Howdy, friends! I hope you enjoy the video. If you've got recommendations for non-US socialist/communist/labor orgs, leave a comment! Let's get as many people organized as we can. If you'd like to help make Second Thought a 100% grassroots-funded operation, consider becoming a patron on Patreon! All patrons, regardless of pledge amount, get early access to every video, plus access to our patrons-only Discord server! patreon.com/secondthought
I'll leave a comment here if somehow someone from Russia helps a brother out. I'm not sure where to look, and the "official" communist party obviously plays ball with the ruling class, so going there is not the answer.
If you live in Belgium, among the socialist left we've got Non-electoral: - PSL/LSP and the student wing EGA/ALS - ROSA campaign - ADES (Brussels) - Front Antifasciste de Liège - Intal Globalize - ABVV-FGTB trade union - Code Rood/Rouge for climate actions Electoral: - PVDA-PTB (and the youth wing Comac) - Anticapitalistes - And there's still some leftists in the youth wings of the socialist party and greens
"If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" MLK
@Teamsterteacher MLK was one of the most based people out there, and yet, they managed to make him "safe" for the masses. He was a great radical revolutionary thinker, and his contribution was immeasurable.
@@RoughDetails only after the racist establishment killed him. He was quite disliked by many white people, especially in government, and some of his contemporaries fighting for equal rights due to his methods
What you say it is definitely true because the reason why history repeats itself because people don't want to learn history communism and capitalism can both be used for bad
I've actually just joined my local DSA chapter. I have no idea how I could be useful; I'm a scientist, not a political organizer. But years of experience working in medical labs have given me so much frustration with our for-profit healthcare BS that I have to do SOMETHING.
I'm an active member in DSA, on chapter steering committee, and hold elected office in my national caucus. I'm open to chat if you want to talk about being involved.
Revolutionary movements benefit when their members have a myriad of occupations that allow them to support each other and provide unique skills and insight for collective action. Things like photography, computer programming, graphic design, even evolutionary biology, can be useful contributions. I’d recommend thinking about what you’re able to contribute that might not have been the case if you had gone in other direction!
Being a vietnamese studying in US when I was 17, I could not understand the dilemma of how a country so rich still have homeless people and the streets are not clean like Singapore, this is no different than my country (this was back in 2016). Knowing more now, I appreciate westerners with marxism understanding, spreading knowledge in a language that's I am not good at. TY 👏
@Flyweight.8 let's say nothing else changed except workers owned a large share of production and say the CEO got paid 30% more than the bottom worker rather than 300% more would that flatten to a bell curve? I'm just wondering if capitalism is the problem or the way people at the top are extremely greedy.
@@Ouranos369there will always be greedy and sociopathic people - the main problem with capitalism is that it promotes and rewards such behaviour to the point where those people rule the world.
It's maddening. It IS human nature to improve things. Everything! If it wasn't, we wouldn't have to be constantly propagandized about how "horrible" humans are. Nor would there be so many people who WANT to change things. All the misery and suffering wouldn't feel 'wrong' and 'depressing', it would just feel normal. We wouldn't have people coming together to try to help whenever we hear about war, disaster, disease...in fact, it's like, when things go wrong, humans can't sit still! -- we HAVE to do something, or at least try, or go insane. There would be no protests, nobody in prison for feeding the homeless or helping squatters or engaging in protecting the waters and the forests of this world.... The human species would have crumbled to dust, despite the constant cruelties of our suicidal ruling class, LONG before now; if it were not literal human instinct to try to improve conditions for both ourselves and others.
@@TreeHairedGingerAle Before we formed civilization, human nature was to work collectively to ensure our survival too. We evolved too much for violence
“Human nature is malleable, not fixed. Humans can be indoctrinated to believe in horrific ideas and to commit atrocities- or they can be taught to be empathetic, kind, cooperative, and to strive for improvement in all things (including themselves).”
"HOW do we organize? How do we even convince one person, let alone multiple, that 'organize' is even a real freaking word?" That's what needs asked I think.
I would really spend time researching each group. Don't judge a book by its cover. I knew jumping ship later would not be nice so I took my time and got involved with my top two picks before realizing the FRSO best embodies a marxist approach to organizing. There's no over-emphasis on signing up sympathizers with good politics but don't organize on the ground, nor is there any big-tent dilution of political unity.
Genuinely just join a socialist organization. Some are better than others but what matters at first is getting the experience. There's more than likely a few good socialist ones around you. If you can't find one online near you, join a protest or rally and ask around; there are some that aren't easy to find online. If even that's a no-go, even joining a mostly liberal organization that focuses on progressive things (like climate change) can work for taking that first step and getting experience.
@@st.altair4936 Climate activists tend to be some of the more experienced/skilled ones around too. Joining any group in the A22 network will upskill you wonderfully.
@@stealthemoon8899 i went from a redpill ancap who finished colleged and was pissed cause i couldn't get a job and a gf and it was all the gov and women's fault. its all a big process and learning curve. anarchism has its great merits, but it'll forever struggle with facing structural sistemical social issues because it demands structural sistemical social solutions that just destroying the structure won't fix it. our lives are just too complex now and steping from an amalgamation of small communities spread across the globe to a one social and connected species as the human race. Keep studying cientific comunism and you don't have to abandon your anarchic feelings because they are real and legitimate.
@@theapocasmithI’ve noticed that it seems like for a lot of people that happened over the pandemic. It’s weird how some people found socialism and others found Qanon 🥲
Thanks to your channel, I joined my local DSA group and we've been able to get DA's elected and bills passed. We get plenty accomplished. If you want stuff to get done then you have to get busy!
That's why I really appreciate progressive sources like Second Thought and also Peter Joseph with TZM, new Zeitgeist: Requiem film coming out soon and One Small Town Contributionism organization with Michael Tellinger and the Doughnut Economics Action Lab with Kate Raworth for 21st Century thinking!
I recommend looking i to "The Revolutionary Communists of America". There is a branch in a lot of major cities. It is also an international organization with branches elsewhere in the world, including Britain, Russia, and Mexico. They focus on building an educated party of comrades before shit really hits the fan. It's still small and grassroots here in America, but with a newspaper issue already out and successful agitation, we are finding comrades ready to get involved everywhere! Join the conversation!
