600

The Power of Possibility

Morning Comrades.

A celebratory break from the regular schedule as this not only the 600th dispatch but also marks the beginning of the 4th year of this work. Granted, my work schedule is gruelling these next few days and I am chugging espresso’s as I write this before work so I am going to keep this short and sweet for the time being.

First and foremost, thank you for these last 4 years. The idea to remove my ideas and musings from the now defunct social media platforms was not healthy correct but also increasingly healthy. Since I image that the vast majority of you came here from said platforms, thanks for trying this and also, for supporting me and the family with your hard earned money.

A few short words about why, how and what only as I feel an alignment and stated purpose based on self reflection and gratitude are in, regular, order.

I never set out with an ideology to suit, or rather create an identity. However, from an early age onward and I still don’t really know why, I looked at the world, first mine and as I got older, a larger world and thought to myself that: yeah, this is bullshit, we can do better than this. Poverty, Oppression, Violence, War and Strive pissed me off and I wanted to change that. It is because of this inherent feeling of injustice but more importantly, possibility that I became interested in politics, philosophy, direct action and then some. My ideas and associations have changed as I matured and most likely will continue to change as I grow older and learn more. Similar to Parenti, this is how I arrived my present state of thinking and whilst I still and utterly shy away from having my given identity as a Communist shape my actions, it is where we are. I still look at the world and its man-made ills and know that we can do better. The ideas are there, the willingness is there and so are the possibilities, and the potential of these possibilities is not only what gives me energy to keep going but is what this is primarily about.

Sure, Marx did say:

“...it is all the more clear what we have to accomplish at present: I am referring to ruthless criticism of all that exists, ruthless both in the sense of not being afraid of the results it arrives at and in the sense of being just as little afraid of conflict with the powers that be.”

and the continuous work to criticize all that oppresses us is vital, but additionally I would like to add the following. This work, this community and our combined efforts are here to remind the rest of the world of the power of possibility. To remind everyone that right up until the very end, life is to be worn gloriously because, until our last moment, the future's what we make it. Communism offers the power of possibility by envisioning a world where basic needs such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare are guaranteed rights for every person. This vision inspires hope for a future where no one suffers due to lack of access to these necessities. The eradication of extreme poverty and the potential for personal and societal growth become real possibilities in such a system. Furthermore, the future is ours and we can make it any which way we want to.

To end all oppression and violence, for the possibility of us all.

Thanks for being here,

Yours,

Steven