Yet more proof of alienation among the working class

[MarxSchmarx]

Once in a great while, even the capitalist yellow press has a headline that turns heads:

Most workers hate their jobs or have 'checked out,' Gallup says



http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-employee-engagement-gallup-poll-20130617,0,5878658.story


That's the shock of the century. What's perhaps somewhat surprising is that these percentages have remained constant for roughly a decade. You'd think at least a decade into working class despondence the left would be able to make some serious inroads.

[Popular Front of Judea]

Tells you what you need to know about the contemporary left.


What's perhaps somewhat surprising is that these percentages have remained constant for roughly a decade. You'd think at least a decade into working class despondence the left would be able to make some serious inroads.

[Rugged Collectivist]

That's the shock of the century.

Is it really? I haven't met many people who don't hate their jobs. People just don't think there's an alternative. "That's life" I've heard all too many times. I saw this stuff going on and I drew some pretty weird conclusions about it and about what needed to be done because I was fed up with liberalism and the two parties but I hadn't discovered communism yet. I feel like more people would be drawn to the left if they knew it existed.

[Popular Front of Judea]

I am better informed about radical left than the average worker and I am hard pressed to see what it can do for me. Knowing just why I am so fucked satisfies my intellectual curiosity but doesn't do much for improving my situation.

[RedBen]

Is it really? I haven't met many people who don't hate their jobs. People just don't think there's an alternative. "That's life" I've heard all too many times. I saw this stuff going on and I drew some pretty weird conclusions about it and about what needed to be done because I was fed up with liberalism and the two parties but I hadn't discovered communism yet. I feel like more people would be drawn to the left if they knew it existed.
that kind of talk kills you a little inside every time you hear it. i just want to work on cars and have enough to eat and a roof. i can do without the luxuries.

[helot]

I am better informed about radical left than the average worker and I am hard pressed to see what it can do for me. Knowing just why I am so fucked satisfies my intellectual curiosity but doesn't do much for improving my situation.

Which is why theory absent practice is pointless intellectual masturbation.

[Comrade Jacob]

Why wouldn't they? They know their labour is only making the rich richer. They need to take a stand, I'm not talking about a petty protest, I'm talking about armed resistance, bull-rush your boss with baseball bats and take over the workplace!

[Popular Front of Judea]

After you, comrade.


Why wouldn't they? They know their labour is only making the rich richer. They need to take a stand, I'm not talking about a petty protest, I'm talking about armed resistance, bull-rush your boss with baseball bats and take over the workplace!

[The Jay]

I am curious Popular Front of Judea, as to why you don't see what the left can do for you. Could you refine that please?

[Popular Front of Judea]

Let's see I am a 40 something male with a high school equivalency to my name. (The semesters of community college aren't worth much on the resume.) I was out of of work for over 2 years. I am now living on disability.

What can the left do for me?


I am curious Popular Front of Judea, as to why you don't see what the left can do for you. Could you refine that please?

Edited for clarity.

[The Jay]

Are we talking short term or long term when we mean benefiting you?

[Popular Front of Judea]

Organizing around short term demands has been a means of bring working people aboard socialist organizations. Think of the unemployed committees organized by the socialists and communists of the 30s.

So who is organizing the long term unemployed now?


Are we talking short term or long term when we mean benefiting you?

[Prof. Oblivion]

Let's see I am a 40 something male with a high school equivalency to my name. (The semesters of community college aren't worth much on the resume.) I have been out of work for over 2 years. I am now living on disability.

What can the left do for me?

Why are you on disability?

[Popular Front of Judea]

Why are you asking me why I am on disability?


Why are you on disability?

[RedBen]

Why wouldn't they? They know their labour is only making the rich richer. They need to take a stand, I'm not talking about a petty protest, I'm talking about armed resistance, bull-rush your boss with baseball bats and take over the workplace!
i think sometimes it needs to come down to bricks and batons. get your jimmy hoffa on.

