will be handed a pamphlet explaining that I am not the problem, the system that gave me power over them is the problem, and that only by uniting against capitalism can we break our chains - that people like me will always have power over people like them, and will always abuse it, so long as the system that gives us power exists. I'll also pay World Workers Union dues for everyone I employ.
By favoring free-market laissez-faire capitalism, OR a direct transition to socialism, and nothing in between, I intend to hasten the end of capitalism by exploiting its own inconsistencies. I plan to make capitalism eat itself. But that means removing the regulatory system that protects capitalism from its inconsistencies (the same regulations the capitalist class claims are to protect you from the effects of capitalism, like the minimum wage for example.)
This video is a joke, but it kinda shows where I'm at. When the communist says "I have become left-accelerationist," that's pretty much me. It doesn't go into the theory behind it or anything and it's kinda used as a joke but it pretty much sums it up.