Waht does the Modern Day Socialist Look Like?

[valgor]

[This is a paper trying to list all possible ideas Socialists can do to be active for the Socialist cause. After all, paraphrasing Marx: we can read and talk all day long, but the point is to change the world! Any comments are welcome. Looking for more suggestions as well.]

What does the Modern Day Active Socialist Look Like?

Obviously everyone cannot do everything listed. Do the things within your ability.

Individually:

1) Health and well being - i) Physical health – How can one ask others to take care of each other and the planet when one does not take care of his or her self? Eat nutritious meals. Get some exercise everyday. ii) Mental health – Never stop learning. Always be creating and reading and not just Socialist related material.

2) Boycott large corporations – Avoid all major corporations to the maximum of one's ability. Use alternatives like the farmer's market or credit unions.

3) Literally use less stuff – Do you really need that? The less you buy, the less pollution created and profit earned for the imperial power. Buy local. Buy used.

4) Garden – The more control one has over one's own basic means of necessities means the less reliance one has on corporations. You will be better off and they won't be. If you do not have land, consider finding unused land to garden such as some older people's house where they don't use their lawn.

5) Learn basic skills – If you have the ability and materials, make your own stuff. Learn basic car maintenance, etc.

6) Understand computer and Internet technologies – learn about online anonymity, darknets, mesh networks, encryption. Understand and use tools like TOR, TrueCrypt, Linux, Bitcoins, etc. Technology is one of the greatest ways to bring power back into the hands of the people. Hackivism, WikiLeaks, and even simply recording and releasing private meetings of the wealthy are extremely effective means to spreading the message and expose corruption. Technology puts us on a level playing field, gives us access to behind guarded walls. It's no secret police spy on Leftist groups. Should you be apart of a Socialist community, the ability to maintain communication without outside disturbance or surveillance is important.

The over all theme is rely more on yourself and less on imperialistic powers.

Collectively:
1) Teach – Setup teach-ins at your library, park, house, coffeehouse, etc. teaching others anything written above.

2) i) Start a Socialist book club – Low leadership, low involvement, easy way to meet like minded people while continuing to educate yourself. ii) After the book club is established, have a 'personal writing' night where you read papers and hear ideas written from members of your group. This will foster comradery and engage people more than just reading books.

3) Within your group (book club, network of friends, Socialist organization, etc.) setup research projects – The research should be practical projects your group can do to bring about change. For example, installing solar panels, communal housing architecture (large houses build with the environment in mind where groups of people live and share appliances and space), coops and/or non-profits, local government and how to pass a bill (with a bill in mind to advocate for), and so on. Break up into small teams. Set a time limit of 2-3 months. Share progress to keep people active and engaged. Then set a plan and act on one or more of the projects!

4) Join established groups – Look online and in local news papers for Socialist groups or organizations with some Socialist values (anti-war, anti-racist, pro-democracy, etc.). Join them. Don't sit on the side lines. Actively partake in activities using whatever skills you excel at. Consider Anarchist groups as well, for they typically share the same values. Groups like Food Not Bombs are spread out everywhere.

5) Get involved in a coop or non-profit.

6) Talk. Talk. Talk. - We are many dealing with social problems. The first step to solving social problems is to socialize. Never stop talking about the issues and solutions.
Key concept is to have a network of like minded people engaged and organized. Be prepared to act and mobilize quickly for needs of your community.

The Left is notoriously splintered and divided despite the common view cooperation is the key to a better life. The Democratic Socialist might be too soft for your liking, and the Communist down the street is too radical, but the values and principles we believe in are what brought us to the Left. Be respectful and support to your comrades!

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Whilst i've approved this post, i'm also going to rail against this blatant lifestylism.

Why should a 'socialist' (or do you mean a 'worker'? or are you not bothered about class?) lessen their consumption - and thus their standard of living - just to try and somehow 'impact' the big corporations? In the grand scheme of things, lifestylism-type boycotts will always tend to hurt individual workers more than the corporations the boycott is aimed at. It's really just silly.

This just seem pointless advice and i'm not sure who it's aimed at. We should aim at fellow workers, not 'socialists'. We are not trying to create 'perfect socialist man/woman', but at least engender a certain class and political consciousness into other workers.

[Crabbensmasher]

I would lessen my consumption not for the corporations, for a boycott is a primarily market based approach to solving problems. I would lessen my consumption because consumerism is fucking disgusting. I look around and we're a bunch of goddamn gluttons. What we do isn't the product of anything healthy. We're sick. And now we live on a sick planet.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I would lessen my consumption not for the corporations, for a boycott is a primarily market based approach to solving problems. I would lessen my consumption because consumerism is fucking disgusting. I look around and we're a bunch of goddamn gluttons. What we do isn't the product of anything healthy. We're sick. And now we live on a sick planet.

