Evening

[Code1337]

Hey there, my names Code1337, or Code for short. I'm a 16 year old from the USA.

I'm a communist, but I was raised capitalist, and my family is capitalist. I was too for awhile, but that's until I did some more research on capitalism. This was when I was around 14, and by the time I was 15 I had become a communist, though I do think some things in the theory need to be fixed.

I admit, I was fooled at first by my family and the biased American media. It's hard to believe that I didn't instantly see it. It was like when you grow up with the belief in Santa Claus, and then someone tells you he's not true, bu you of course don't believe them.

I always thought communism was this evil, oppressing system, and then I discovered that it was in fact capitalism and fascism, that oppresses people. My world had been turned upside down. They even taught me in school, when we learned about the different systems of government, that communism, anarchism, and fascism are evil. Fascism is evil imo, but the USA seems pretty fascist to me, so >_>

I also lean towards anarchism, but am unsure. I am all for freedom, but anarchism leads to the rise of dictatorships, but then again, so does everything else. I'm sure a lot of you guys know more about anarchy than me, so if some of you could clarify that, thanks.

Anyways, looking forward to joining a community of people like myself, and hearing different opinions.

[Marino]

Welcome Comrade. We are already friends, but this is my first post as well. :)

I truly believe you will come to be a strong anarchist, as we share very similar views.

I strongly recommend reading this if you haven't already:

Eh, I guess I can't post links until I reach 25 posts.

:laugh:

[Code1337]

Welcome Comrade. We are already friends, but this is my first post as well. :)

I truly believe you will come to be a strong anarchist, as we share very similar views.

I strongly recommend reading this if you haven't already:

Damnit, I lost the link. I will edit this post when I do.

:laugh:

I remember when I first converted you to my evil communist ways.

[Marino]

Evil?

I viewed them as different, yes, but now I see Anarchist Communism as the only sane government system. Funny how things work out like that. :lol:

[F9]

I also lean towards anarchism, but am unsure. I am all for freedom, but anarchism leads to the rise of dictatorships, but then again, so does everything else. I'm sure a lot of you guys know more about anarchy than me, so if some of you could clarify that, thanks.



Welcome on board comrade:star:
No, Anarchism has nothing to do with dictatorships!Not even near.Anarchism is against all authorities!
Just this for now, if you have more questions visit learning sub-forum and ask away whatever question you want, and someone will answer you!(No question is stupid).
And i suggest you reading the ABC of Anarchism by Alexander Berkman, is a great book introducing you in Anarchism.You can find it online for free, just go to the Anarchist group, and you will find a for queries on theory thread, where you will find this book and a lot of others concerning Anarchism.Just go here (http://www.revleft.com/vb/anarchist-f105/index.html).

[Code1337]

Marino just completely converted me to anarchism, and after reading parts of that book, I'm convinced. Maybe we can make this shit happen. (He and I have been sharing ideas for months btw.)

His idea of anarchy and my idea of communism went perfectly well together. It's a shame that people don't get exposed to concepts like these. All they get taught is "Capitalism is great! Communism is evil!" and that's what they come to believe. It's a real shame.

[Marino]

Yes, the main reason I came to RevLeft is because I want to participate in a large scale Revolution. We just need a plan on what we need to do and when.

The current day US is in a perfect state for a rebellion. :blackA:

[#FF0000]

The current day US is in a perfect state for a rebellion. :blackA:

No.

In any case, welcome! Nice to see you've taken to anarchism, but don't let that keep you from reading into some other branches of leftism as well, boyo.

[Marino]

No.

In any case, welcome! Nice to see you've taken to anarchism, but don't let that keep you from reading into some other branches of leftism as well, boyo.

Can you please explain why "No"?

The US needs change. Change comes with revolution among the people.

I would love to hear your opinions, it might help me.

EDIT: Just so you know, I am an Anarcho Communist like Code. :)

[#FF0000]

Can you please explain why "No"?

The US needs change. Change comes with revolution among the people.

I said "No" because it sounded like you thought the US is on the brink of Revolution. It's not. Even if it was, the Left in the US is in a particularly sorry state.

[Marino]

What I was saying is that revolutions happen when the country or state is failing, thus forcing the people into action.

And the US is definitely not doing so well economically nor politically... to put it lightly.