Hey, I'm connected to the org, just not a member. Multiple people reached out to him, he doesn't include us because he gets vibes that we're feds. I have no idea why. He even included an anarchist group in this videos.
I can't afford to support you financially but I'm glad you're continuing to spread the good word despite the struggles. I'm in the educate phase, I've been agitated for a long time. Now I know I have to organize
The Bottom of your Commie Heart! I've used those same words with people in my own life. I show people in my life on the internet your videos, Hakims videos. If I hear someone else knows either of your names and agrees I instantly know we stand for the same things. You MUST keep doing what you are doing. Many of us have been here for years and already have the same ideas and values, however the work both you and Hakim are doing, it's spreading. Please keep doing this and I will do everything in my power to continue to spread the message. Thank you
Any Australian comrades in the comments: - Community Union Defence League - Aus Communist Party - CPA - SA SAlt Get amongst them. They (we) all hate each other, but JT's point stands. We need to get organised. 🤝 🫂 ✊🚩
@@Ryza_d I don't think they are outright anti-capitalist but they do seem to push for a lot of socialist-leaning policies. Basically, the only major political party that seems to push for things that help average everyday people.
@@SIRROM12 yeah fair. I guess it's like the DSA for Americans. Better than the rest, for sure. When it comes to voting we have to do it intelligently and take the concessions for the working class that we can. We definitely shouldn't stop agitating outside of that though.
Thank you for answering a very common question. Also, a 100% grassroots funded Second Thought is a very good idea. Off-topic, but idk if you take video ideas, but here's a few of mine: -Socialism and the notion of a free press (one that many people have misconceptions about) -The relationship between democracy and socialism (another one that many people have misconceptions about, equal to if not greater the first one) -Compatability of Socialism/Marxism with religious beliefs (as a Christian myself, this is one of the biggest question I have as a socialist) -Socialism and federal/decentralized models of territorial administration (same as the first two and the second-biggest thing I think about as a socialist)
@@SecondThoughtthis is a video I think a lot of people need to hear. I've been told by way too many in the church that Marxism is incompatible with Christian religion
@@chihirostargazer6573 I wasn’t having any doubts. I am aware of what Jesus said about capitalism. This said, I don’t ID as a Christian Socialist, as I truly believe in secularism. Sorry if what I’m saying here is confusing, but I felt I needed to clarify and explain myself.
Hey JT, I asked this question before but I don’t think you noticed it. Now that you have Means TV as a backer, not to mention a ton of patreon supporters, can First Thought afford to make regular news episodes again? Don’t get me wrong your analysis episodes are great and informative, but I really miss my regular biased news.
That was just too much of a time commitment. Three episodes a week in addition to all our other work was overwhelming. We’d probably need to build a whole separate team to manage the news if we wanted to try it again. That’s a long way down the road.
@@RyanM-t6k lol maybe check his personal channel, there he explains how he's coming from doing way too many things at the same to less avail than he needed.
With the discord, is it good for people of all the different revolutionary socialist parties? I am quite poor but I'm really wanting to pay a patron for the first time for your channel. Never done a patron but this will be my first. I hope the discord is a great place to hear from other socialist to gain info to go back to my socialist branch. Honestly second thought I can't thank you enough for the eye opening content you create for the people.
Sure! Everyone is welcome as long as they adhere to the server rules and don't try to start drama. It's a great place to chat and learn from like-minded comrades
Most active UK groups are: - Communist Party of Britain - Young Communist League of Britain (CPB affiliated) - Revolutionary Communist Group - Revolutionary Communist Party (not same as RCG) - Socialist Worker’s Party - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition I have my problems with each of these orgs, and there will be a lot of disagreement on which is most effective. In my view i think CPB/YCL is probably the closest to Marxism-Leninism in terms of party structure and ideology, but SWP are very active with protests and TUSC regularly have electoral candidates at both national and local level. If you don’t like the org, be the change you want to see within it by participating!
@dwayneneckles The Bourgeoisie is investing great amounts in changing the meaning of proper organizing, they are throwing sand into our eyes. Like the devil, they are trying to trick us. They want us separate and we must resist! Solidarity!
don’t get me wrong, i love the bigger production, “fancier videos” as he described in the beginning, but a couple of these more casual feeling, just sit down and talk style videos wouldn’t be the worst thing. sometimes it’s nice to feel like you’re just having a normal conversation and not attending a lecture (like i said, i enjoy the ‘lectury’ style videos too, just a thought, a second thought?)
@@wiretamer5710 learn some actual history, dude. American fascist revisionism paints the soviets as equal evils to the nazis for a reason, and the fact that you're watching these videos while not questioning the historical narratives propagated by the US means that shit has had its intended impact.
Когда сейчас читаю Ленина, поражаюсь, насколько он был прав! Сейчас, когда капитализм в России вернулся, мы снова проходим эти этапы. К сожалению, очень многие люди в нашей стране пока не понимают, что именно реставрация капитализма является причиной происходящих трагедий. Очень рада видеть, что в США много тех, кто думает и разделяет идеи марксизма.
Many people might just want to hang on to whatever job they have got ...BUT.... if you really want a better world then it has to be made financially worthwhile for people to SHARE the jobs we would agree we NEED to have done and work much less. At least 70% of jobs have no real value and that's really the problem. Too many people work FOR money but not because they are doing something we NEED.
As an anarchist I bit my tongue, pinched my nose, and joined CPUSA. I’d rather take a gamble with Marxism-Leninism than do nothing at all. Maybe if enough anarchists join we can all compromise and establish council communism.
JT, I have been following you for about a year now. You have grown so much! I admire your integrity and your ability to truly stand for what you preach. I’ll be subscribing to your Patreon to support. Thanks 💛
Hay JT Chapman, you also can add Socialist Alternative U.S. to that list (the same one of Kshama Sawant) there’s also Socialist Party USA (the same one of Eugene V Debs) then there’s Working Class & Houseless Organising Alliance (which Brett O'Shea of Revolutionary Left Radio is a member of), then there is the Institute For Christian Socialism, & Cooperation Jackson & Cooperation Tusla, Indigenous Anarchist Federation, Green Party US (they see themselves as Libertarian Socialism & Eco-Socialism & are influenced by Murray Bookchin), Community Movement Builders so that’s all I know when it comes to America so as for Canada there’s the Democratic Socialists of Canada & for the UK, there’s Solidarity Economy Association, ok that’s really all I know.
