March of the Pigs

Death to the Heart of Liberalism

Morning Comrades.

Here we are, again. I have been reading, as I would imagine most of you have, up on the US presidential election results for the past few days trying to come to an understanding of what was what until a few hours ago when an understanding dawned that is now sprawling across dispatches for this whole week. We are not going to engage in election depression and doom predictions, the superficial moral panic of what may come is something I will leave for people with something to sell. Trump was still in power the last time this substack project started and going through much of the early days of this project clarified much of what is to come, here, for the next little while. Election analysis concerning a reality in which both parties would happily see me put up against a wall, whose entire plan and play embodies everything that this project has been fighting for decades is not something we will engage here. As always, and with a clear head and strength to bring about our liberation, plans, root cause analysis and more plans for our future.

To be clear, there is no rejoice in Trump winning, and equally, there isn’t much joy in Harris losing either. Both, in their own ways, signalled a material change in the reality of life for the West, specifically, of course, for the US, but whatever happens there, happens here. In every aspect of existence, either result will have had and will have negative effects on our well-being, but then, so has every electorial choice been since I can remember, or rather, since these elections have had an effect on me, rather than my parents. Regardless of what has been cajoled over this election process including changes of policy and laws two realities are now as ever-present and vital to understand: we will continue to get robbed of what is ours and if we want this to change we need to put to rest the ideological heart of the capitalist neoliberal project, individualism. Secondly, we need to understand power, how to attain and keep it, pass it on and then lastly understand organization. They do, and it is 5 past midnight for us to do the same.

Let’s start by putting the ideological idea at the heart of their control to an end and get to terms with this alienating concept of individualism because one thing is for sure, none of us are getting out of this shit on our own.

The engineered individualism central to neoliberal ideology has not only fractured social solidarity but has also directly contributed to the economic decline of the working class across the NATO West since the 1980s. Neoliberal policies—from deregulation and privatization to austerity and weakened labour protections—have systematically undermined workers' economic security, wages, and living conditions. The cultural shift toward individualism has been instrumental in this process, discouraging collective resistance, eroding labour unions, and promoting the myth that economic outcomes are a matter of personal responsibility rather than class struggle. This individualism, cultivated and perpetuated by the capitalist class, remains one of its most effective tools in the ongoing class war, as it diverts attention from systemic exploitation and blames individuals for structural hardships.

The Rise of Neoliberalism and the Economic Decline of the Working Class

The 1980s marked the dawn of neoliberalism as the dominant economic ideology across much of the NATO West, led by figures such as Ronald Reagan in the United States and Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom. These leaders implemented sweeping reforms that restructured the global economy, privileging market deregulation, free trade, and privatization over state intervention and social welfare. By promoting a view of society in which individuals were solely responsible for their own economic fate, neoliberalism dismantled collective safety nets and unions that had previously provided some protection for the working class. With weakened labor protections and the dismantling of unions, workers lost bargaining power, and wages stagnated even as productivity continued to rise.

The results of these policies are evident in the widening wealth gap, decreased job security, and a steady decline in living standards for working-class families across the NATO West. In the United States, for instance, the share of national income going to the bottom 50% of earners has plummeted since the 1980s, while the wealth of the top 1% has soared. This economic polarization is not incidental but a direct outcome of policies that shifted power from the working class to the capitalist class. The underlying individualism of neoliberal ideology has been crucial in ensuring that workers do not unify in resistance to these trends, as it has encouraged them to see economic outcomes as a function of personal success or failure rather than the result of systemic exploitation.

Individualism as a Tool to Undermine Collective Power

The ideological shift toward individualism has been an effective tool for the capitalist class to prevent organized resistance. When people are taught to view themselves as isolated economic actors, they are less likely to see the need for collective action. Individualism, as promoted by neoliberal ideology, fosters a culture in which personal advancement and competition are celebrated, while collective struggle is devalued or ignored. This emphasis on self-reliance and personal success discourages workers from seeing themselves as part of a larger class with shared interests, making it difficult to build the solidarity necessary for challenging exploitative economic structures.

