Workers of the World Unite? Maybe a new way of looking at it?

[Ichingcarpenter]

Not in the old Marxist way but a new way?

I feel the international change is possible people
in Africa, Asia and Europe in a new way but not in the old idioms or conceptions.

We need a new way to help this planet and each other and its
not through the current corrupt world system that has been exposed.

I think that the whole economic system will be resolved in a thinking
that ...... will blow your mind and its not on that old Marxist/Capitalist thought.

That philosophical boundary can be broken

[aquart]

1. Sure, kid. The workers of India are waiting for your call.

[pampango]

2. Nationalism is a tough opponent for those wanting to fight global problems with global

solutions. Most seem to prefer nation-based solutions to global problems.

Best of luck, though. :)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. Getting universally screwed by the capitalists is a good motivator.

And, considering the strikes in Europe, the unrest in China, and the awakening in Latin America, not as far fetched as it may seem.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. I have seen new alternatives to the old thoughts

from academic economic philosophers from India, china and Europe

and they acknowledge the OLD way of thinking even if its capitalist
or Marist is not working

There are new ways......that include regionalism but all agree that Nationalism
is a problem.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

4. sure

The problem with Marxists, and I've worked with plenty of them, is that they're stuck in the early 1900's. There are a lot of Leninist, Trotskyist, Maoists.

And none of them have a clue about the failings of those people because they see all of history as leading up to those people.

There are plenty of people influenced by Marx that have carried things on and have interesting and revolutionary ways of looking at the world. I for one am partial to the Critical Theorists, although they are university based and are intellectual in the ultimate sense, and while they don't have any revolutionary power, I don't think they claim to either - I think they're just trying to get people to think differently about the world, which of course is a revolutionary in its own way. I think a lot of people go through their classes without even realizing that Marxism is afoot.

We're stuck in a world where things have changed, but ideas have not changed yet that much yet....but when they do, watch out.

[The_Commonist]

6. We don't need a worker's revolution...

We need a consumer's revolution.
We hold all the power, we just don't know it.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. I only used that Idiom so that people would recognize it

Thank you for your clarification that is part of what the new thought talks about.

[TBF]

21. A worker's revolution is exactly what we need -

it isn't working too well to let the owners control everything (because as we see they screw over everyone else). It's past time for solidarity amongst ALL workers - from the laborers to professionals (hint you may make $150K/yr and think you've got a nice mcmansion in the suburbs, but when you suddenly get laid off or your small business goes under you find out pretty fast who the real owners are).

[The_Commonist]

23. No, a consumer's revolution is exactly what we need.

The OP is asking for new ways to look at things.
The "worker's revolution" is old school, and obviously hasn't done us all that much good in the long run.
None of those wealthy people would be wealthy if we weren't their customers.
We customers have to vote with our dollars, and start by putting the worst of the bastards out of business.
They are not the least bit afraid of "the workers."
They can lay off, fire, ignore and kill the workers.
They can't do that to their customers...

[Cal Carpenter]

25. Who do you think fought (and even died) to get us to the New Deal?

WORKERS.

It's one of the only things that *has* done any good in this country, and it's been crushed time and time again because it IS the one thing that works.

Vote with our dollars? WHAT FUCKING DOLLARS?

If someone has enough dollars to choose how and where to spend them then they are lucky as hell. Most people in this country (and the world - which is important because our economy goes way past political borders) have little or no choice? They're lucky if they can pay their basic bills and feed their families and hope to god they can sock a few bucks away so they don't starve to death in old age?

[TBF]

26. What dollars? Who has any money left? 1% of them own 40% of this country.

They stole it through tax breaks, the stock market, bailouts, you name it. It may have been obtained legally (because we know who has the best lawyers), but certainly not morally.

So, yes, we need a worker's revolution (which is going to include the unemployed because otherwise our number of workers isn't looking too great either ....)...

It's called class warfare. There are roughly 400 billionaires in this country and they can eat us for breakfast. They could care less whether we shop at Walmart or a thrift store. They don't give a shit about that because it doesn't affect them. The only power we have is in our mass numbers & getting our bodies in the street to remind them there are more of us than them.

[blindpig]

28. Consumers are to humans as dogs are to wolves. n/t

[Cal Carpenter]

24. The power of the people is not in their money

Wealth is concentrated.

10% of the people have 71% of the wealth. And even worse, most of our elected officials in Washington who set economic policy are in that 10%.

Many people have very few choices of how to spend their money if they even have any to spend.

The power of the people is in our work because without us it wouldn't get done. If the owners and executives and most of the management disappeared the factories and offices and stores could still function.

If the workers refuse to work then the work doesn't get done. THAT is where our power is. That is, if we can get over blaming each other for where we shop and what we buy with our meager crumbs and can actually find some SOLIDARITY.

[Moondog]

7. With respect -

I believe that you are falling into the same trap that many Generals do. You are trying to fight a war by trying to avoid the mistakes of a (usually "the") previous war. Usually referred to as "fighting the last war." Except in your case you are are trying to fight several wars and a couple of generations back.

Good luck to you though. I have no doubt whatsoever that you mean well.

[blindpig]

9. The Old Man is buried prematurely.

Look at those thousands of red flags in the streets of Europe this year, who do you think were were the prime agitators and organizers?

Marx's analysis has withstood the test of time, we can see things unfolding just as he explained, it's fucking uncanny.

Marxism is not a Belief or Philosophy, it is a guide to action.

[leftstreet]

10. +1

Not sure what was wrong with the 'old Marxism,' but I didn't ask

[Ichingcarpenter]

11. Well...... you know that word is like being a Liberal

in some standings.

I tell you the world is looking and has answers to this crap.

[leftstreet]

12. ..

true enough

And solidarity is all around us!

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. The word 'Marxist' doesn't have the same crap meaning as in the States

So I was posting like an Amerikan?

[Starry Messenger]

13. +2

It's all pretty practical and he already put a lot of work into it. No need to reinvent the wheel.

[Cal Carpenter]

14. That's the thing about truth

It applies to the present just as accurately as it did 100+ years ago.

Capitalism is bunk, and it is destined to fail because the theory it is based on is weak sauce. Marx breaks it down better than anyone.

Those Greek commies sure as shit aren't stopping. They don't just show up on a Saturday afternoon for a rally once a year. They stay in the streets and demand change, and fight back when they get crushed.

Workers of the world are uniting, the question is, will American workers catch up?

Cuz it's even clearer today than it was yesterday - no politician from any party is going to fight for our interests. It ain't gonna happen.

[blindpig]

16. "Capitalism is bunk"

that will make a nice sign.

[maryf]

17. +3

to paraphrase the old man: "from each according to his ability, to each according to need"...always sounded practical to me...

[smoochpooch]

15. The middle class needs to realize they have more in common with the poor than the rich.

Americans especially have trouble seeing that all too often, the line. between poor and middle class is nearly invisible. It's tough to get people to see themselves as they are and not how they wish they were.

[blindpig]

19. Not to worry

The Capitalists will see to that.

[TBF]

20. That clarity is coming every day - as more and more lose their homes and jobs.

When that happens, through no fault of your own, you start rethinking the myths you've been taught.

[MilesColtrane]

22. There's nothing wrong with the old way - unionizaton.

It works.

You just have to educate people about why unions are necessary.

[TBF]

27. And that is exactly why they've taken out our unions -

they decimated the auto union and they are working on getting rid of the teachers now (and replacing them with young graduates in their charter schools).

Building unions is definitely part of it, but realize we are down to 12.3% of the workforce (cite: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.nr0.htm)