Great video! I would love to use my python / data analysis skills to help "agitate - educate - organize", and this video definitely gave me a ton of ideas. Thank you second thought.
I couldn't donate but am so grateful to everyone who joined Patreon & helped this channel bc I love the work you (& this community) does! FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸
@SecondThought Dude, thank you for all the work that you do! You have given people the opportunity to think, you are waking them from their slumber. Those mfs need some Lenin in their lives, AND YOU DELIVERED like the angel-bearer of good news!! Bless you! Sorry that I cannot give you money, but I always watch your videos without the ad-blocker, and watch every advertisement, and press like, and comment, and share your video with my friends. At the time of writing this comment, the views are 22.000 and I'm like WHAT, those guys need to support their comrade, RITE MAO! Wishing you all the best, if I get some monies, I'll send them your way. Continue the good fight comrade, SOLIDARITY!!!
I often reflect, perhaps hypocritically (because I do try to live a somewhat buddhist-style life as father and husband), upon how many (although not all), younger leftists I meet claim their dedication to non-violence. If we are to be honest here, most radical political change in history requires a lot of fighting. I would suggest to those who think absolute nonviolence is the best way forward: go hang out at a local gun store or similar place, and listen to what the conservative white people have in store for them once their leader gives them "the order." I think a lot of younger leftists in the US live in somewhat of a bubble, I don't think they realize how many people hate them and would take them out if they were legally able to do so. *(I'm using the term legally to mean "not likely to be prosecuted;" I do not mean it in the sense as acting in accordance with written law).
*I want to make it absolutely clear I am not calling for violence, I'm just calling for a reflection upon the facts that: the conservative minority in the US (which still consists of at least several million people) really wants to do some violence to people they consider their enemies; and 2) looking at the history of radical political change, most of it came on the backside of a lot of serious fighting. Think of what it took to end slavery... I also think that history shows that people like Malcolm X and the Black /White Panthers, Yippies/SLO, etc., helped MLK's movement attain some limited success (i.e. they didn't want to face the scary radicals, so it was easier to at least appear to agree to, at least a few, of the demands of the more "moderate" faction).
100% agree. Since Ghandi, there have been think tanks whos only job it is has been to figure out how to counter nonviolent protests. After 100 years, they have it down to a science. Century old protest tactics are outdated.
@@coreyrini550 Anyone who has proper interest on the way this channel points towards ends upt studying marxism, leninism and probably maoism. I'm pretty sure that they've made their mind that revolutionary violence and the overwhelming backlash of capital are on the table.
As a commy, I absolutely love the videos. A main component the left is nearly universally leaving out is that we are in late overshoot and full on collapse free fall. NTHE (Near Term Human Extinction) is quite possible in the next couple decades, due to excessive warming, human habitat, food growth and storage loss.
"...and god knows they all hate each other" - so true, and so frustrating. I live in a town in south-west germany with ~200.000 inhabitants, they town has like 5 different communist organisations, each super small with between 5 and 50 members, and yes indeed, they all hate each other 🙄
I love this channel so much. I'm from a communist party in Europe and when I saw the titel of the Video, my first thought was "organize, organize, organize" ✊❤
As a relatively uneducated labourer, I find the best way to understand the flaws of capitalism is to understand that it rewards the sociopathic, those employers that compete in a system that only cares about profit. Profit is made by paying workers less than the value of their labour, and overcharging consumers, or other working-class people. The more you underpay workers and overcharge consumers, the greater the profit, something that is hard to do if you have a conscience. That profit is used to expand and control the market, the state, and workers through the corporate media and laws introduced by the state that they control. Capitalism is literally a system run by the mentally deranged, the sociopathic and even psychopathic, which is why the world is in a constant state of war, poverty, and environmental collapse.
The solution is to outlaw capitalism, the employer/employee relationship. Workers must own the means of production, the factories, offices, machinery etc. equally and democratically. This can be done through revolution, workers simply seizing the means of production as their own, which is a very easy task considering we outnumber employers 1000 to 1 or more. Individually we are nothing, collectively we are everything. There is no sane argument against it, because communism is true democracy. To not want democracy is to believe that the majority of people must be treated as livestock. There is no liberation without communism, and humanity must carve its own path as decided by the majority of humans, not a tiny minority of the sociopathic few.
@comradeinternet467 (very important; you are doing holy work, comrade! and I appreciate your "commenting for algorithm boosting purposes so more people who need it get to see this critically important video"! have you also clicked like, so that the channel gets more movement?)
Ya Lenin is great. It is where I started my daughter when she wanted to know more about socialism because I was pushing back on the narrative that their school was telling. That and Engels are where she is at so far
professors at uni made it abundantly clear that school is a tool for indoctrination, which made me pause and reflect how in post socialist countries like mine they avoid teaching us anything good about our socialist history to better shape the narrative. It's nefarious
@@ClassicalTraining I feel like they are both not hard to read and they are short so people can get through them quickly which is a plus for Jr High/ High schoolers
0:23 I still have quite a lot of debt due to me being so stupid to study university shit. So I cannot fund you at the moment. I am glad to hear that fellow watchers do see the means to fund this channel. I am glad. What we need now more than ever is class consciousness. And I believe this channel helps in that effort0.
Today's Fact: The largest iceberg ever recorded was the B-15 iceberg, which broke off from Antarctica in 2000 and measured over 4,200 square miles in size.
Something I want to add: everyone should be ready for the very real possibility that you will not see substantial change in your lifetime. It is very much possible that things will actually get much worse - e.g. through climate collapse by the end of this century and beginning of the next - before a chance of a humane alternative appears, and you won't be around by that time. But the reason that should not dissuade you from organising and networking with people now is that in our short timespans as humans, the process is as significant as the end result. If you spend your life creating emancipating, welcoming, humane communities with like-minded progressive and leftist people, the positive effects of that on your quality of life, mental health and practical outcomes will make life under this ultraconsumerist, hyperindividualist, exploitative global reality bearable.
