Afternoon Comrades.
It’s Easter at the time of writing this and whilst I spent most of that time working in the kitchen, the usual 5 seconds of dopamine social media supplies in forms of memes and upset entitled assholes were consumed and of course, one could not not come across the usual references to the radical history of Jesus.
Funny as they are, it did have me thinking a little on the proclaimed radicalism in reference to the pseudo-historical figure that is Jesus, the probable-historical figure that was Jesus, radicalism in on itself and how we interact with it all. Not so fun fact on the side, I was once taken to court by my ex-wife as she perceived my “radicalism” to be a threat to the safety of our son all the while I was thinking how un-radical I actually was - you see where I am going with this, perception and reality are often two different sides of the interconnected coin. Furthermore, and this being the more important part, “radical” can and does mean many different things, even within one household, let alone neighbourhood, city, state and country. Additionally, and this is more in line with the dialectical part of our journey, what is perceived and judges as radical changes continuously whilst those doing the defining don’t.
Essentially, the point being and as we are going to dig into deeper later in the week, “communism is the middle ground”- as Brecht said, and even more importantly, all of the changes we could immediately and collectively agree on today, from free all encompassing healthcare, housing for all, the end of capitalism to the end of all wars, are regarded by those in power as so utterly alien and radical whilst, in reality, they are anything but.
I firmly believe that our demands are anything but radical, but the middle ground from which we can build the world we want to see flourish. Yet, as it stands, these beliefs will land you in court, if you are a white privileged male with a Phd, like myself, and in most cases, in jail or worse. It’s beyond imagination how radical the ruling classes of capitalism have turned our perception of what is “normal” and what is “radical” - to the point where even those terms, the actual definitions thereof have become debatable - and yes, the destruction of a common truth is part of the cultural hegemonic war for power. Or in other words, the normalization of neoliberal ideology has shifted the Overton window, marginalizing progressive policies and demonizing those who advocate for them. Or again, in yet more current words: “This is what our ruling class had decided to be normal”.
Of course, we can talk to wits end on what is normal, healthy, right and wrong but for as long as we exist under a hierachial capitalist system this plays little to no role in changing our material reality for the better. Granted, the voalization thereof helps in articulating our needs and wants, but for as long as an armed state sanctioned force exists that can and does impose their reality on to us by force it remains an intellectual exercise, a pseudo-hegemonic cop-out of talking rather than doing. Principally speaking, we need to talk but time is short and shit ain’t moving in the right direction.
Even if you think on what our reality is today, no matter which part of existence you chose to examine, it busts the myth that capitalism elevates human existence. By this point it is an academic certainty that pre-industrial workers worked less than we do and whilst our life expectancy rose for what point? So that we can work longer? Seems a little silly to me.
The 1930s marked a turning point in the fight for workers' rights, spurred by economic hardships and labor exploitation during the Great Depression. Governments responded with landmark legislation, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act in the United States and the establishment of collective bargaining rights in Europe. These measures aimed to address inequality, improve working conditions, and empower workers through unions.
The mid-20th century witnessed significant gains for workers' rights, buoyed by post-war economic prosperity. Social welfare programs, including healthcare and pensions, became standard in many Western nations. Strong labor unions negotiated better wages and benefits for workers, contributing to a more equitable distribution of wealth. Politicians across the ideological spectrum championed these policies as essential for societal progress. All of which was achieved by “radical” protests, union action and certainly not the benevolence of our ruling classes.
However, the 1970s marked a shift towards neoliberal economic policies, characterized by deregulation, privatization, and austerity measures. Politicians like Margaret Thatcher in the UK and Ronald Reagan in the US led the charge, dismantling welfare programs and weakening labor protections in the name of free-market ideology. This era saw the vilification of unions and the denigration of collective bargaining rights countered by an indoctrination campaign of hyper-individualism and greed. The late 20th century witnessed the rise of globalization, with multinational corporations gaining unprecedented influence. Trade agreements like NAFTA and the WTO prioritized corporate interests over labour rights, enabling the outsourcing of jobs to countries with lower labor standards. Politicians, often beholden to corporate donors, enacted policies that prioritized profit over people, exacerbating income inequality and eroding workers' rights.
The 21st century, the nature of work has undergone a radical transformation, with the proliferation of precarious employment and the gig economy. Temporary contracts, zero-hour contracts, and platform-based work have eroded job security and benefits for millions of workers. Despite technological advancements and increased productivity, real wages have stagnated, widening the gap between the wealthy elite and the working class. And yet, whatever our ancestors achieved is now no longer and is considered radical.
Horseshit. Once again, communism is the middle ground. More on that later.
Before I forget, here is a new playlist for you. Yup. Been a minute and as per usual there is no rhyme or reason, just banging music that has made me happy these last few months, with everything from sludge, psych, garage to techno, rap, West African Jazz and whatever else made me shake this old ass, here you are. 3 hours plus of bangers. Throw on shuffle though. Click on the image below for the playlist.
Until then,
We serve the revolution.
Yours,
V.