Hello Everyone

[Left Leanings]

I am new to the forum, and have a tendency to support the liberal world view, and am left-leaning. I firmly believe that the generation currently in power (capital, the people who control the purse strings and make policy decisions), have the resources, money, technology and personnel, to transform this unfair world we live in.

The basic essentials can be secured for ALL across the globe: there is no need for people to go without food, shelter, sanitation, education and healthcare.

My only issue some may have with me here, is that I am a pacifist. I deplore violence, and the use of violence.

But I want to learn more, and contibute.

Sooo, hello everybody :)

[Blake's Baby]

Hello. Welcome to RevLeft.

I absolutely agree with you that capitalism has given us the productive potential of a world in which everyone can share in a better standard of living.

I think it's interesting that you say that you're a pacifist, deplore the use of violence, and that is something that some here will have an issue with. You're right, it is, but it's the reasoning that I think it's interesting.

Most of us, to, deplore the use of violence. However, we recognise that the use of violence is already going on, and it's violence against the working class; from the obvious violence of wars and state repression; to the less obvious socially-sanctioned violence of homophobia, domestic violence etc; to the barely obvious systemic denial of basic liberties to people. Engels said words to the effect that 'the state is in the end armed men defending property relations'. This is violence too, the violence of the powerful gainst the powerless.

I look forward to running into you on the boards!

And if it were possible to defeat this violence non-violently, I'd be with you in rejecting violence, please believe that. Unfortunately the capitalist class will not allow its privileges to be taken away without violence. I think in this situation the working class needs to defend itself.

So in short, we could 'in theory' do all of this under capitalism, but in practice it's impossible. So the choice is either accept the status quo, accept that millions of people will die because some people are obscenely rich; or fight against the morally bankrupt and murderous system that ruins our lives. Unfortunatey, I don't think as a humanist I could come to the conclusion that violence is never justified. Sometimes, fighting is better than letting everyone die.

[Left Leanings]

Hiya Blakes's Baby. Yeah, I see where you're coming from, and I know that violence against workers is a reality in this decadent world of ours. Just witness the war against Iraq: blood for oil.

I suppose there are times when I would use violence. I would use it against the Nazis, for example, should they ever seek to rise to power, or harm others again.

It's just that I am quite timid and gentle, and my natural inclination is towards kindness and pacifism.

Thanks for your welcome, anyway :)

[OHumanista]

Welcome friend, and indeed they (the elite, capitalists) have the means to change society(even if not as throughly as grassroots socialis), but they don't want to because it's not in their interests.