Nice text Svalbard! I'll just nitpick one point: about people not seeing substantial change in their lifetimes. In retrospective, previous estimates about what climate change would be doing by now fell VERY short, so it's safe to assume we'll see generalized game-changing turns before even the 2060s.
I think this is probably one of the most important steps, to realize the underlying class interest of "the boss" that causes them to act the way they act by giving systemic incentives. Many people agree that Elon Musk is a complete tool, but fail to draw the connection to the fundamental economic relations, the mode of production that enables tools like Musk. This isn't only manifested in idealist criticism of capitalism that lacks materialist analysis, but also in capital-friendly civil rights activism that doesn't engage with capitalism but will instead be satisfied if the next Musk or Bezos is a woman, from an ethnic minority or LGBTQ+.
Yep. Also in February Medium found that, quote "Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem Was An Anti-Communist CIA Operative who Kept the Feminist Movement From Discussing Class; only Gender". Makes you wonder
Definitely one of the most important videos out there - we can’t fall for the ‘doomerism pill’, that’s built in by the system. Instead, we should analyze, look back at the vast history of emancipatory movements and be inspired by their continued struggle. The future is ours and together we can create it.
How do I snap my co-workers out of their anti-union beliefs, when they have had bad experiences with unions in the past. Like how do you fight someone’s anecdotal experience when they don’t care about the statistics or other examples of stronger union countries yielding better results?
I really feel like this video was just a fancy way of saying "check the links in the description" I didn't learn anything about what the advantage of organizing through those groups would do vs any of the ineffective protests you mentioned. You didn't give any specific examples of what any of these organizations actually do. I will check the links more thoroughly eventually but there is a LOT to go through and I struggle to interpret everything that is being talked about and which parts are relevant to finding out what I want to know about the organizations.
I used to think unions were bad, but 25+ years ago I started working under a union job, day one I changed my mind, so stay open and remember that we are the one’s that do the work. And don’t forget we are the cattle and the companies need us.
Keep in mind that he doesn't include all the reputable organizations. Revolutionary Communists of America is a big one that myself and others have recommended, but he continues to ignore.
The way your team progress and don't do any meaningless petty compromizes are admirable ❤ the real new hero rises to stand on the shoulders of giants and not under the heel of atlas
My issue is lack of local chapters. The closest DSA chapter for me is DSA Philly. Philly, depending on the part and time of day, is going to be (I'm in the process of moving) a 45 minute drive + needing to find parking (most likely have to pay an exorbitant rate to the Philly Parking Authority just for street parking, and they are known for ticketing the smallest infraction on their esoteric and poorly explained/signed rules). Due to automotive and gas industry lobbyists, the closet train station to me is going to be 30 minutes away by car, and takes an hour to get to Philly (and operates on an hourly schedule where if I miss a train, I have to wait an hour for the next one). Not to mention, the Philly DSA committee meetings are on Sunday during my work shift. The town I am moving to (Phoenixville) is fairly liberal, has lgbtqia+ pride symbolism strewn about the the busy shopping/entertainment district, and has neighboring towns of comparable size. Once I move there and make a couple friends with similar political views, I will see if we can get the Philly DSA to help spread awareness in our town to try and start a local chapter/subchapter. I've been enjoying your content for years, JT, just got a raise, and you'll be seeing part of it. Your videos are important, and I hope you won't need to rely on sponsors again. UPDATE: I see the PSL has a local chapter in my county, so I will see if there is any way I can help there.
@@Rubinsmom Sorry, don't mean to dox you, but are you in the Philly area? I was looking across the revcom website, and couldn't find anything on local chapters, or how to contact them. Would you be able to share info for the Philly chapters?
A very important thing to say is: the rich know exactly their class. That's why the workers are submitted to egregious levels of propaganda. That's why we have no time or space to organize.
Class consciousness and materialist analysis are at the heart of organizing. Individualism, both in the rugged Hooverian sense and the illusion of unity in identity politics, undermines both class consciousness and material analysis. What you're referring to as missing "politics" in uprisimhs like BLM is really a lack of both a material analysis and class consciousness.
I haven't gotten through the video yet, but BELIEVE IT!! I will. I watch you here and I listen to The Deprogram. I've been pushing and finding allies in the pharmacy scene. I've been shooting for Union, but most want a guild to keep the power closer to the workers who make the day-to-day decisions. Many seem afraid lf joining a union out of fear of outsourcing decisions to someone who might be law conscious but not concious of our daily life. How do I go about finding someone to properly represent us, or is it better to start a guild? It's surprising how many people I've met in the pharmacies that are really left wing (I'm still somewhat new to this area), 95% of the workers I meet believe in universal healthcare. Even though scripts haven't gone down in frequency, corporate is using the time lf year as an excuse to cut back hours, since people are getting less shots. This would be maybe one less person, but they're cutting hours back so far many of us might lose the "full-time" benefits, its ridiculous. While the the stock of "take your guess" retail pharmacies's shares are going up. We all know what we need, but corporate keeps pressuring us to shorten hours as if they can't afford it.. Basically, just curious of what would be the best way organize?
thank you for this!! together is the only way we can ever make a change. there's so much infighting and divisiveness on the left that we often struggle to see that
Howdy, friends! I hope you enjoy the video. If you've got recommendations for non-US socialist/communist/labor orgs, leave a comment! Let's get as many people organized as we can.
If you'd like to help make Second Thought a 100% grassroots-funded operation, consider becoming a patron on Patreon! All patrons, regardless of pledge amount, get early access to every video, plus access to our patrons-only Discord server! patreon.com/secondthought
Let s all start blocking weapon s export
I'll leave a comment here if somehow someone from Russia helps a brother out. I'm not sure where to look, and the "official" communist party obviously plays ball with the ruling class, so going there is not the answer.