If not the US, do you think ANY country is ripe for revolution? I definitely see the US as the top candidate.

[JimmyJazz]

I said "No" because it sounded like you thought the US is on the brink of Revolution. It's not. Even if it was, the Left in the US is in a particularly sorry state.

And this is really the one weakness of anarchism imo - without a necessarily strong focus on the working class as the only realistic agent of social change, anarchism is susceptible to this kind of "it could happen tomorrow!:scared:" thinking. Many anarchists know better, of course (Rorschach himself is an anarchist, right?), but the actual philosophy of anarchism is still susceptible to it, especially for noobs. Marxism is less susceptible because it's focus is so squarely on the self-emancipating working class as the only realistic agent of social change.

As a theory of organizing society, nothing beats anarchism. "No authority" - so simple! (And in addition to the simplicity, that rule is also much more far-reaching than anything in Marxism, since it directly addresses forms of authority that have nothing to do with capitalism or the state, such as organized religious authority, patriarchy, etc.).

But it is susceptible to unrealistic thinking about the possibilities for socialist transformation and the conditions necessary for it. And that is why, imo, the movement doesn't and hasn't ever lived up to the immense promise of the philosophy.

Btw, welcome codes. :star3:

[#FF0000]

What I was saying is that revolutions happen when the country or state is failing, thus forcing the people into action.

Well, yeah. More or less.


And the US is definitely not doing so well economically nor politically... to put it lightly.

Sure but there's no strong leftist current, Marxist-Leninist, Anarchist, or otherwise.


If not the US, do you think ANY country is ripe for revolution? I definitely see the US as the top candidate.

I don't know what you mean by "ripe for revolution", exactly. So I don't know. Even if I did know what you meant, I probably wouldn't be able to answer you with any sort of authority. Still, I know the U.S. wouldn't be near the top of that list. The left is much stronger virtually everywhere else in the world.

Oh and welcome to you as well. :)


words

If I didn't agree with you, I'd crack you one. :(

[JimmyJazz]

heh. :)

[Marino]

I definitely see what you guys are saying, Code has reminded me that great change takes a long time.

So, if we can't do anything now, what do we do? Wait? I don't really like the idea of waiting.

Heh, I am radical even in a group of radicalists. :laugh:

[Code1337]

Thanks for the warm welcomes.

Marino, if every time something bad happened, there was a revolution, things would be in a sorry state. It takes years of constant pressure for a revolution to happen.The only way we are going to get anything done is by influencing people to our side, and hoping that as time goes on, our ideas take hold.

[#FF0000]

I definitely see what you guys are saying, Code has reminded me that great change takes a long time.

So, if we can't do anything now, what do we do? Wait? I don't really like the idea of waiting.

Heh, I am radical even in a group of radicalists. :laugh:

No you're silly. :/

It's not like we're waiting boyo. Many of us here are active in our organizations or unions. One member here has actually volunteered with the Zapatistas in Mexico at least once. There's also a group of members here who are organizing a political party, if I remember correctly (though they aren't the most popular group).

What you should do is learn. Read up on things, talk to other members and all that.

[Marino]

That is what I'm here to do. Learn. :)

[Code1337]

No you're silly. :/
QFT, if there ever was a truth.

[JimmyJazz]

Thanks for the warm welcomes.

Marino, if every time something bad happened, there was a revolution, things would be in a sorry state. It takes years of constant pressure for a revolution to happen.The only way we are going to get anything done is by influencing people to our side, and hoping that as time goes on, our ideas take hold.

Well, even this I think is too simplistic. Ideas have a class character. There are groups of people who simply aren't going to accept these radical ideas, and then there are groups (classes) who, under the right conditions, will be much more likely to do so. Sure, you might meet a Communist lawyer here or there (I have), but for the most part, the socialist and communist movements in this country have been firmly rooted in the class that is systematically exploited by capitalism--the working class. This doesn't necessarily include manual laborers only, but it does refer to people who are dependent on a wage to survive, and could not survive on their stock options, self-employed side work, etc.

If you're interested in the Socialist/Communist movements in the U.S., as well as the larger working class movement, there are a few books about each of them on this list (http://www.amazon.com/Marxism-for-Americans/lm/RXTOINIPGSM8J/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full).

A few more lists (http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/ADV3T0JAS020J/ref=cm_pdp_lm_all) here.