I would say that the main symptom of consumerism is over-consumption in some sectors. For example food and drink, easily replaceable and reproductible cheap electronic goods and so on.

I wouldn't say that this is the case in every sector, nor in every socio-economic sector of society, nor in every country. The problem with tagging 'consumerism' as a problem of consumption as something that harms the planet is that it is an account that doesn't take account of variations - geographic, socio-economic etc. - in consumption.

The real problem isn't consumerism per se - consumerism is merely a demand-side, 'consumer' reaction to that which happens in the production process -, it is the production process of capitalism, the exploitation of the worker, the extraction of surplus.

[valgor]

, lifestylism-type boycotts will always tend to hurt individual workers more than the corporations the boycott is aimed at. It's really just silly.

It's like saying don't buy the China products because the workers won't get their dollar for their day of work. The fact they get a dollar and not 100 dollars is exactly why I want to boycott their products. Workers strike for better pay or treatment. Boycotts are similar but for consumers. I will also say, while I paint all the "use less stuff" in terms of not supporting Imperialism, there is definitely a 'green' reason for doing all those things as well.


This just seem pointless advice and i'm not sure who it's aimed at.
You are right! I left a word out of the title. Added it now. The post was intended for modern day activist socialist.

[Os Cangaceiros]

Proper grooming (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_trim_our_hair_in_accordance_with_the_socia list_lifestyle) is another very important aspect to being a good socialist ;)

[#FF0000]

It's like saying don't buy the China products because the workers won't get their dollar for their day of work. The fact they get a dollar and not 100 dollars is exactly why I want to boycott their products. Workers strike for better pay or treatment. Boycotts are similar but for consumers. I will also say, while I paint all the "use less stuff" in terms of not supporting Imperialism, there is definitely a 'green' reason for doing all those things as well.

I posit that it's actually literally impossible to do this. Look at you right now -- posting from a machine that almost certain has parts in it produced in Foxconn, or by companies that produce components in Foxconn. And let's not talk about the rare-earth minerals in virtually every consumer electronic item. And what about your clothes? Your shoes?

Individual consumption is not the problem. There is no "ethical" exploiter, and no way to avoid commodities produced by brutalized people. This isn't your fault as a consumer. This is because of capitalism.

Just about everything in the individual field is good for feeling good about yourself (and maybe saving money) but it's delusional to think that it's going to change a damn thing -- and fuck the life of anyone who's going to try and talk down to a working class person for not buying their shitty fair-trade coffee or going to wal-mart.

The "Collective" ideas are pretty neat though. Good for meeting like-minded-ish people and getting people talking about ideas, but not much beyond that imo.

EDIT: I'm also kind of interested in what you mean by "socialist" too, considering your bit about communists and anarchists lol

[#FF0000]

credit unions

i tried this and my credit wasn't good enough (death to the middle class white leftish)

[MacchineBox]

These are all good points. I try to do some of these already and would like to do more. A few notes.

Individually:
"Health & well being": eating healthy is easy and, dare I say, fun! Learn to make a good sandwich, salad, or pasta meal and you can eat really well (& cheap). Go for a walk every day, even if it's just half an hour at at a moderate pace. There have been studies that link physical health to mental health; every little bit helps.

"Boycott corps" & "Using Less Stuff": these go together in my opinion. First off try to by less stuff. So much of what we buy we don't really need (or want). I have a brand new 3DS sitting a drawer that I haven't used in months. Thrift stores are wonderful place. Great deals of kitchen & garden tools, clothing, and many useful books can be found for dirt cheap. Farmers markets are gerat place to find cheap fresh produce.

"Garden" & "Basic Skills": Having a large garden is great, but if you can't do that, having a few small pots in the window with select spices, herbs, and green onions can help cut back on the food bill. If you don't have a green thumb (or do) learn to cook (if nothing else - you can eat so cheap (sorry for pressing this point, but it's so easy and worthwhile on so man levels)), work on engines, sew (you could become a full blown tailor or just do minor repairs), and so many other countless useful skills.

Collectively:
"Teach" & "Start a Group" : If you don't have access to larger groups that need your help, you can always get to together like minded individuals in your area. There are more than you think. Many of them don't even know they agree with you until you tell them what you (& other leftists) believe in. A very exciting (& slightly alarming) development I've noticed is many recent high-school graduates have no clue what communism or socialism is - like, at all. I asked a few people this question: "what is your opinion of communism?"
They all replied "I think I'm suppose to hate it, but I honestly don't know anything about it."

"Talk. Talk. Talk." : This is extremely vital and worth reiterating. We need to talk to each other and be social. More and more I see people not leaving their homes - they just sit on facebook all night complaining how they have nothing to do. We need to stop this behavior now! As I mentioned above, most of the younger generation doesn't know they are suppose to 'hate' and even less what we are all about. It may help to 'fail to mention' your leaning until after you have piqued their interest with leftist ideas.

