Being socialist/communist within capitalism

[radical_theorist_83]

On my blog, I mentioned eating at Taco Bell, and a fellow leftist pointed out to me some of their poor labor practices. Truth be told, going to get fast food at night, or getting supplies at -scary music- Wal-Mart just seems so natural...necessary even. It's almost like being trained to reinforce--or, at least, refrain from challenging--these companies abuses...simply because it is so ingrained in many of us, in spite of our best intentions. Therefore, my question is how does one be, for lack of a better word, a good socialist/communist when you are surrounded by capitalism?

[apathy maybe]

Simple smash the state and then you don't have to worry about it :).

More to the point, only buy what you need, follow the ethic reduce, reuse and recycle.
Buy from charity shops, don't buy crap from sweat-shops or big companies.
Make your own stuff.
Join/create collectives and co-ops.

Be active. Fight for change from the lowest to the highest level. If you see an injustice point it out, try and fix it.

If nothing else, you can put a more human face on capitalism. You have a world to win.

[redstar2000]

Let's face it...since we live in a capitalist society, we cannot help but play the "consumer role" to some degree or another.

If the only place you can get shoes at a price you can afford is Wal-Mart, then that's where you must go. It's not necessary to have 10 or 20 pairs, if two or three pairs is all you can actually use.

The basic idea in resisting "consumerism" is to buy only what you can actually use. They want you to think "oh, that looks cool, I'll buy that". Or even "if I bought that, people would think I was really cool".

And sometimes that's even true...if you did buy it, some people would think you were "really cool".

Unfortunately, the people who think like that are definitely and probably hopelessly "uncool". Those who are impressed by appearances tend to come mostly from the shallow end of the gene pool.

All fast "food" chains treat their workers like crap; there's no one chain that's better than any other. Avoid them if at all possible; buy "heat & eat" meals and snacks at the supermarket and eat them at home -- they're cheaper and taste better.

But it's probably a good idea not to allow yourself to be twisted into "moral knots" over whether to buy "this" or shop "there" -- all of capitalism is based on exploitation and worse. If you limit your purchases to what you actually need and use -- and don't cross any picket lines, of course -- you're doing all that can reasonably be expected.

And don't let people "bully" you over your "sins" -- the span of capitalism will not be extended a nano-second if you ate every single meal at Taco Bell for the rest of your life.

But if you buy an SUV, you will be banned from this board! :lol:

:redstar2000:

The Redstar2000 Papers (http://www.redstar2000papers.fightcapitalism.net)
A site about communist ideas

[RedAnarchist]

Like i said a few weeks ago in some thread -

You cannot be a cat in a dog's kennel. Until the dog is driven away, the cat may as well bark a little. When, and only when, the dog is driven away, then the cat may miaow.

[YKTMX]

I couldn't care if someone ate at McDonalds everyday or had GAP tattooed on their forehead to be honest, as long they were committed and active.

[prettyred]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2005, 04:01 PM
Like i said a few weeks ago in some thread -

You cannot be a cat in a dog's kennel. Until the dog is driven away, the cat may as well bark a little. When, and only when, the dog is driven away, then the cat may miaow.
word, it is impossible to avoid funding corporations, what are you using to post these messages, a computer powered by the richest, most powerful corporation in the world, Mic***oft. excuse my language.

[Des]

Originally posted by [email protected] 12 2005, 06:06 PM

what are you using to post these messages, a computer powered by the richest, most powerful corporation in the world, Mic***oft. excuse my language.


use Linux! free and a fantastic o/s

[Abstrakt]

Originally posted by prettyred+Jan 12 2005, 06:06 PM--> (prettyred @ Jan 12 2005, 06:06 PM)
[email protected] 12 2005, 04:01 PM
Like i said a few weeks ago in some thread -

You cannot be a cat in a dog's kennel. Until the dog is driven away, the cat may as well bark a little. When, and only when, the dog is driven away, then the cat may miaow.
word, it is impossible to avoid funding corporations, what are you using to post these messages, a computer powered by the richest, most powerful corporation in the world, Mic***oft. excuse my language. [/b]
well...I try to have my computers made for me....but, there is capitalism from those companies. I mean, like one of you guys said, you'd probably have to make everything on your own.

[pedro san pedro]

as has been said, its impossible not to be a part of this society - going and living in a cave in the bush isnt going to change anything for the rest of us either ;)

i try to live by the princple of doing moe good then i do harm. not just by making what i consider ethical purchases when possible and consuming as little as possible, but by also actively resisting the status quo.

maybe i can leave this world a little better by my being here - i definately dont want to make it worse though

[Jesus Christ!]

There is obviously no way to avoid capitalism in a capatialist state. As was said before just try to avoid at all costs consumerism.

[Zingu]

I wear one pair of shorts and one pair of shoes every week; its just the shirts that are a choice to me! :D

Yes, its good to buy from workers' co-ops, but at least, just avoid consumerism; don't listen to ads that basically say "If you don't buy this, you aren't cool". Don't pay attention to fads either.

[louis1917]

sometimes I find it kind of depressing... you think about what's wrong with the system and naturally you think of how it could be... but you just don't see an alternative in your methods. you can't do anything more then your best right?

and let's face it how many people really understand you... exept for the view comrades you found via internet or your contacts via the party (if any?).

[Abstrakt]

Unless we start sowing and manufacturing ourselves..it's kind of hard

[RevolutionarySocialist MadRedDog]

I agree with the points made by Apathy Maybe and RedStar 2000:
Buy only what you need: reduce, re-use and recycle
Buy from charity shops
Preferably buy your food at small shops instead of big stores
Buy your food in supermarkets instead of fast food-places
Join collectives and fight for a better world every day

[h&s]

Buy your food in supermarkets instead of fast food-places
By your food from local shops when possible - it is almost always cheaper and fresher.

[RevolutionarySocialist MadRedDog]

Originally posted by h&[email protected] 17 2005, 02:49 PM

Buy your food in supermarkets instead of fast food-places
By your food from local shops when possible - it is almost always cheaper and fresher.
That one is one line above the one you quoted :D

[octovia]

living in capitalism may be hard....but buying from charity shops would surely be a last resort of protest.

[Taiga]

I myself buy food (most of it) on the market directly from peasants that grow and produce it. Thus I help them to live, because for most of them it is the only source of money. And I don't feed large [email protected]#$ing corporations. That's my contribution.

[renegade_fire]

The best way to fight is to try and read and educate yourself as much as you can while at work. Your in a better position to fight the system while your inside it.

[apathy maybe]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2005, 08:01 AM
living in capitalism may be hard....but buying from charity shops would surely be a last resort of protest.
There are a few reasons to buy stuff from charity shops rather then new.

1) It is cheaper
2) The money goes to charity rather then some fat cats
3) It reduces waste, rather then buying new, you buy perfectly good second hand
4) You are reducing the amount of crap produced. Good for the environment
5) You get good stuff second hand, reducing the amount of waste, helping the environment

So why would it be "a last resort of protest"?

[redstar2000]

Thrift shops usually don't have a very good selection for guys...the stock comes from wealthy wives who make their husbands discard stuff when it's already nearly worn out. Still, they're worth checking out...I got a "London Fog" overcoat for $15 -- probably $200 or more when new.

But women can dress very well from thrift shops; rich women throw a dress out when it's been worn only a few times. In fact, a working woman in a job where she is expected to "dress upscale" can save a fortune on her wardrobe expenses at a thrift shop.

If you have a thrift shop in your neighborhood, stop by and have a look. :)

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/cool/123.gif