How to alleviate workers suffering under capitalism?

[Ritzy Cat]

In your opinion, what are the best, tangible things that can be done to alleviate the suffering of the working class before the socialist revolution?

[Atsumari]

Well one thing I would like to say that when you speak of socialist revolution like it is inevitable, then you have already lost me. I would rather hear Revelations at that point
But on topic, I would say do not use politics as a way to listen to yourself, but rather try to find answers to what people already know is wrong. Trying to remain true to Marxism will simply be a waste of time as this point and has a tendency to become more cultish rather than a real political solution

[Rafiq]

The point is not strive for the alleviation of the suffering of the proletariat as a matter of charity. The point is to recognize this suffering in political terms, as not as the mere misfortune of vast swaths of people, but something which directly relegates back to a process of exploitation, exclusion and dispossession that must be actively and perpetually reinforced.

The alleviation of the proletariat's suffering, is therefore inversely proportional to the power of the bourgeoisie in capitalist society. The struggle against suffering here must be subordinated to the wider struggle, where there is no room for charity, no room for the crocodile tears of intellectuals - but only their unconditional subservience to the cause, their unconditional solidarity with the suffering masses in the vein that this suffering is a condition of the unfreedom of the intellectuals in question.

We do not seek to alleviate any suffering "before the revolution". We seek to spark embers, we seek to unleash the wrath of the proletariat upon this world and in testament to their power, each and every concession, each and every reform will be gained under the backdrop of the struggle for the aufhebeng of present conditions, more pertinently the conquest of political power. Our struggle is not one of charity - but precisely of conquest (of political power).

The liberal bourgeoisie conceives the prey of capital passive victims with no complacency in their own oppression - passive subjects purely as products of their being. But Communists recognize the victims of capital as only victims insofar as they are materially, spiritually and ideologically complacent in their own slavery. It is the mission of the Communists today not to "free" the passive subjects, but to empower them so they can free themselves. This is what Marx means when he claims the emancipation of the working class can only be carried out by the working class itself - it has nothing to do with some kind of vulgar logic of direct democracy, but recognition that the emancipation of the proletariat cannot be decreed - it cannot be a charitable act, it must involve the energetic mobilization of the working people themselves.

Finally, what is the source of this suffering? Undoubtedly the working people will suffer physically in the turbulent years of war and revolution, and if we have anything to learn from the Russian proletariat, it is that the general suffering of working people is irreducible to this physical suffering or deprivation of material goods - it is a spiritual suffering, one that pertains to their relationship to their own conditions of life, social life, that is. The proletariat will indeed suffer greatly, as the slave suffers from the strenuous act of breaking his chains. But alas, he suffers as a free and dignified individual.

[BIXX]

I always think the way folks here talk of "the workers" strange.

Like as some sort strange subject that needs solving. Idk if that makes sense but you get whatbim saying?

[tuwix]

In your opinion, what are the best, tangible things that can be done to alleviate the suffering of the working class before the socialist revolution?

It's difficult to estimate what can or can't be done. We must remember that capitalism is controlled by bourgeoisie. And I can't predict what they will allow.

But I can say what can be done technically:
1) Social security - unemployment benefit without time limit.
2) Free healthcare.
3) Free education without limits of level (college en university should be free)
4) Free public transport within town and cities.

[Guardia Rossa]

Fight for 4/6-hour work and/or higher salaries.
This helps the worker, "alleviates his suffering" and forces the bourgeoisie to revolutionize the means of production at a faster rate.

Wich in turn may at first increase the support for capitalism in the short term but increases the speed of the law of the tendency of the profit rate to fall.

[BIXX]

Fight for 4/6-hour work and/or higher salaries.

Are you a worker?

[Ele'ill]

fight for the fight against work

[Guardia Rossa]

Are you a worker?

I am, I work in the third sector and I also study.

[Gotya]

I am, I work in the third sector and I also study.


What is the third sector?