Things I did not know

[captain_swing]

Wasn't aware of this piece of the puzzle, but it fits right fucking in with my analysis of the ruling class and how the world really works.

Comments

[captain_swing]

Business as usual for capitalism.

[captain_swing]

this is not helping me curb my irrational hatred of people who are wealthy

I know what you mean. While there are a number of evil fuckers in the world with a lot of cash, a fair few of them are basically decent souls, but the system ensures that the only way to get rich is through the exploitation of others.

[mercuryglass]

that's a really interesting post. but i wouldn't agree with the author when he says, "Lynching was not a hate crime. Lynching was an economic crime." it very well was a hate crime. i'm not sure what's not hateful about systematically removing the means of survival from a group of people - and murdering anyone who escapes. the reason i say this is because i know that lots of folks are tempted to say that racism isn't real, but classism is the real struggle; the argument that post makes is a good indication of how race ties in with class. the power structure in the south was such that it treated poor white people and poor black people in much the same manner (sharecropping-as-slavery) until white supremacist organizations formed and pitted poor white families against poor black families - to keep white people poor and oppress black people further - to keep the highest concentration of power in the hands of rich white men.

[captain_swing]

I agree with you about how classism and racism are intertwined, particularly from reading Bell Hooks - Class Matters. I think it's important to show solidarity with whoever is getting the shitty end of the stick at that time, whether it's due to race, gender, sexual orientation or whatever. To my mind a correct understanding of class conflict acknowledges that any "despised" group is pretty much there because the ruling class want us divided against ourselves and one of the most effective resistance tactics is to recognise the common enemy.