I tried to up my pareon support when you released the last video but patreon wasn't letting me. It let me today though 😊
If you live in Belgium, among the socialist left we've got
Non-electoral:
- PSL/LSP and the student wing EGA/ALS
- ROSA campaign
- ADES (Brussels)
- Front Antifasciste de Liège
- Intal Globalize
- ABVV-FGTB trade union
- Code Rood/Rouge for climate actions
Electoral:
- PVDA-PTB (and the youth wing Comac)
- Anticapitalistes
- And there's still some leftists in the youth wings of the socialist party and greens
I didn't even know these damned organizations existed. How did you find these?
"If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" MLK
@Teamsterteacher MLK was one of the most based people out there, and yet, they managed to make him "safe" for the masses. He was a great radical revolutionary thinker, and his contribution was immeasurable.
@@RoughDetails any friend of Dr. King is a friend mine. Well said!
@@RoughDetails You can measure contributions by level of secrecy regarding death.
We, up to this point, create reality based on all the wrongs we did. But now we are creating reality based on all the good we left undone.
@@RoughDetails only after the racist establishment killed him. He was quite disliked by many white people, especially in government, and some of his contemporaries fighting for equal rights due to his methods
13:58 I prefer the expression “History doesn’t repeat itself, idiots repeat history.”
I know right and it's these idiots who end up leading extremist ideology on both sides ultimately making them end up unsuccessful
Another way to put that is “those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it” implying that those who don’t know history are idiots.
What you say it is definitely true because the reason why history repeats itself because people don't want to learn history communism and capitalism can both be used for bad
paraphrasing karl marx himself: history repeats twice, first as a tragedy, then as a parody
Yea… pretty much. At least how its going in this day of age.
I've actually just joined my local DSA chapter. I have no idea how I could be useful; I'm a scientist, not a political organizer. But years of experience working in medical labs have given me so much frustration with our for-profit healthcare BS that I have to do SOMETHING.
I'm an active member in DSA, on chapter steering committee, and hold elected office in my national caucus. I'm open to chat if you want to talk about being involved.
Revolutionary movements benefit when their members have a myriad of occupations that allow them to support each other and provide unique skills and insight for collective action. Things like photography, computer programming, graphic design, even evolutionary biology, can be useful contributions. I’d recommend thinking about what you’re able to contribute that might not have been the case if you had gone in other direction!
Careful, they are 95% co-opted Compatible Left
You picked the hardest place to be a 🛠 in
@@Yet.Another.Rapper.KiG.V2 true, democratic socialism doesn’t rlly have a coherent ideology so it’s easily co-opted by even more moderate tendencies
@adamdonahue2079 i agree i would say more but if i say too much of certain words my responses get nuked 😅
Being a vietnamese studying in US when I was 17, I could not understand the dilemma of how a country so rich still have homeless people and the streets are not clean like Singapore, this is no different than my country (this was back in 2016). Knowing more now, I appreciate westerners with marxism understanding, spreading knowledge in a language that's I am not good at. TY 👏
Communism and capitalism are getting babies are aborted
@Flyweight.8 let's say nothing else changed except workers owned a large share of production and say the CEO got paid 30% more than the bottom worker rather than 300% more would that flatten to a bell curve? I'm just wondering if capitalism is the problem or the way people at the top are extremely greedy.
Because some people make very bad decisions and have to deal with their consequences
@Flyweight.8looks like you're painting with pretty broad strokes.
@@Ouranos369there will always be greedy and sociopathic people - the main problem with capitalism is that it promotes and rewards such behaviour to the point where those people rule the world.
"We should improve society somewhat."
"But what about human nature!?!?"
Wouldn't the depravity of human nature be the exact reason we SHOULD improve society?
It's maddening. It IS human nature to improve things. Everything!
If it wasn't, we wouldn't have to be constantly propagandized about how "horrible" humans are.
Nor would there be so many people who WANT to change things. All the misery and suffering wouldn't feel 'wrong' and 'depressing', it would just feel normal.
We wouldn't have people coming together to try to help whenever we hear about war, disaster, disease...in fact, it's like, when things go wrong, humans can't sit still! -- we HAVE to do something, or at least try, or go insane.
There would be no protests, nobody in prison for feeding the homeless or helping squatters or engaging in protecting the waters and the forests of this world....
The human species would have crumbled to dust, despite the constant cruelties of our suicidal ruling class, LONG before now; if it were not literal human instinct to try to improve conditions for both ourselves and others.
@@TreeHairedGingerAle Before we formed civilization, human nature was to work collectively to ensure our survival too. We evolved too much for violence
“Human nature is malleable, not fixed. Humans can be indoctrinated to believe in horrific ideas and to commit atrocities- or they can be taught to be empathetic, kind, cooperative, and to strive for improvement in all things (including themselves).”
@CaseyC-ms5rs I'm not sure where you got that I implied that, but your question doesn't really make sense to me, so I can't answer that.
"HOW do we organize? How do we even convince one person, let alone multiple, that 'organize' is even a real freaking word?"
That's what needs asked I think.
Follow the links in the description
I would really spend time researching each group. Don't judge a book by its cover. I knew jumping ship later would not be nice so I took my time and got involved with my top two picks before realizing the FRSO best embodies a marxist approach to organizing. There's no over-emphasis on signing up sympathizers with good politics but don't organize on the ground, nor is there any big-tent dilution of political unity.
Genuinely just join a socialist organization. Some are better than others but what matters at first is getting the experience.
There's more than likely a few good socialist ones around you. If you can't find one online near you, join a protest or rally and ask around; there are some that aren't easy to find online.
If even that's a no-go, even joining a mostly liberal organization that focuses on progressive things (like climate change) can work for taking that first step and getting experience.
There’s so many resources you just have to go looking.
@@st.altair4936 Climate activists tend to be some of the more experienced/skilled ones around too. Joining any group in the A22 network will upskill you wonderfully.
Glad more people are supporting the channel! This channel has been many ex-liberals' first step to becoming socialists.
Seriously. I'm an Anarchist, so I disagree with him on some things, but I wouldn't be here if not for him breaking me out of right-libertarianism
I still can't believe some days that I went from a far-right internet troll to a socialist in like 2 years.