I believe people want to be social, want to be helpful, and above all want to see their fellow humans doing well. I now it's cliche, but be the change you want to see. People, in general, want to be part of something bigger and are very willing to go along with a plan with the planner sounds confident in his suggestion.

[Per Levy]

1) Health and well being - i) Physical health – How can one ask others to take care of each other and the planet when one does not take care of his or her self?

its pretty easy actually, millions of people have problems, physical health problems and still do a good job of taking care of other people. besides many workers(yes, even commie workers) have hard jobs that can ruin bodys and the physical health so yeah, just eating a bit better wont change that, right?


2) Boycott large corporations – Avoid all major corporations to the maximum of one's ability. Use alternatives like the farmer's market or credit unions.

3) Literally use less stuff – Do you really need that? The less you buy, the less pollution created and profit earned for the imperial power. Buy local. Buy used.

so supporting smaller capies in that way is the way to go for socialists?


Garden – The more control one has over one's own basic means of necessities means the less reliance one has on corporations. You will be better off and they won't be.

except of course the companys who sell you all the gardening stuff, they will be better off if we all do this wont they?


If you do not have land

as most people dont.


consider finding unused land to garden such as some older people's house where they don't use their lawn.

so, just hope for the best that these old people are not the "get of my lawn" types.


Learn basic skills – If you have the ability and materials, make your own stuff. Learn basic car maintenance, etc.

i thought you said we should buy less and less, and yet with all the gardening stuff, and now with car maintance, tools for building and repairing i had to buy more stuff that i actually own and could afford.


6) Understand computer and Internet technologies

jup, when you're not in the garden, not repairing your car, not working, not reading lots of books and hey a little bit of social life is also nice(friends partners family) then become a hacker, super internet guy. where does all my time go, i probally should quit sleeping.

being a commie, socialist or anarchist isnt a lifestyle, besides this list sounds like "how do i become a socialist super man".

[valgor]

Per_Levy, you apparently missed my first sentence:

"Obviously everyone cannot do everything listed. Do the things within your ability."

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I find this stuff a bit prescriptive, I must say.

Like, whilst it's obviously advantageous to be healthy, to have a clear conscience, to be skilled and to pass knowledge on, I don't think we should move towards a direction where it's some sort of expectation.

People should be free to do as they please; learn when they want, enjoy their leisure time as they wish, participate in cultural activities as they wish. Only in this way can we move towards the sort of 'communist society' of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need". I mean, it's still almost certainly a heck of a long way off but we should keep the 'need' bit (as opposed to 'work') in mind.

[valgor]

People should be free to do as they please; learn when they want, enjoy their leisure time as they wish, participate in cultural activities as they wish. Only in this way can we move towards the sort of 'communist society' of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need". I mean, it's still almost certainly a heck of a long way off but we should keep the 'need' bit (as opposed to 'work') in mind.

I don't disagree, but the question I am trying address is how do we get there? So far all I'm getting (here and elsewhere online) about my post is criticism, yet nothing of substance to add to it. People see where we are now and where we want to be in the future, but no one has any solid ideas on what happens in the middle. Something has to happen in the middle, and I would like to be part of it. Therefore, I have to figure out what to do.

[MacchineBox]

Like, whilst it's obviously advantageous to be healthy, to have a clear conscience, to be skilled and to pass knowledge on, I don't think we should move towards a direction where it's some sort of expectation.

I don't think the expectation of everyone learning a few skills that could be useful to their community all that impeding upon their ability to do as they please. It goes back to "each according to his ability"; if they are able, why not encourage them to learn a few skills (of course, have them be tasks they will enjoy)? This brushing off of skills to others is part of what got us in this service powered land we call the U.S.A. (I'm American, not sure where the majority of you hail from).



People should be free to do as they please; learn when they want, enjoy their leisure time as they wish, participate in cultural activities as they wish.

Everyone should be able to do as they please, learn what they want, & enjoy their leisure as they see fit, but they have an obligation to their fellow man to be helpful. The more skilled comrades there are, the quicker work can get done, thus allowing for more free time.

[#FF0000]

I don't disagree, but the question I am trying address is how do we get there? So far all I'm getting (here and elsewhere online) about my post is criticism, yet nothing of substance to add to it. People see where we are now and where we want to be in the future, but no one has any solid ideas on what happens in the middle. Something has to happen in the middle, and I would like to be part of it. Therefore, I have to figure out what to do.

Nothing under "Individual" will get us from here to there.

[Bardo]

The "individual" list strikes me as a Green Party leaflet, to be honest. As others have mentioned, lifestylism and "voting with your dollar" isn't a solution to social problems. It's a way to clear your conscience.