One of the clearest examples of this is the decline of labour unions. In the postwar era, labour unions provided a powerful voice for workers, helping them secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions through collective bargaining. However, under neoliberalism, unions have been portrayed as obsolete or even harmful to individual freedom. By promoting the idea that workers should negotiate their own terms directly with employers, neoliberalism has weakened collective bargaining power, leaving individuals vulnerable to corporate interests. This individualist narrative has been especially effective in the United States, where union membership has fallen from over 20% in 1980 to just 10% in recent years, as neoliberal policies and rhetoric have successfully portrayed unions as unnecessary or obstructive.

Economic Insecurity and the Myth of Personal Responsibility

Neoliberal individualism has also encouraged people to see their economic status as a reflection of their personal choices and effort, obscuring the systemic factors that drive inequality. This “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” mentality reinforces the idea that those who struggle financially have only themselves to blame. For the capitalist class, this myth is invaluable in the class war, as it prevents workers from recognizing that their hardships are the result of systemic exploitation rather than personal failure. By keeping workers focused on individual advancement and personal responsibility, neoliberalism discourages class consciousness, which is essential for any effective collective action.

This myth has been particularly damaging during periods of economic crisis, such as the 2008 financial collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic. Both crises revealed the precarity of the working class, which bore the brunt of job losses, wage cuts, and lack of healthcare. Yet neoliberal narratives insisted that individuals should adapt to these conditions rather than question the systemic causes. For example, after the 2008 crash, workers were told to “upskill” or “pivot” rather than blame the deregulated financial system or demand accountability from banks and corporations. This narrative of personal responsibility shifts the burden of systemic failure onto individuals, making it difficult to mobilize collective responses to these crises and reinforcing the economic dominance of the capitalist class.

The Psychological Fragmentation of the Working Class

Neoliberal individualism does not only affect economic structures; it has also profoundly impacted the social and psychological fabric of working-class communities. By promoting competition and individual success over community and collective well-being, neoliberalism has fostered a culture of isolation, anxiety, and insecurity. The rise of gig work, precarious employment, and self-optimization culture reflect this shift. Workers are encouraged to view themselves as “self-employed entrepreneurs” rather than as part of a broader working class. This mindset isolates individuals from their peers and frames them as competitors rather than allies, undermining the potential for solidarity and collective organizing.

The psychological toll of this individualism is significant. Constant self-optimization and self-blame for economic difficulties create a culture of stress, alienation, and anxiety. Workers, burdened with the idea that they alone are responsible for their economic standing, often feel ashamed or demoralized when they struggle to make ends meet. This internalized failure erodes the confidence needed for organizing, as individuals feel powerless to change their conditions. In contrast, Marxist traditions emphasize the power of collective action and mutual support, offering a counter-narrative that neoliberal individualism seeks to suppress. Paulo Freire’s concept of “conscientization” highlights the importance of understanding one’s social conditions and the potential for collective liberation, an awareness that neoliberalism actively undermines.

Reclaiming Collective Power: A Marxist Response to Neoliberal Individualism

To combat the economic decline of the working class and the atomizing effects of neoliberal individualism, it is essential to rebuild a culture of solidarity and collective struggle. This means challenging the narrative that economic hardship is a personal failure and reconnecting workers to a shared identity based on class consciousness and mutual support. We can counter neoliberal individualism by creating spaces for workers to share their experiences, recognize their common struggles, and build a sense of collective agency.

Grassroots initiatives, mutual aid networks, and renewed union efforts are all critical steps in reversing the impact of neoliberal individualism. These efforts can reconnect individuals to a broader community and challenge the myth that their economic outcomes are solely a function of personal effort. In doing so, they can help rebuild the social fabric that neoliberalism has eroded and provide a foundation for organized resistance against the capitalist class. By fostering a shared vision of economic justice and community welfare, these efforts counter the isolating effects of individualism and empower workers to demand systemic change.

Overcoming this ideology requires rebuilding a culture of solidarity, mutual aid, and class consciousness. True power lies in collective action and the recognition of shared interests. By rejecting the myths of neoliberal individualism and embracing the power of organizing from below, the working class can begin to reverse its economic decline and challenge the structures of exploitation that neoliberalism has entrenched. Only by reclaiming collective power can the working class hope to create a society rooted in justice, equality, and true liberation from capitalist oppression.

We have work to do, as we did last month, last year and we will have tomorrow, next month and next year, irrespective of what clown they put in “charge”.

Over this week, we will get into what power is and what it means as well as what this bastardized term “organizing” actually means.

As always, thank you for your time and attention,

Yours, warmly,

V.