@@stealthemoon8899 i went from a redpill ancap who finished colleged and was pissed cause i couldn't get a job and a gf and it was all the gov and women's fault. its all a big process and learning curve. anarchism has its great merits, but it'll forever struggle with facing structural sistemical social issues because it demands structural sistemical social solutions that just destroying the structure won't fix it. our lives are just too complex now and steping from an amalgamation of small communities spread across the globe to a one social and connected species as the human race. Keep studying cientific comunism and you don't have to abandon your anarchic feelings because they are real and legitimate.
@@theapocasmithI’ve noticed that it seems like for a lot of people that happened over the pandemic.
It’s weird how some people found socialism and others found Qanon 🥲
He’s a capitalist posing as a socialist did he split the revenue of his channel with you? You did all the work
Thanks to your channel, I joined my local DSA group and we've been able to get DA's elected and bills passed. We get plenty accomplished. If you want stuff to get done then you have to get busy!
Best wishes to the second and first thought channels, we all love what you do and the community you've created. Appreciate your work
"But what can we do?"
Absolutely this!
So much media making cautionary tales and not enough about solving said problems.
Not to mention some of those in power trying to shut down avenues that let us make sure our voices can be heard.
That's why I really appreciate progressive sources like Second Thought and also Peter Joseph with TZM, new Zeitgeist: Requiem film coming out soon and One Small Town Contributionism organization with Michael Tellinger and the Doughnut Economics Action Lab with Kate Raworth for 21st Century thinking!
It would seem most want change but are unwilling to themselves change
Western civilization is crumbling. You can't save it. Escape from Babylon and watch the fall from a distance in the hinterland. Swam doin
Western civilization is crumbling.
I recommend looking i to "The Revolutionary Communists of America". There is a branch in a lot of major cities. It is also an international organization with branches elsewhere in the world, including Britain, Russia, and Mexico. They focus on building an educated party of comrades before shit really hits the fan. It's still small and grassroots here in America, but with a newspaper issue already out and successful agitation, we are finding comrades ready to get involved everywhere! Join the conversation!
IMT has been stuck defending bourgeois states and has gone through a long line of reformism
@@handsfortoothpicks oh? Please tell me more of what you know about this?
Hey, I'm connected to the org, just not a member. Multiple people reached out to him, he doesn't include us because he gets vibes that we're feds. I have no idea why. He even included an anarchist group in this videos.
@@Rubinsmom who is it you are referring to?
@@handsfortoothpicks Hands for toohpicks cannot reply cause they do not have any actual proof of such claims.
Workers of all countries unite!!🌎🤝🚩
1991. 1989. 1979.
@shaixalyd6681 Glory to the proletariat! Solidarity!
We have only our chains to lose!
@@Random_merkava_enjoyer the answer to that is 1917, 1945, 1959
@@redlion45 im not even german lol, your ideology is a failure like it proved to be in almost all countries that implemented it
I can't afford to support you financially but I'm glad you're continuing to spread the good word despite the struggles.
I'm in the educate phase, I've been agitated for a long time. Now I know I have to organize
just signed up for the patreon!!! this channel cant die without overthrowing capitalism first
The Bottom of your Commie Heart! I've used those same words with people in my own life. I show people in my life on the internet your videos, Hakims videos. If I hear someone else knows either of your names and agrees I instantly know we stand for the same things. You MUST keep doing what you are doing. Many of us have been here for years and already have the same ideas and values, however the work both you and Hakim are doing, it's spreading. Please keep doing this and I will do everything in my power to continue to spread the message. Thank you
Organize first and foremost, cause not all of us had read Capital, but all of us have the Capitals scars on our bodies. That's the starting point...
@postmodernmarxist101 Truer words have never been written. Absolutely on point!
Ah yes. Being loud and stupid will help things a lot.
@@authenticallysuperficial9874 your opinion is bad and you should feel bad.
Any Australian comrades in the comments:
- Community Union Defence League
- Aus Communist Party
- CPA
- SA
SAlt
Get amongst them. They (we) all hate each other, but JT's point stands.
We need to get organised. 🤝 🫂 ✊🚩
The Greens too? I know of a faction in NSW that's anti-capitalist, and democratic socialist
@@kingendercat oh really? I didn't think the Greens were anti-capitalist at all?
@@Ryza_d I don't think they are outright anti-capitalist but they do seem to push for a lot of socialist-leaning policies. Basically, the only major political party that seems to push for things that help average everyday people.
@@SIRROM12 yeah fair. I guess it's like the DSA for Americans. Better than the rest, for sure. When it comes to voting we have to do it intelligently and take the concessions for the working class that we can. We definitely shouldn't stop agitating outside of that though.
@@Ryza_dwhy do the parties hate each other? Factionalism and internal division can only hurt the cause
When you said "what can we do" I knew. Lenin forever.
CaseyC-ms5rsFroze? Uh yeah it was Russia, that's the norm, what did Lenin control the weather?
@@joaquinvideo2959 yes lenin controlled the weather how did you not know smh my head
@@ariabk i thought it was common knowledge that leno was a weather wizard
@@ahakddiwnfs1742 yeah cant believe kids these days dont know this im smhing my head again
@@ariabk Lenin's secondary superpower being "Wololoooooooo"
This is your best video yet. I know things are horrible but this gives me a lot of hope
Thanks to your channel, I joined my Country’s CP. they’re a little behind on social media but we’re building up the party 😊
what country
Thank you for answering a very common question. Also, a 100% grassroots funded Second Thought is a very good idea.
Off-topic, but idk if you take video ideas, but here's a few of mine:
-Socialism and the notion of a free press (one that many people have misconceptions about)
-The relationship between democracy and socialism (another one that many people have misconceptions about, equal to if not greater the first one)
-Compatability of Socialism/Marxism with religious beliefs (as a Christian myself, this is one of the biggest question I have as a socialist)
-Socialism and federal/decentralized models of territorial administration (same as the first two and the second-biggest thing I think about as a socialist)
Great suggestions! The socialism and religion idea is one I've wanted to tackle for a while now
@@SecondThought Thanks! I appreciate you for hearing me out
@@SecondThoughtthis is a video I think a lot of people need to hear. I've been told by way too many in the church that Marxism is incompatible with Christian religion
Why, especially as a Christian, would you have any doubts about socialism? I think Jesus was pretty clear...he would definitely be against capitalism.
