Good Morning Comrades.
This is going to be the last email from me this year. I am planning on returning to this after the new year, realistically around the 3rd of January. Before I get into the thick of it all, just a heads up that I have reduced all remaining stock from this year in the online shop. All money from that is going to my local homeless shelter to buy food, blankets and whatever else is needed. No coded needed, it’s all there. I’ll be shipping whatever orders come in Thursday, Friday and in between the holidays.
I have been thinking on what notes I wanted to end this year with you and clearly a massive thank you is in order to you all. Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter and thank you to those of you who have been able to support this work financially. Irrespective of whether you have been able to do so or not your readership, feedback and support has been a major crutch for me this year, the 2nd full year into this pandemic, both mentally and financially. I honestly do not know how well I would have done without it and for that I am incredibly humbled and thankful.
Also and additionally a huge thanks goes out to everyone that bought clothing from Black Lodges this year. I fully realize that these last few months have been anything but good in regards to shipping times and I am committed to making sure that doesn’t repeat itself going forward. Again, thank you for your patience and unwavering support in these wild ass times.
With that, I wanted to end this year with a few hard takes and offer some possible solutions as I see them being realistically actionable.
It is safe to say that we here in the Global North West can, after 2 years into this pandemic, especially with a new variant ripping through Europe, say that whatever illusions of our so-called democracies we had are null and void. Even if we were, hypothetically - and I am not planning on letting anyone off the hook- just going to judge our democracies on how they have handled this pandemic, we can safely agree that whatever vicissitudes of “democracy” we have held are wrong. Irrespective of whatever party, whatever political compass, no matter what country in Europe and North America, all masks have come off and our “leaders” have made it perfectly clear that the only entity they represent and work for is Capital. Nowhere to my knowledge has there been a genuine, scientific, humanistic approach to tackling this virus when the answers as how to do so, have always been there.
No, at best, large corporations were kept afloat with insane amounts of tax money whilst independents and people largely suffered, to the point of death. No genuine vaccination programs were put in place and politicians around the world, at best, played pitchers for the pharmaceutical companies when, at the bare minimum, their job was and is to protect the people that pay them. Which hasn’t happened. On the contrary, just by judging at events here in Germany, many politicians saw this pandemic as opportunity to let their corruption reign supreme and enrich themselves on shady mask deals, vaccine nationalism and so forth. At no point was there a genuine attempt to do what is necessary to break this pandemic.
Shut down Capitalism. Yup, there, I said it, not that you weren’t expecting that.
In detail, the people that we give power up for and give money to by working and paying taxes should have shut it all down, paid everyone to stay the fuck at home, roll out a vaccine infrastructure and communication strategy to get everyone jabbed immediately and then given the vaccine to the everyone else, for free. These bastards are still operating under a national premise of the 20th Century, thinking that their corruption, greed and inhumanity will remain without consequences. You know how I feel about consequences and all.
No, the only thing saved during this pandemic by our so called great, based on the Enlightenment Democracies ( a shitty PR Pitch at the best of times ) was Capital and those that wield it. With that, the only logical conclusion one, irrespective of what political ideology you associate yourself with, is, that all this bullshit is a scam, we are nothing but cannon fodder and we will never be in their club - not that that is even remotely attractive in the first place. To make matters even worse, most “western” governments seemingly have agreed on the narrative of blame shifting- to us, individually, for not following the rules, for not getting vaccinated quick enough and so forth. To be entirely clear, the fault of everything that is causing all this death, mental health issues and seriously concerning long term physical and mental effects lie at the feet of all politicians that put greed and ego before their duty. Again, dealing with this pandemic swiftly and effectively was and remains a no brainer. Additionally, this includes the so-called media here in the west that are equally reliant on the Capitalists Corruption if they haven’t been bought out outright ( ahem Washington Post ). Yes, there are pockets of us who offer alternatives but we remain unconnected, bullied and live financially precarious lives.
Long story short, even if we would be gracious enough to forget all past corruption, wars, class and economic wars waged on us, the above alone calls for an utter and final refusal to play along. Yes, they have the guns but we most definitely have the numbers.
With that, a practical call, first philosophically and then physically. I am not a fan in the slightest of punching down when it comes to ideas but at this point in the decline of empires and with the effects of Global Warming become increasingly lethal it is vital to return our efforts to the basis of communal materialism aka Communism, but you can skip that part if the big C words causes problems when pitching this idea to your crews at home. As important to the continuing struggle for self-determination as post-modernism and identity politics are, at this late hour they need to take a back seat to materialism.
What does that mean you ask, well, it’s pretty simple to be honest. Communist Materialism essentially puts you at work to better the materialistic conditions of those in need in your life in your hands. That’s the job, doesn’t matter if it’s just you, you and your family, you and your apartment complex or you and your neighborhood. That’s the start. Obviously, this is non-transactional, meaning you do this, outside of the existing capitalistic value system. Additionally, this happens with total sustainability in mind, and no, I don’t mean recycling. You take less than what “it” can give you and leave “it” with more to grow. The exact opposite of Capitalism.
Yes, this takes work and time but this is the only way, you, individually, can affect structural change. If you look at the most recent years in Latin America and the insanely effective “left wing” moves many countries have made you will realize that these did not happen in some romantic, immediate revolution. Those days are over and make no mistake about it. No, countries like Bolivia and Chile for example were able to take power back into their own hands, away from the Capitalists and their Fascist Guard Dogs by organizing organically through structures like Unions, Schools, Sporting Clubs, Indigenous Unions in which the oppressing capitalistic structures were undermined by these actions. This is the deal. This is what we now have to do because it is way past 12 o’clock, the bastards that “run” our countries have proven over and over again that they do not want to help us, despite all their authority resting on our shoulders.
I know it sounds a little daunting, but it truly isn’t. Be aware that none of these systemic crimes happening around the world are “reformable” or attackable by your or my individual actions. They’re not because they are functioning just the way they are supposed to. Only together, by refusing to play the roles we have been told to accept and by building alternative futures in your own head, home, club, community and so on can we build an alternative cultural, political, economic and ecologic hegemony. Let that inspire you and give you some food for thought over the next few days.
With that, I wish you all exciting, revolutionary, peaceful and loving days. We got this. Until then, I remain as always, yours and without compromise,
Steven.