[Skyhilist]

It's not what the left can do for you, it's what a left wing revolution can do for you, and do so more easily with your help.
That's what "the left" needs to get people to see.

[RedBen]

It's not what the left can do for you, it's what a left wing revolution can do for you, and do so more easily with your help.
That's what "the left" needs to get people to see.
i think more people need to be willing to cooperate even when it is not personally beneficial or convenient. like it or not, we're all in this together, we'll make it or we won't.

[Popular Front of Judea]

Uh you do know how Jimmy Hoffa ended up?


i think sometimes it needs to come down to bricks and batons. get your jimmy hoffa on.

[RedBen]

Uh you know how Jimmy Hoffa ended up?
most greats ended up dead. think of how many americans alone (only cause i am one, not to dismiss comrades worldwide) who fought for racial, socio or economic justice have been killed. obviously i don't claim to understand how it feels to be targeted for murder, i just feel something got to give and things won't change until we fight for them. i am not some "i think i am a one man change bringing army" but i have been arrested and had altercations fighting for what i believe in. i don't know how many white supremacists have my picture, i've been recorded alot at demonstrations and protests, even bar fighting a wp fucker named dan miller off 127th and western in blue island near chicago. my point is things will not change until we make them. i have no delusional ideas that i changed anything, but personally i can't accept what is. i mean no disrespect to anyone but i think the time for theoreticals is over. fuck this shit.

[Popular Front of Judea]

Are you sure you aren't actually an anarchist underneath it all Ben?


most greats ended up dead. think of how many americans alone (only cause i am one, not to dismiss comrades worldwide) who fought for racial, socio or economic justice have been killed. obviously i don't claim to understand how it feels to be targeted for murder, i just feel something got to give and things won't change until we fight for them. i am not some "i think i am a one man change bringing army" but i have been arrested and had altercations fighting for what i believe in. i don't know how many white supremacists have my picture, i've been recorded alot at demonstrations and protests, even bar fighting a wp fucker named dan miller off 127th and western in blue island near chicago. my point is things will not change until we make them. i have no delusional ideas that i changed anything, but personally i can't accept what is. i mean no disrespect to anyone but i think the time for theoreticals is over. fuck this shit.

[RedBen]

Are you sure you aren't actually an anarchist underneath it all Ben?
yes. i think there are much more effective and intelligent ways to bring about social change, i will admit that. that being said, i think DOTP will never come into fruition without struggle. "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."

[Prof. Oblivion]

Why are you asking me why I am on disability?

I was just curious

[Quail]

Organizing around short term demands has been a means of bring working people aboard socialist organizations. Think of the unemployed committees organized by the socialists and communists of the 30s.

So who is organizing the long term unemployed now?
Well, depending on your disability, you could always try to find other people nearby who are interested in organising. You could maybe look towards the IWW for support in setting up a claimants' union type thing. You don't need communist and socialist parties to organise.

[Tim Cornelis]

I am better informed about radical left than the average worker and I am hard pressed to see what it can do for me. Knowing just why I am so fucked satisfies my intellectual curiosity but doesn't do much for improving my situation.


Organizing around short term demands has been a means of bring working people aboard socialist organizations. Think of the unemployed committees organized by the socialists and communists of the 30s.

So who is organizing the long term unemployed now?

This is why we need a sort of solidarity network as the SeaSol. Using short term interests and demands is what made Abahlali baseMjondolo (25,000 members) and the Landless Workers' Movement (1,500,000 members) such massive leftist movements.

[Popular Front of Judea]

I have actually had this thought. Do you know of any examples of "claimant unions" out there? Not the usual liberal advocacy organizations right?

I know during the Depression that workers organized on WPA job sites. Don't know of anything more recent.


Well, depending on your disability, you could always try to find other people nearby who are interested in organising. You could maybe look towards the IWW for support in setting up a claimants' union type thing. You don't need communist and socialist parties to organise.