@@chihirostargazer6573 I wasn’t having any doubts. I am aware of what Jesus said about capitalism. This said, I don’t ID as a Christian Socialist, as I truly believe in secularism. Sorry if what I’m saying here is confusing, but I felt I needed to clarify and explain myself.
Haven’t watched yet, but I can already tell this is going to be a banger
Hope you enjoy!
Thank you for making Lenin's writing clearer. I try to put socialist ideas into layperson's terminology. Power to the people
When you read Lenin's _What Is To Be Done?_ so now you know what needs to be done 😏
I love Lenin's writing.
He’s so sassy, I love it
@@SecondThoughtThe way he feels the need to say "Not understand" to the movement is soo funny😂 a true theory nerd 🫡✊🔱
@@NixonThr336ix Found the counter-revolutionary paid by the imperialists.
@@NixonThr336ixEat lead😢
"SO sassy"......I know you've seen one up close lmao
Lenin is calling, for more than 100 years ... still calling... Workers of the world, unite!
The future is calling, will you answer?
Also Luxemburg, Pannekoek, Trotsky... Pretty much many of us. Not just Bolsheviks. We all share the same goal
@@eges72 Trotsky was a bolshevik too! But yes all flavours of Marxist want the same thing, we just have differing opinions on how to get there
Greetings from Brazil, keep this good work!
Hey JT, I asked this question before but I don’t think you noticed it.
Now that you have Means TV as a backer, not to mention a ton of patreon supporters, can First Thought afford to make regular news episodes again? Don’t get me wrong your analysis episodes are great and informative, but I really miss my regular biased news.
That was just too much of a time commitment. Three episodes a week in addition to all our other work was overwhelming. We’d probably need to build a whole separate team to manage the news if we wanted to try it again. That’s a long way down the road.
@@SecondThoughtOk, that’s understandable. How is The New F Word doing by the way?
@@RyanM-t6k lol maybe check his personal channel, there he explains how he's coming from doing way too many things at the same to less avail than he needed.
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
@@DiegoTTeslaTibet is already free
@@DiegoTTesla Mao did it.
@@DiegoTTesla it was freed in 1950 what are you talking about
Play rope game , irl .
@@lordflaflust what is "rope game"?
With the discord, is it good for people of all the different revolutionary socialist parties? I am quite poor but I'm really wanting to pay a patron for the first time for your channel. Never done a patron but this will be my first. I hope the discord is a great place to hear from other socialist to gain info to go back to my socialist branch.
Honestly second thought I can't thank you enough for the eye opening content you create for the people.
Sure! Everyone is welcome as long as they adhere to the server rules and don't try to start drama. It's a great place to chat and learn from like-minded comrades
@@SecondThought sounds great that's what I like to hear. Thanks for the response 😁
State and Revolution is equally as important. ❤
Possibly my favorite work of theory
Even with the boost, I’m going to donate. We gotta keep you in the game, comrade.
Most active UK groups are:
- Communist Party of Britain
- Young Communist League of Britain (CPB affiliated)
- Revolutionary Communist Group
- Revolutionary Communist Party (not same as RCG)
- Socialist Worker’s Party
- Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
I have my problems with each of these orgs, and there will be a lot of disagreement on which is most effective. In my view i think CPB/YCL is probably the closest to Marxism-Leninism in terms of party structure and ideology, but SWP are very active with protests and TUSC regularly have electoral candidates at both national and local level. If you don’t like the org, be the change you want to see within it by participating!
The Communist Party of Britain is conservative and insanely homophobic and transphobic.
You left off the Revolutionary Communist Party
@@DAL30505 thanks for the tip!
I saw your patron pinned in Hasan's chat. Love you JT ❤
That's so kind! The support really helps ❤️
The word organize is spoken a lot but I was not able to understand what it meant to practice it. Thanks for this.
@dwayneneckles The Bourgeoisie is investing great amounts in changing the meaning of proper organizing, they are throwing sand into our eyes. Like the devil, they are trying to trick us. They want us separate and we must resist! Solidarity!
don’t get me wrong, i love the bigger production, “fancier videos” as he described in the beginning, but a couple of these more casual feeling, just sit down and talk style videos wouldn’t be the worst thing. sometimes it’s nice to feel like you’re just having a normal conversation and not attending a lecture (like i said, i enjoy the ‘lectury’ style videos too, just a thought, a second thought?)
Lenin really did write well.
Yep! Very clear and surprisingly funny
Its a pitty he behaved like a fascist.
@@wiretamer5710 learn some actual history, dude. American fascist revisionism paints the soviets as equal evils to the nazis for a reason, and the fact that you're watching these videos while not questioning the historical narratives propagated by the US means that shit has had its intended impact.
@@wiretamer5710 how?
I read "what is to be done" at least once every few months. Such a great piece of work.
Когда сейчас читаю Ленина, поражаюсь, насколько он был прав! Сейчас, когда капитализм в России вернулся, мы снова проходим эти этапы. К сожалению, очень многие люди в нашей стране пока не понимают, что именно реставрация капитализма является причиной происходящих трагедий. Очень рада видеть, что в США много тех, кто думает и разделяет идеи марксизма.
Many people might just want to hang on to whatever job they have got ...BUT.... if you really want a better world then it has to be made financially worthwhile for people to SHARE the jobs we would agree we NEED to have done and work much less. At least 70% of jobs have no real value and that's really the problem. Too many people work FOR money but not because they are doing something we NEED.
Should've also posted a link to "what we boutta do" from the podcast, absolute BANGER
As an anarchist I bit my tongue, pinched my nose, and joined CPUSA. I’d rather take a gamble with Marxism-Leninism than do nothing at all. Maybe if enough anarchists join we can all compromise and establish council communism.
JT, I have been following you for about a year now. You have grown so much! I admire your integrity and your ability to truly stand for what you preach. I’ll be subscribing to your Patreon to support. Thanks 💛
Urging all people not just the US to organize through political parties and unions. Don't think too much on it, just join whatever is closest
Love you guys - keep going. Became a patron after the last video - keep at it!
