On Anticapitalism and You
Here is an overview of the history of capitalism. Here is another. And one more for good measure.
Take a look at the lovely and magnificent Natalie Wynn’s talk about voting, which includes an accurate detail as to the problem of ‘ending capitalism.’
So what’s a bee to do?
For e’rybody:
Check out Global Witness.
Learn about simple ways to practice anticapitalism. Bonus: they’re free! That’s kina the whole point.
Learn about trust economics.
Learn about the solidarity economy.
Learn about mutual aid and find those nearest you.
Learn about permaculture.
Learn about antiracism. Pro-racist policy is one of the most frequently used weapons in the capitalist arsenal, followed closely by denial & spin (which you should also learn about).
Learn about anarchism—it’s not just for punk bands anymore!
Examine your core beliefs, your biases, your hidden values, and become honest with yourself about how you acquired them and what worth they possess (or not).
Take an honest and unflinching (or, I guess you can flinch, so long as you keep looking) inventory of all the ways you are living out of sync with your own beliefs and values. If you’re feeling especially steely, take at stab at why, but don’t overthink it. Won’t help, and likely will become another means of perpetuating the incongruence.
For writers, specifically, TVS challenges you to …
Stop perpetuating procapitalist tropes. This is most often done in the name of ‘social commentary,’ but it’s really just more of the same and limits our imagination and practical optimism.
Start writing anticapitalist tropes.
Be careful with utopias. Utopianism is the near enemy of egalitarianism, making it kissing cousins with fascism.
Take a deep breath now and then, and step outside of the transgenerational immersive role-playing game that has been going on for seemingly ever. Look around and see the world for what it is, yourself for what you are. You are a being, free as you wanna be. But you must think and choose it. You must loosen your chains and the chains of others.
Xoxo,
T
