I’m an American Marxist-Leninist, so I know that it is materially possible for a privileged westerner to come around. But a few of us being able to unlearn the constant propaganda and overcome the horrific state of American education and the political climate isn’t enough.

The Overton window is so far to the right here in the United States that most don’t entertain the idea of a future beyond capitalism being possible or necessary. Even when Americans see this wretched system for what it is, they’d sooner turn to nihilism or accept whatever additional crumbs are thrown.

I know it’s important to maintain revolutionary optimism and always strive to be part of the solution, but it feels like an extra big battle to build a proper revolutionary left.

  • Munrock ☭@lemmygrad.ml
    7·
    4 days ago

    I would suggest that ‘is it possible’ isn’t the best question. The majority of us would agree that it’s somewhere in the range of ‘unlikely’ to ‘impossible’, but any answer seeking to be more accurate than that necessarily involves speculation.

    I think, at least in terms of finding surety of direction, it might be more helpful to ask yourself and others: if you weren’t trying to build a Western left, what would you do instead with that time and effort?

    For some people, even if they knew the chances of making a difference were 1000:1, they’d still think it was the best use of their time. And some others, depending on their means, might direct their efforts abroad. Some might be Luigi.

    I doubt very many would give up entirely and live a life of leisure. I don’t think anyone who’s at the point where they’re having this kind of conversation with this kind of community would sleep well at night knowing that they just walked away.