because you are alienated from the fruits of your labor.
Sometimes I think Marx was just the first "conspiracy theory loving podcast bro" but he didn't have any of the material to distract him. He also was very privileged and did not have to spend his entire life delivering Taco Bell for Uber Eats. But for some reason he still had that same fundamental need to find an explanation for what we all feel so strongly today. It's punching us in the face.
Like, Marx gets a lot of credit because he and Engels wrote the best criticisms that have stood the test of time. But, if you lived in that time, most writings were about class conflict in some form. Hell, the "father of capitalism" (Adam Smith) was even extremely critical of obvious contradictions and was very critical of landlords.
As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce.
The last century has been mostly about trying to scare the working class into submission. Pointing to "failures" of socialism as if they existed in a bubble; and not the reality of every necessary resource of the capitalist class going to fighting it.
This is primarily done in developing nations. The US ensures it installs dictators or makes the conditions of the countries impossible through embargos (Cuba/DPRK). But in the US it's mostly controlled by distractions. The conspiracy theories, toys, drugs, etc.
But the imperial core control is failing. And, my hope, is even if we don't see progress in the west. That the internal chaos we experience will finally allow the nations the west oppresses to break free.
The alienation we feel needs to be understood in this context. We hate our jobs because they serve no other purpose but to allow us to afford the available distractions we are allowed. Distractions that are becoming less and less meaningful as our material conditions decline and we become more connected to all workers of the world.
If only someone had a theory that explains that alienation ๐ค
May I introduce you to the works of Kras Mazov?
I'm a level 3 infra-materialist. I power the entire neighborhood just by thinking about mutual aid.
Hardcore!
Because money robs the intrinsic joys of life.
Lots of research proves it. Here's just one example https://www.library.hbs.edu/working-knowledge/intrinsic-joy-sparks-ideas-better-than-cash
Also, money is literally power and no one handles power well. It corrupts and the more money the more it ruins people. It really is the root of all that's bad.
Power doesn't corrupt, capitalism systemically selects for those most willing to act in corrupt means in order to profit more. You have it flipped.
Definitely an interesting take, and one that I might kinda believe!
I do think that concentrated power is still part of the problem, that problem is just exacerbated by the psycho-selection-filter of capitalism.
Democratization can only really happen within the framework of socialism, where collectivized production and distribution is being worked towards. This necessitates distributed responsibilities, but also doesn't conflict with having administration, nor an inherent "corruption of power" at the top. Capitalism selects for it, socialism does not.
I'd extend the thought a bit farther. Poorly designed roadways create bad drivers. Growing up in a household with violence increases the likelihood of that child perpetuating violence when they get older. Selectively bred animals aren't the way they are because of their ideas or some innate feature, they're the way they are because the system in which they exist creates them that way. The environment or system (large or small) has a major impact on the path individuals take.
If concentrated power and corruption is rarely punished and always rewarded, it is a symptom of the system at-large.
If creating cheap products which pollutes the environment makes a company 2 Billion, gets that company fined only 250 Million, essentially it makes it such that continuing polluting is just the cost of doing business. The system is creating the pollution. This specific system also has the side effect of limiting the competitiveness since a small business owner won't initially make 2 Billion and cannot eat the cost of a 250 Million fine. All it does is consolidate power and control towards massive corporations that are supported by the government (since the government removes competition through fines, tariffs, or violence).
Also, money is literally power and no one handles power well. It corrupts and the more money the more it ruins people. It really is the root of all that's bad.
Anarchist spotted. โค๏ธ๐ค
that is toil versus work.
work is what you want to do; toil is what you do for someone else
I remember reading in a game design book how they had a real hard time saying why "play" was different from "work," since you're often performing the same behaviours and chasing similar short term goals.
I guess we could go back to a hunter gatherer lifestyle tomorrow. There would certainly be a lot of complaining, not the least of which would be about the food options. Long pig would be on the table for the first year or so
'Punished by Rewards' by Alfie Kohn should be required reading, explained all my hatred for school and work ๐
Joy is the theft of productivity - Corrupt Corporate Cunts
Sustainable population of hunter-gatherers for this planet is just a few millions.
No one is asking for complete transition to hunting and gathering.
๐๐ปโโ๏ธ
Ok. This person is.
Antiwork
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We're trying to reduce the numbers of hours a person has to work.
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We talk about the end of paid work being mandatory for survival.
Partnerships:
- Matrix/Element chatroom
- Discord (channel: #antiwork)
- IRC: #antiwork on IRCNow.org (i.e., connect to ircs://irc.ircnow.org and
/join #antiwork) - Your facebook group link here
- Your x link here
- lemmy.ca/c/antiwork