Why I am a socialist.

[eric922]

I have a question. My family isn't working class, at least not anymore. They are likely petite bourgeois, though on the lower end of that scale. I am currently in college studying to be a journalist. However, I support the working class and the goals of communism for the following reasons. I guess my question is, would the socialist movement be willing to let me work with them provided I support their goals, which I do?

1. Capitalism is a wasteful and unsustainable system. When I first read the Manifesto and Marx's critique of capitalism, it was clear to me that he was correct. The system is riddled with crisis and it can't be fixed by reform, simply because the short-term fixation on profits won't allow it.

It is completely wasteful in its use of resources, I mean how much food rots every year, because it won't sell, because people can't afford it? How many houses go unlived in because people can't afford them? We need to plan our economy to provide for people's needs and not the profit of a few.

2. Capitalism is exploitative. I've worked a few jobs before and I've seen first hand how little say people have in their working lives. They do what the managers say when the managers say it and you can't speak up, because if you do you get fired and then you can't feed yourself or your family.

Some people have to work two jobs just make ends meet and most people spend their whole life is pretty much work so they can't enjoy their lives, while the CEO of the company the work for spends his time playing golf.

It is also very anti-democratic. The democracy in capitalist nations is an illusion, until people have democracy in the work place, they won't have freedom.

[Die Rote Fahne]

I have a question. My family isn't working class, at least not anymore. They are likely petite bourgeois, though on the lower end of that scale. I am currently in college studying to be a journalist. However, I support the working class and the goals of communism for the following reasons. I guess my question is, would the socialist movement be willing to let me work with them provided I support their goals, which I do?

1. Capitalism is a wasteful and unsustainable system. When I first read the Manifesto and Marx's critique of capitalism, it was clear to me that he was correct. The system is riddled with crisis and it can't be fixed by reform, simply because the short-term fixation on profits won't allow it.

It is completely wasteful in its use of resources, I mean how much food rots every year, because it won't sell, because people can't afford it? How many houses go unlived in because people can't afford them? We need to plan our economy to provide for people's needs and not the profit of a few.

2. Capitalism is exploitative. I've worked a few jobs before and I've seen first hand how little say people have in their working lives. They do what the managers say when the managers say it and you can't speak up, because if you do you get fired and then you can't feed yourself or your family.

Some people have to work two jobs just make ends meet and most people spend their whole life is pretty much work so they can't enjoy their lives, while the CEO of the company the work for spends his time playing golf.

It is also very anti-democratic. The democracy in capitalist nations is an illusion, until people have democracy in the work place, they won't have freedom.
Yes.

The petit-bourgeois will side either with the worker or the bourgeoisie in a proletarian revolution. You may be one of the stragglers who support the worker, or a member of the majority who support the worker.

I must ask, why would you consider yourself/your family petit-bourgeois now?

[eric922]

Yes, the petit-bourgeois will side either with the worker or the bourgeoisie in a proletarian revolution.

I must ask, why would you consider yourself/your family petit-bourgeois now?
Well they started off working class. My mom used to be a floor nurse in a hospital and my dad worked as a traveling salesman for some big fabric company, I think it was called Paco. He was hardly ever room, on the road at least twice a month driving from throughout the south trying to make sales.

Anyway, on one of these trips he met a lawyer, he knew, who offered him a job as PI in his DUI defense firm and that is what my dad does now. Basically, he writes reports, does interviews, watches arrest videos and points out any laws the police may have broken. It's all defense work, so at least he doesn't help the police or D.A.

[Die Rote Fahne]

Well they started off working class. My mom used to be a floor nurse in a hospital and my dad worked as a traveling salesman for some big fabric company, I think it was called Paco. He was hardly ever room, on the road at least twice a month driving from throughout the south trying to make sales.

Anyway, on one of these trips he met a lawyer, he knew, who offered him a job as PI in his DUI defense firm and that is what my dad does now. Basically, he writes reports, does interviews, watches arrest videos and points out any laws the police may have broken. It's all defense work, so at least he doesn't help the police or D.A.
If he doesn't own his own business, or is not a partner in a business, I think we could consider him proletariat...i'm not 100% on that...I am unsure whether he would fall under the category of professional like a lawyer, therefore he would be petit-bourgeois.

Kinda sleepy at the moment haha.

[PhoenixAsh]

I have no idea why you think your parents are petite-bourgeoisie but you are not your parents.

And though there is some debate as to what the exact status is of college and university student I think the vast majority of users here will simply state that since you do not have any direct controll over the means of production nor own them and you are going to have to depend on selling your labour for your income and means to sustain your livelyhood.....I rather think that you are more than welcome.

Also...I am not sure what you mean by socialist movement....is that a specific organisation? If not...them...there isn't really a unity, unfortunately, at least not yet....in the form of a movement. But I think there are very little organisations which would disqualify you based on the class of your parents unless you yourself belong to that same class and unless they have some form of entryism. So yeah...I think a lot of groups and parties would be happy to have you.

[PhoenixAsh]

It depends. He can be considered to be a productive laborer since he creates surplus for the company he works for and he also does not own the means of production nor has a direct influence over it...so it can be said to belong to the proletariat.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I would consider journalists proletariat so I say you don't have anything to fear.

I mean,Chomsky is a college professor and he is a leftist so I don't see any reason why you shouldn't consider yourself anything but.