Where do I start?

[Landsharks eat metal]

I know there are some threads about getting politically active already, but there seem to be a lot of things stopping me. I really feel like I should be doing something, anything, for my beliefs, but I have almost no money (and what money I do have, I get from my parents, who don't approve of my beliefs), I can't really drive (and I live in a shithole town where I can't walk anywhere), my parents still pretty much control my life even though I'm legally an adult.

Whenever I read about people getting involved, I feel restless like I should be doing something to help the cause. I think that's part of me feeling like the world is lifeless; I just submit to society instead of fighting it. Everyone is bugging me about what I want to do with my life now, but I don't really care about jobs or anything. I don't want to become a wage slave or whatever. I want to fight.

Is there anything at all I can do, or am I just a desperate, impulsive, annoying guy who needs to accept that the world sucks?

[The Idler]

Can you get enough money to go to a meeting? Can you get a lift to a meeting? If not, stick to the interwebs.

[Landsharks eat metal]

I guess I have enough money to do a little something with it, but it will run out very quickly as I have no source of personal income. I don't know anybody in real life who has remotely similar views to me. I feel kind of pathetic only being on the internet, especially when I read about what people are doing in Oakland. Lancaster has an Occupation, but I'm pretty sure they don't want me. They support local police, non-violence, and other reactionary shit. I guess I am just desperate. I feel like if I don't start doing something now, nothing will ever happen.

[Ostrinski]

I'm in the same situation. Are you in college?

[Landsharks eat metal]

I'm in the same situation. Are you in college?

I'm commuting daily to a community college. I tried going to a residential one, which I liked a lot more, but that didn't work out. I don't think my campus has any political organizations besides the "pro-life" club, though.

[eyeheartlenin]

First of all, you don't need to worry: the US left is still going to be around whenever you make contact with other leftists, whether soon or later on. You aren't going to miss out.

I would encourage you to contact the IWW, at http://www.iww.org/ and find out if there is an IWW general membership branch near you. If there is, maybe someone could give you a lift to the meetings. Or you could become an at-large member.

[Ostrinski]

There is an IWW branch in Lancaster.

http://www.iww.org/en/branches/US/PA

[Landsharks eat metal]

I always thought the IWW would be kind of useless to me since I don't have a job and never have yet, but I'm probably mistaken.

[eyeheartlenin]

There is an IWW branch in Lancaster.

http://www.iww.org/en/branches/US/PA

So you aren't so isolated, after all.

I don't know how old a person has to be, to join the IWW, but I do know you don't have to be employed. I don't have a job either, since I am retired, but I am active in the IWW membership branch in our town. We are currently making plans about May 1 and trying to find ways to encourage workers to strike on May Day.

In your town, the IWW probably has a monthly meeting and may be engaged in organizing, who knows? They would probably welcome your interest in the IWW, and you could discuss with them how you could best cooperate with the union.

[Landsharks eat metal]

There is an IWW branch in Lancaster.

http://www.iww.org/en/branches/US/PA

Awesome. They have a Facebook group. I was going to see if I could connect with them there.

[eyeheartlenin]

Awesome. They have a Facebook group. I was going to see if I could connect with them there.

Wonderful! Anarcho-Trotskyism marches on!

Facebook sounds like a plan.

Best of luck!

[A Revolutionary Tool]

Doesn't the IWW accept the unemployed?

Nobody wants to be a wage-slave but I'd say you should. You would have your own income that you could use however you want and if you want to start the fight against wage-slavery what better place than to start it at work?

[Os Cangaceiros]

Start your own RAAN cell. Name it something cool like "Nihilist saboteurs for society's revenge" or something. :ninja:

[Landsharks eat metal]

I'm in the process of getting to the point where I'm joining. Any suggestions on what I can tell my parents without them getting pissed off? Or how to hide it? Or something so I can avoid, at best, ridiculous lectures?

[¿Que?]

I'm in the process of getting to the point where I'm joining. Any suggestions on what I can tell my parents without them getting pissed off? Or how to hide it? Or something so I can avoid, at best, ridiculous lectures?
You should bring a comrade from the Union to dinner some time, and break it to them like that. It would be really shitty if they really gave it to you while your comrade was there. Plus, your comrade would be there to back you up*.





* All advice in this or any other post by ¿Que? is provided as is and free of charge. Advice is for entertainment purposes only. Please do not use this advice in any way shape or form, as it may lead to rash and diarrhea.

[feral bro]

I'm in the process of getting to the point where I'm joining. Any suggestions on what I can tell my parents without them getting pissed off? Or how to hide it? Or something so I can avoid, at best, ridiculous lectures?
smash the state! (but dont tell mum.)

[Landsharks eat metal]

smash the state! (but dont tell mum.)

If my parents wanted to, they could kick me out. I'd have nowhere to go, and I only have about $100, which wouldn't last me very long. I'm trying not to get my parents to that point. They're already pissed enough at me for being transgender and anarchist as it is.

[feral bro]

If my parents wanted to, they could kick me out. I'd have nowhere to go, and I only have about $100, which wouldn't last me very long. I'm trying not to get my parents to that point. They're already pissed enough at me for being transgender and anarchist as it is.
if you being who you want to be pisses them off, fuck them.

[Marquess]

I know that feel bro.

Aside from the parents part, that's all me. I'd just stick to the internet till a protest or something of the like comes close to were you live and try to get there.

Also you could probably volunteer to blog for an org or something.

[ClassWarMutualist]

how about you do something! I have NO radical friends, NO job, very little income ($60 a month, yes allowance haha) however I found friends who think that racism, sexism and homophobia sucks and we started an Anti-Racist Action chapter, we're only 3 weeks in, the dues is only 3 dollars a month and we meet every week after school. we just recently designed a flyer (we have to fix it a minute error on monday however) and we have enough funds to print off 100 or so copies and we're gonna do just that! our membership started with 3 and now we're at 7, its fun and informal, we actually LIKE going!
I've started using it as a platform for anarchism (you know, since racism, sexism, homophobia and especially able-ism is directly related to capitalism) and I've set 2 friends down that path :D
if you have friends you have a start. run with it.

[MarxSchmarx]

Joining the wobs doesn't hurt (well, except for dues, which I understand can be waived or at least minimized for the unemployed) and hopefully it will put you in the company of like minded people which it sounds like is what you need most right now.

It's also important to have a long term perspective. A lot of day-to-day work of groups like the wobs can seem hopelessly reformist - e.g., organizing drives. These aren't "toppling capitalism" and result in rather small scale changes. But the key thing to understand is that they have a cumulative effect over the long haul.

The other thing I would recommend is to start networking with local community organizations that work with people going through shit - like domestic abuse shelters, free clinics or food banks. I know it sounds kind of lame, but work like that does build solidarity among people; particularly among people who are cast aside by the current system. On a more selfish level, you can't get a better education on capitalism than what people who have been screwed have to say. It will change the way you see the world. Finally although times are tough, sometimes you can meet people at places like that who can find a way to give you meaningful part time work. Especially because you are jobless, developing solidarity outside the workplace is just as key to fighting capitalism.