What is Occupy Wallstreet?

[kandrathe]

it is the right wing that lives on the darkside Smile (sorry Kand)

I'm not in the right wing, so no harm. And, you think the Weathermen, ALF, and ELF are not *darkside*? Left vs Right is one dimension, Authoritarian vs Libertarian is another dimension. I would classify myself as a social libertarian, with conservative fiscal views.

Many of them suffer from false consciousness and in extreme cases, from Stockholm Syndrome. I have no solution to this, to be completely honest, and this would indeed make democracy and communism a difficult marriage.

This is the height of arrogance. Most people in the US have been presented with different philosophies, and make political choices based on what they know about the candidates. SometimesOften the politicians lie about their intentions, and once in office their true stripes appear.

"class consciousness" is a myth. In my life, I've been variously in all of them. I have been homeless sleeping by the railroad tracks, and I've been in the 1%. Mobility was mostly my choosing, and I'm now where I want to be... Middle class, unstressed, have time to do my artwork, and wealthy enough to raise my children as I feel they should be raised. People aren't defined by "Class" in the US. We aren't born to be coal miners if we live in West Virginia. I don't have consciousness of being "White" in my life decisions, and it is not a "false consciousness" but rather an irrelevance. I have common cause with people of all race/ethnicity, and all classes for that matter. Why? Because, the people in my life, my family and my friends, are variously traversing different stages as they grow up and grow old.

"One way is to say that "objectively" people have common class interests and should act according to the class struggle pattern- but that they are not always "class conscious". They suffer from "false consciousness". But this is (a) not true; nor would it (b) help much if it were. a) There often are conflicts among objective economic interests within a Marxian class- e.g. among workers. Conflicts occur over migration, international trade, religion or race. And workers often have objective interests in common with capitalists and in conflict with the interests of other groups of workers. Class membership is no more and possibly less decisive than say race membership in determining one's political views. If you insist on the importance of race, you may persuade people to act according to their "racial interests" for a while- as the Nazis did. If you convince people that they should act according to what you tell them are your class interests, they might. The prophecy becomes self-fulfilling. But the action comes from race or class propaganda- not from race or class as objective facts. b) Further if we assume that classes are as important as Marx thought but that people do not act accordingly, because not having read Marx, they are not class conscious- if "class consciousness" becomes independent of class membership- and if class membership is neither sufficient nor necessary to bring the expected class behaviour, then social classes become one of many groups that influence man's action on some occasions. This would be a correct theory. But the distinctive point of Marxian theory is that class membership is decisive in determining most and particularly political actions. This is patently wrong. -- Ernest Van Den Haag

It is paramount that people understand critical theory and constructivism when thinking about their role in a global society and the history of the relationships between nations.

Stand up in front of a crowd and repeat that... <glassy eyed stare> What? Deebye, can I get you a beer?

My problems with capitalism ... blah blah blah pigs... blah blah blah... lazy... blah blah blah... selfish...

You sound like my mother! How about you get off my back, I'll clean my room after I get my homework done! Sheesh!

Yes, there are some people who love their jobs, but it is safe to say that most people would probably much rather be doing something else. Especially when the economy is like it is right now. Just my thoughts.

Many people (17%) would love to be working. I'd venture that nearer to 100% like having the freedom of choosing their own job, rather than be given one by the state commissar.

"tribal communism"

It's called tribalism. There is no such thing as "tribal communism". Especially, if you believe in the Marxist progression of political state to one of ultimate communism.