Being ecologically sound is fine, but its not necessarily related to socialist activity.

[valgor]

Being ecologically sound is fine, but its not necessarily related to socialist activity.

Being pro-socialism but not ecologically sound is a contradiction to me. How can you be for the people but not the environment? Without a healthy environment, you cannot have a healthy sustainable society.

[#FF0000]

Being pro-socialism but not ecologically sound is a contradiction to me. How can you be for the people but not the environment? Without a healthy environment, you cannot have a healthy sustainable society.

Focusing on individual consumer choices is a huge mistake though, because it's a relatively small part of the problem anyway, but mostly because the vast sum of people who don't go for the "green" options don't because they're more expensive.

[Sidagma]

But real talk tho a lot of us do kinda suck?

Like, personally speaking, i do reject the idea that you can just say you're a socialist and bam! you are one. A socialist IMO should be a person who is active in making socialism come about in some way. This is why in the left we have so many people who claim to be leftist like it's some kind of fashion statement and then contribute absolutely nothing of substance except for a bunch of weird in-jokes or if we're lucky argument about revisionism or some shit. Because we don't expect anything of ourselves or each other.

This actual list is mostly middle class liberal garbage that I feel pretty good disregarding as an actual topic of discussion (although I do like talking, teaching, and staying healthy) but I feel like when I ask of the Left, "what should we DO???" it's like yelling into an echo chamber. I get no answer. What are you trying to accomplish here? What am I trying to accomplish here?

There isn't a strategy. I have yet to see one from any group aside from a few suburban kids who think we should just shoot everyone. I want to see the Left move from an "I think this" to an "I do this". We're not some persecuted spiritual path. Our leftism begins and ends at the ability to influence our political situations. There's no excuse for not, at the very least continuing to educate ourselves and others.

I think if there is to be something that can acceptably be called a "socialist lifestyle" (which I stress, is not a thing that I necessarily want; it's an idea that I'm entertaining) that it should involve as a prerequisite the construction of communities which we can learn from and struggle together with. Rather than "finding like-minded folks" we should build these groups out of who we have nearby. A revolution is a communal process. We're all in it together, whether we like it or not. Me. You. The smelly homeless guy on the bus. That weird white kid who makes jokes that are in bad taste. Justin Bieber. And we don't have to like all these people, but we do have to engage with them in order to make a social movement that's worth the cost of its shitty newspaper. Which means putting ourselves in vulnerable positions and putting our ideas where they can be critiqued and ridiculed.

And I do want to see more discussion of how to go about these things!!! I want a Left that can engage with peoples' personal problems. I want someone to come to the Left with problems, I want the Left to be a Left that can engage with these problems helpfully from a materialist, anti-capitalist perspective, because it acknowledges the value of being socially influential, and respected people are socially influential, and respectable people are respected.

I don't know! I don't like this middle class hogwash the thread started with but I do think that we should expect things of ourselves and other Leftists.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Being pro-socialism but not ecologically sound is a contradiction to me. How can you be for the people but not the environment? Without a healthy environment, you cannot have a healthy sustainable society.

Frankly, because these percriptions, while people may find them personally rewarding or enriching, they are not ecologically sound. By way of analogy, being an "ethical consumer" is like being a guy on the titanic with a towel who thinks if he dries himself with it enough, he won't get wet like everyone else.

Consumption is secondary to production - we can not consume what is not produced and we can only consume within a range of what is produced. Ultimately it's a question of power - who controls the riches of the earth and for what purpose. If it's for profits, then it's going to be inherently exploitative; if it's production for democratic/collective need and want, then sustainability (at least aiming for that) is inherent since "need" can't be satisfied by a destroyed planet. Profits can still be made from a destroyed planet though - the capitalists will sell us expensive life-rafts.

I have nothing against people wanting to do any of these induvidual things, but they should do it because they like it, not for moral reasons and definatly not for thinking it will challenge the system. In fact many efforts to "bypass" capitalism or live more ethically now are totally compatable with the flow of capital.

The ecologically sound thing that regular people can do is take collective power back from capitalism, to put people over profits and with it a livable and pleasant world.

[Bardo]

Being pro-socialism but not ecologically sound is a contradiction to me. How can you be for the people but not the environment? Without a healthy environment, you cannot have a healthy sustainable society.

Living a "green" lifestyle isn't the same as class upheaval.

While a common (and just) critique of the capitalist system is its irrational and environmentally unsustainable nature, simply contorting capitalism to be more eco-friendly does nothing to replace capitalism itself. I'm not trying to say that environmental awareness is a waste of time, in fact I spent my first three years of university studying environmental sciences. What I am trying to say is that environmental awareness doesn't necessitate class awareness.