From ultras to succdems. I do mean literally everybody. Even the theory nerds that know wtf it actually means will occasionally and/or accidentally use it in the red charity context.
Yeah okay there’s definitely some brainworms there. I think the theory nerds and activist crowd would get a lot out of seeing more overlap between each other. I’ve definitely seen orgs do the red charity thing because they didn’t understand how or why to build power structures and community resilience. And I’ve seen plenty of people argue about this who have never actually volunteered. I just don’t think this is all mutual
Yeah. I’m not talking about engaging in solidarity with others — that’s part and parcel of being a socialist — but mutual aid doesn’t aid in struggle, it just eases the conscience of those doing it and, if you’re lucky, makes suffering more bearable. Every dollar that’s spent in mutual aid is a dollar not spent on bail support or a strike fund. We need to be clear-minded about our priorities.
Yeah, mutual aid groups regularly earmark money for bail/strike funds. And like you’ve implied here, building community, which is integral to all effective organizing, can’t be done with purely transactional arrangements.
There’s a lot of mutual aid that isn’t called that by name. But from personal experience, there are indeed mutual aid groups who work closely with local unions or focus on bail for protestors. There’s a lot of “gift economy” type stuff in some areas that would constitute mutual aid being done by people who aren’t even leftists
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Everyone acts like it's, and treats it as red charity.
Who is “everyone” in this context?
From ultras to succdems. I do mean literally everybody. Even the theory nerds that know wtf it actually means will occasionally and/or accidentally use it in the red charity context.
Yeah okay there’s definitely some brainworms there. I think the theory nerds and activist crowd would get a lot out of seeing more overlap between each other. I’ve definitely seen orgs do the red charity thing because they didn’t understand how or why to build power structures and community resilience. And I’ve seen plenty of people argue about this who have never actually volunteered. I just don’t think this is all mutual
In other words, #NotAllMutualAid
It's not supposed to be charity, but I very rarely see orgs do "mutual aid" that isn't just charity.
Nearly all activity in my area that is labeled as mutual aid isn't actually mutual aid, but is charity.
I know it isn’t, that’s why I listed both of them
You still put them in the same category. Is it counterproductive for a socialist to give money to mutual aid organizations?
Yeah. I’m not talking about engaging in solidarity with others — that’s part and parcel of being a socialist — but mutual aid doesn’t aid in struggle, it just eases the conscience of those doing it and, if you’re lucky, makes suffering more bearable. Every dollar that’s spent in mutual aid is a dollar not spent on bail support or a strike fund. We need to be clear-minded about our priorities.
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Yeah, mutual aid groups regularly earmark money for bail/strike funds. And like you’ve implied here, building community, which is integral to all effective organizing, can’t be done with purely transactional arrangements.
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If you don’t consider strike funds to be a form of mutual aid, then we’re not talking about the same thing
Yeah, I’ve never heard that called mutual aid. I’m talking about the anarchist concept
There’s a lot of mutual aid that isn’t called that by name. But from personal experience, there are indeed mutual aid groups who work closely with local unions or focus on bail for protestors. There’s a lot of “gift economy” type stuff in some areas that would constitute mutual aid being done by people who aren’t even leftists