Is there a point?

[pinkmonkey]

IWCA-type activity is probably the best path for genuine, pro-working class activists. It won't bring about revolution, but it can make a difference to peoples lives and outlook locally.

Which IMO is better than no change at all.

The thing is that's generally how change happens isn't it? In steps. Are activists just a bit optimistic or impatient? Is that why they get demoralised?

 

[Maggot]

well...that to me is giving up. And i feel a tiny bit like this sometimes, (without the elitism) but whats the point having views that you believe in and not doing something about it? Even in a tiny way. You might as well NOT believe in somehting...if that makes sense.

And okay, people who love to lap up whatever the latest thing is (In a really big, Look at Me my Trainers Match My Ipod way) are annoying cunting pricks
but someone (activisty) must have influenced your views so...dont cha - pusseycatdolls - owe it to someone else, the people and cauies of your opions and all the people that dont realise that esso's evil etc...to make a bit of a fuss. ???????? ehidontknow.

You still haven't told us what AC is!

 

[anfield]

You still haven't told us what AC is!

I'm hoping it's Anti-Capitalist otherwise i've been responding to wrong thread.

 

[anfield]

Which IMO is better than no change at all.

The thing is that's generally how change happens isn't it? In steps. Are activists just a bit optimistic or impatient? Is that why they get demoralised?

True - but the drawback of community politics is the lack of resources, national profile and active membership. This probably explains the apparent semi-stagnation of the IWCA nationally. It's also diffcult to ensure that campaigns and projects involve as many local people as possible, and not just a hardcore of dedicated 'lefty' activists - otherwise it's pointless.

 

[888]

Well maybe you should try to make the world a better place for yourself, as well? Self-sacrificing activism is another drain, a hangover from missionary and charity work.

True. Another problem I've noticed in the US is the way alot of activism is professionalised - with training days, professionals and full timers, and "grassroots" (can't believe they call it that) "activists" being paid to collect signatures or phone up people or whatever. It's not people organising themselves at all.

 

[Random]

The body shop-funded ruckus soiety, that kind of thing? Even for non-funded groups there's endless 'nonviolent training' apparently.

 

[888]

True. Not to mention NGOism and student interns and CV building, though perhaps that's getting a bit far from activism. Many anarchists in the US have a policy of getting mainstream union organizer jobs which I think is a bad decision if they stay in them too long (which they do). I am going to an IWW organiszer training thing soon, though.

 

[Random]

So where is the un-funded real grassroots stuff? Is it out there? I imagine it is, but unnoticed by the college kids that are the base of most political scenes. In one district where anarchists did 'fix shit up' they connected with a local group which was mostly christian-led. Are the neighbourhood activists mostly divided on religious or ethnic lines?

 

[888]

The people I know aren't that university oriented, thank god. However they/we've been focusing on labour stuff so I don't really know. There seem to be various "community groups" but I can't tell what's really going on yet. Alot of those are organic vegan "intentional community" types so not of any real interest, some others are religious. There is certainly a huge amount of division on racial lines.

 

[joeds]

Wait and see.

I wouldn't give up just yet. We have a certain thing called resource depletion that's about to demolish the capitalist world completely. check out http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net it seems that fossil fuels have just about peaked and the market economy can't cope with shrinking because of the nature of banking. If it can't grow it will collapse.

If I were you and it is in your power I'd get growing vegetables in the spring because it's beginning to look likely that we'll be seeing complete infrastructure collapse in the next year or two.

The only way out will be permaculture/sustainability and the market economy will be kaput.

I hate to think how many people will die during the process and saying "I told you so" doesn't help the way I feel about what's coming.

 

[Random]

Ho w about 'fuck off you wanker?' that makes me feel better about the future personally.

 

[laptop]

True. Another problem I've noticed in the US is the way alot of activism is professionalised

The total absence of unemployment benefit and the fact that most workers in the US get but two weeks' holiday a year has something to do with this.

Indeed, it's not unconnected with the point of employment policy.

 

[888]

Hmm. But officially unemployed full time activists aren't the way forward either. What we need is normal people, not a layer of specialists.

 

[treelover]

Not my thing but surely the GM campaign was a positive and successful one, and the ongoing Toni's cafe occupation/rebuilding in Hackney sounds great..

 

[A. Spies]

Agree with what Random and Bluestreak said basically.
Doing stuff for me sometimes feels futile, alienating and counter-productive and to be honest I haven't done anything in months (plan to soon though ).But if the ideas still seem right and the imperative to act is still there then saving your morale and energy by doing what you can to help win some small victories has got to be better politically and for your mental health than trying to be some alienated, full-time "activist" type person.
(Hope this wasn't a wasted post to, think I just repeated what other people said but I keep writing posts and then deleting them so I'm keeping this one )