"[C]ivilized society is split into antagonistic, and, moreover, irreconcilably antagonistic classes. ...
In a democratic republic, Engels continues,"wealth exercises its power indirectly, but all the more surely", first, by means of the “direct corruption of officials” (America); secondly, by means of an “alliance of the government and the Stock Exchange" (France and America). At present, imperialism and the domination of the banks have “developed” into an exceptional art both these methods of upholding and giving effect to the omnipotence of wealth in democratic republics of all descriptions. ...
The exploiting classes need political rule to maintain exploitation, i.e., in the selfish interests of an insignificant minority against the vast majority of all people. The exploited classes need political rule in order to completely abolish all exploitation, i.e., in the interests of the vast majority of the people, and against the insignificant minority consisting of the modern slave-owners — the landowners and capitalists."
—V.I. Lenin, 1917, "The State and Revolution"
Just read that OWS protesters got their own potties. I guess it was no small feat since the mayor turned down a request for potties in the park.
ReplyDeleteYou know you can complain about the drums, the trash and yes, urine and feces - but you know what? when a problem arises the OWS group tries to find a solution to the problem. They should get brownie points for that.
Congress is still unable to come up with solutions to anything it seems.
OWS wants action - Congress just wants inaction.
I haven't been been over to the encampment lately but it sure didn't reek when I was there.
ReplyDeleteI also heard they've finally been allowed to have portapotties a couple blocks away...it's actually criminal how difficult it can be to find a place to answer nature's call out and about in NYC in general.
The Lenin pamphlet I quoted here is very polemical and difficult to read as a whole without understanding its context, but it was really interesting to go through it hunting for relevance. His larger point was actually that when the state that benefits capitalism is unable to provide for the majority of people, part of the process of revolution is building parallel institutions that provide what the government of the rich is unwilling to. On a very small scale I think OWS is showing how that begins to happen.