This is particularly concerning to me because leftists are supposed to be able to bridge the gap between the (presumably) uneducated or ignorant working masses and the fairly esoteric intellectualism of leftist theory.

I have never been able to do that before, ever. I can understand all these Marxist concepts myself, about workers democratically owning MOP, about what socialism or barbarism means, about the purpose of the state, about anti imperialism, but if Im talking to someone who’s totally apolitical or even just a woke liberal I have no idea where to begin bridging the gap and radicalizing.

Im sure a large part about getting regular people on your side relies on community building and mutual aid projects that demonstrates to average people that an alternative is possible and that the party is better at working with and meeting the needs of the people than the state/market is.

But lets say your just talking casually to your average non-redpilled friends. Im not trying to sound edgy but whenever the conversation switches to something inane, superficial, or material (particularly when it comes to consuming something or engaging in consumerism, which dont get me wrong I enjoy partaking in all the time) I just feel like cutting my head off. The world is fucking dying and burning all around us, we’re already past several “points of no return”, injustices are being perpetrated at all times everywhere, and the most important thing we find to talk about is some material shit that doesnt even matter?

At the same time though, thats what makes normies the normies they are, and I cant help but feel envious of their carefreeness. And its up to us to introduce them concepts within leftist theory. So how do you do that?

  • Wmill [they/them]
    ·
    4 years ago

    Find out what they value and tie it back to capitalism ruining it.

    Take video games being carved up for on disc dlc. Or maybe they are vegan but don't realize that buying vegan products can still support animal cruelty through companies and there subsidiaries. Or if they are a meat eater show them how cutting back in regulations by capitalist lobbying can ruin their favorite food or get them sick.

    Get to know them first and what drives them. Connect it back to capitalism. All this might be easier said than done mind you. Don't let them think well that's just the way it is. If all the deaths under the soviet union were attributed to communism, all of our current deaths should be attributed to capitalism.