How will the poor become communists if they are too tired for book-reading?

[TomLeftist]

How can we see a communist revolutionary objective situation in the near future, if the great majority of people are so tired, so exhausted from their daily routines of being busy all day working, and doing informal domestic chores. And without much guidance, without much motivation to read leftist literature and leftist alternative news in this country of USA where life is so damn exhausting. One of the most exhausting nations of the world to live in

[Ele'ill]

That is a condition that could lead to action towards leisure.

[GLF]

It's a good question. It's why those of us who are sympathetic to the plight of the workers, and are able, must work on their behalf. We don't need all the workers being educated communists for socialist revolution - just relate to them and impress upon them the things that are vital. Such as the fact that they work long and hard for very little, or the political injustice and corruption inherent in the current system. We don't need them to understand Marxism or to even call themselves communists. The most class conscious of the working classes will constitute an active vanguard - as for the great masses, all we need is for them to be angry and armed.

[BIXX]

It's a good question. It's why those of us who are sympathetic to the plight of the workers, and are able, must work on their behalf. We don't need all the workers being educated communists for socialist revolution - just relate to them and impress upon them the things that are vital. Such as the fact that they work long and hard for very little, or the political injustice and corruption inherent in the current system. We don't need them to understand Marxism or to even call themselves communists. The most class conscious of the working classes will constitute an active vanguard - as for the great masses, all we need is for them to be angry and armed.

What a paternalistic point of view.

[pastradamus]

Communism isn't just about work, but family, social interaction and having time away from labour. Compare the time you get to yourself now as opposed a mine worker in the 1800's. Thank Communism for that.

[GLF]

What a paternalistic point of view.

I agree it does sound that way. But we can't realistically expect everyone to be able to cite the Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital by heart. The best thing we can do in the mean time is work to deconstruct social identities such as race, nationalism and religion because these are what blind the workers from being conscious of class. We need to take that anger that is right now being directed at immigrants, social and religious minorities, and "the other political party", and redirect it to the bourgeoisie. That's literally the job we have right now. To educate and agitate.

Communism isn't just about work, but family, social interaction and having time away from labour. Compare the time you get to yourself now as opposed a mine worker in the 1800's. Thank Communism for that.

This is very true...in the 19th century conditions were terrible. It was the pressure put on by communists that caused the ruling class to grant these privileges to the workers. In a way this is bad because it relieved their agitation and sated them to some degree (which is what they were trying to do). But if it hadn't been for the left, they would still be working 12 hours a day for just a few dollars a day. No unions or strikes, either. They would show up with their fascist goons and beat them with baseball bats. It's the far-left that brought these changes.

[Johnnyred]

Totally agree with you. Apathy has always been the issue with convincing the working classes; whether to vote Communist, Socialist or similar. Most are fed a diet of cheap TV and tabloid news. Most don't vote at all, and those who do are often seduced by whomever offers them the most "stuff."

Here in the UK things are changing, albeit a little. The rise in the youth vote in the GE earlier this year was great to see, and after decades of political apathy from students, the rise in their interest in politics is heartwarming. Labour didn't win more seats and votes purely because of the youth vote. There was also a rise in left party votes in general, and Labour now stands higher in the polls than the Tories.

How do we change things? Keep campaigning, keep telling people the truth and get the message out there. Social media is great for this, and bypasses the conservative owned outlets.

It's a good question. It's why those of us who are sympathetic to the plight of the workers, and are able, must work on their behalf. We don't need all the workers being educated communists for socialist revolution - just relate to them and impress upon them the things that are vital. Such as the fact that they work long and hard for very little, or the political injustice and corruption inherent in the current system. We don't need them to understand Marxism or to even call themselves communists. The most class conscious of the working classes will constitute an active vanguard - as for the great masses, all we need is for them to be angry and armed.