Classes aren’t designed, there’s no moustache twirling villain behind the curtain. They arise through historical process as people struggle over control of the means of production.
The middle class, which I hate as a concept because it’s weird fuzzy idealistic liberal nonsense rather than something that can be theoretically grounded, is roughly analogous in most people’s thinking to a mix of petite bourgeois and labour aristocracy. The bourgeois began to arise hundreds of years ago as a class, as technological changes allowed merchants to challenge the aristocracy. They were closely followed by the labour aristocracy.
I agree with the idea that the threat of communism during the cold war gave workers more power with which to negotiate for a larger share of their labour (at least, within certain countries) but again this is class struggle and complex. Political and economic realities colliding with increased class consciousness and high degrees of labour organisation. There was not some secret meeting of the capitalists where they all agreed to give people sick leave and a raise to avoid revolution.
I think as leftists we should not invent conspiracy and boogiemen. There are enough solid pieces of propaganda that do not obscure the sensible and systemic explanations for why we find ourselves in this historical moment, and I think that since reality has a left wing bias engaging with it only strengthens the cause.
I don’t know about that. They seem a little incoherent sometimes in the way that most people who haven’t made a study do (and tbh most of us who have done a little are) but I would not describe them as anticommunist based on my interactions and what I’ve seen of them.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words and hopefully others will find them interesting
Not a fan of this one.
Classes aren’t designed, there’s no moustache twirling villain behind the curtain. They arise through historical process as people struggle over control of the means of production.
The middle class, which I hate as a concept because it’s weird fuzzy idealistic liberal nonsense rather than something that can be theoretically grounded, is roughly analogous in most people’s thinking to a mix of petite bourgeois and labour aristocracy. The bourgeois began to arise hundreds of years ago as a class, as technological changes allowed merchants to challenge the aristocracy. They were closely followed by the labour aristocracy.
I agree with the idea that the threat of communism during the cold war gave workers more power with which to negotiate for a larger share of their labour (at least, within certain countries) but again this is class struggle and complex. Political and economic realities colliding with increased class consciousness and high degrees of labour organisation. There was not some secret meeting of the capitalists where they all agreed to give people sick leave and a raise to avoid revolution.
I think as leftists we should not invent conspiracy and boogiemen. There are enough solid pieces of propaganda that do not obscure the sensible and systemic explanations for why we find ourselves in this historical moment, and I think that since reality has a left wing bias engaging with it only strengthens the cause.
Unruffled is a weirdo anti-communist asshole who refuses to actually engage with any leftist theory but I applaud your effort.
I don’t know about that. They seem a little incoherent sometimes in the way that most people who haven’t made a study do (and tbh most of us who have done a little are) but I would not describe them as anticommunist based on my interactions and what I’ve seen of them.
Anyway, thanks for the kind words and hopefully others will find them interesting