Left-Wing Militias?

[Nolan]

I know constitutionalists and nazis have been busy forming civilian militias all over the US, but are there any of a revolutionary leftist orientation?

[Raúl Duke]

Not that I know of...maybe some Vermont ones but perhaps they don't exist.

[Tablo]

Typically the second any Leftists arm themselves they get arrested by the FBI for terrorism conspiracy charges.

[Jimmie Higgins]

When most US workers still feel "guilty" for striking and are giving up concessions to help out the ol' multi-billion dollar corporation that's been reaming them for the last few decades... well it's a bit of a leap in consciousness to think that workers would be arming themselves for a conflict with the US military.

Right wing militia people believe they are arming themselves against the US/Canada/Mexico/UN/USSR/World state... but they also believe what Glen Beck says... or in mysterious black helicopters or that Mexico and Canada interfere with US sovereignty (that's so hilariously crazy)... or that immigrant labor working for a few dollars a day (for growers or sweatshops hired by multi-billion dollar corporations) are actually masterminds in a plot to reconquer the US southwest.

The US military, even while bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan could still slaughter an armed-resistance movement. The resistance works in other countries because much of the population is opposed to US occupation and so consciousness is - at least sympathetic to the idea of armed resistance. In the US, consciousness - while moving sharply to the left in general - is not class consiousness and certainty not revolutionary consciousness, so a left-wing militia would be *ahem* jumping the gun IMO. It's not like the Black Panthers armed themselves out of the blue. The BPP started carrying guns to follow the cops after 10+ years of civil rights and radicalization for black workers; church bombings by white fascists and Klansmen; cops beating peaceful demonstrators; riots in most major cities each summer for years; a rise in popularity for Malcolm X's calls for armed self defense of black communities.

If and when there are armed militias of workers in the US will depend on the general class consciousness that allows for some within that general radical sentiment to belive that arming yourself is necessary. I'm all for self-defense, and I'm sure it would play a part in any mass radical movement where workers were actually threatening the power of the ruling class and the system. I'm not convinced at all (to put it softly) that a left-wing militia-style movement would be desirable for the working class movement as a whole. But if there was a period of intense radicalization and heated labor wars, I would not be shocked to hear about such a group happening.

[Jimmie Higgins]

If I had realized this was chit-chat, I would have made a shorter and funnier comment rather than a long-winded argument against forming a militia when nobody was even suggesting that.:blushing:

Too much coffee at work tonight.

[Robocommie]

If I had realized this was chit-chat, I would have made a shorter and funnier comment rather than a long-winded argument against forming a militia when nobody was even suggesting that.:blushing:

Too much coffee at work tonight.

Lawl, nutsack :lol:

That should fit better. ;)

[Tablo]

This would actually be a better learning topic than chitchat.

[Nolan]

This would actually be a better learning topic than chitchat.

Mod!!! Stick 'er there!

[Animal Farm Pig]

This same topic came up in either learning or politics a couple of weeks ago. The consensus was that if there were some left-wing militias in existence, it would be a bad idea to talk about them on the open internets.

[Tablo]

Oh, okay. Cool stuff.

[Pavlov's House Party]

lol no offense captain cuba, but that sounds exactly like something a cop would ask.

[Nolan]

No You're a cop!

[Robocommie]

:lol:

Hey there, comrades! I think Lenin is neat! I sure do hate those means of production and all that Commie stuff we talk about. Know of any violent protests going on, so we can smash pigs and what not?

[Joesky]

What if we're all cops trying to infiltrate each other's fake political party? :laugh:

http://www.piquaoh.org/images/police/Comp%20Lab.JPG

A new Revleft user

[praxis1966]

What if we're all cops trying to infiltrate each other's fake political party? :laugh:

http://www.piquaoh.org/images/police/Comp%20Lab.JPG

A new Revleft user

http://www.revleft.com/vb/picture.php?albumid=608&pictureid=5896

[An archist]

Reminds me of an old dutch communist party that was founded by a cop.