Hay JT Chapman, you also can add Socialist Alternative U.S. to that list (the same one of Kshama Sawant) there’s also Socialist Party USA (the same one of Eugene V Debs) then there’s Working Class & Houseless Organising Alliance (which Brett O'Shea of Revolutionary Left Radio is a member of), then there is the Institute For Christian Socialism, & Cooperation Jackson & Cooperation Tusla, Indigenous Anarchist Federation, Green Party US (they see themselves as Libertarian Socialism & Eco-Socialism & are influenced by Murray Bookchin), Community Movement Builders so that’s all I know when it comes to America so as for Canada there’s the Democratic Socialists of Canada & for the UK, there’s Solidarity Economy Association, ok that’s really all I know.
It’s great this video explains how to fight capitalism and not just exposing it’s evils.
Global Revolution!
Babe, wake up, Daddy SecondThought dropped New Theory. Time for theory session!
“Omg kill me” - your partner
@wesside-333 daddy elon's not gonna love you, French's Robinhood Operation works well
@@wesside-333daddy elon's not gonna love you
@@GlitchBoy-ws5in my daddy is Mikey Musumeci
@wesside-333 bro... you are still being a TomDark "TurkeyTom" Fan? What being TomDark fans did to mf
I'm so happy to hear this. Keep of the great work!
Great Video as always!
Glad you liked it!
Just subbed for a year. Thank you for making great educational content!
Great video! I would love to use my python / data analysis skills to help "agitate - educate - organize", and this video definitely gave me a ton of ideas. Thank you second thought.
I couldn't donate but am so grateful to everyone who joined Patreon & helped this channel bc I love the work you (& this community) does! FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸
@SecondThought Dude, thank you for all the work that you do! You have given people the opportunity to think, you are waking them from their slumber.
Those mfs need some Lenin in their lives, AND YOU DELIVERED like the angel-bearer of good news!! Bless you!
Sorry that I cannot give you money, but I always watch your videos without the ad-blocker, and watch every advertisement, and press like, and comment, and share your video with my friends.
At the time of writing this comment, the views are 22.000 and I'm like WHAT, those guys need to support their comrade, RITE MAO!
Wishing you all the best, if I get some monies, I'll send them your way. Continue the good fight comrade, SOLIDARITY!!!
Really Happy to see the second thought patreon growing. I hope you all can be self sufficient soon!
One of your best videos yet! Hope this gets the exposure it deserves since it's so important.
Obey and decay: that's what the system is all about
There’s hope as long as intelligent, good young men like you create such good content.
Such a valuable video, JT! Thank you for your continued efforts in bringing us forward as a collective, comrade ✊
I often reflect, perhaps hypocritically (because I do try to live a somewhat buddhist-style life as father and husband), upon how many (although not all), younger leftists I meet claim their dedication to non-violence. If we are to be honest here, most radical political change in history requires a lot of fighting. I would suggest to those who think absolute nonviolence is the best way forward: go hang out at a local gun store or similar place, and listen to what the conservative white people have in store for them once their leader gives them "the order." I think a lot of younger leftists in the US live in somewhat of a bubble, I don't think they realize how many people hate them and would take them out if they were legally able to do so. *(I'm using the term legally to mean "not likely to be prosecuted;" I do not mean it in the sense as acting in accordance with written law).
*I want to make it absolutely clear I am not calling for violence, I'm just calling for a reflection upon the facts that: the conservative minority in the US (which still consists of at least several million people) really wants to do some violence to people they consider their enemies; and 2) looking at the history of radical political change, most of it came on the backside of a lot of serious fighting. Think of what it took to end slavery... I also think that history shows that people like Malcolm X and the Black /White Panthers, Yippies/SLO, etc., helped MLK's movement attain some limited success (i.e. they didn't want to face the scary radicals, so it was easier to at least appear to agree to, at least a few, of the demands of the more "moderate" faction).
100% agree. Since Ghandi, there have been think tanks whos only job it is has been to figure out how to counter nonviolent protests. After 100 years, they have it down to a science. Century old protest tactics are outdated.
@@coreyrini550 Anyone who has proper interest on the way this channel points towards ends upt studying marxism, leninism and probably maoism. I'm pretty sure that they've made their mind that revolutionary violence and the overwhelming backlash of capital are on the table.
I am so happy this channel exists. You guys are doing a good thing. Good work.
Thank you for your informative video. Keep up the good work that you do. Be strong and persevere. Bless you all. Kind regards Chris
Divided we beg United we bargain 💪
As a commy, I absolutely love the videos. A main component the left is nearly universally leaving out is that we are in late overshoot and full on collapse free fall. NTHE (Near Term Human Extinction) is quite possible in the next couple decades, due to excessive warming, human habitat, food growth and storage loss.
"...and god knows they all hate each other" - so true, and so frustrating.
I live in a town in south-west germany with ~200.000 inhabitants, they town has like 5 different communist organisations, each super small with between 5 and 50 members, and yes indeed, they all hate each other 🙄
God I wish my dsa chapter did literally anything. I was one of like three that picketed with uaw and our meeting spot is down the road from a plant.
Check out Revolutionary Communists of America, they actually take action
Join the RCA
I love this channel so much. I'm from a communist party in Europe and when I saw the titel of the Video, my first thought was "organize, organize, organize" ✊❤
@darkvalkyrie5366 Organize, organize organize! Salutations comrade, glory to the international proletariat!
As a relatively uneducated labourer, I find the best way to understand the flaws of capitalism is to understand that it rewards the sociopathic, those employers that compete in a system that only cares about profit. Profit is made by paying workers less than the value of their labour, and overcharging consumers, or other working-class people. The more you underpay workers and overcharge consumers, the greater the profit, something that is hard to do if you have a conscience.
That profit is used to expand and control the market, the state, and workers through the corporate media and laws introduced by the state that they control.
Capitalism is literally a system run by the mentally deranged, the sociopathic and even psychopathic, which is why the world is in a constant state of war, poverty, and environmental collapse.
The solution is to outlaw capitalism, the employer/employee relationship. Workers must own the means of production, the factories, offices, machinery etc. equally and democratically.
This can be done through revolution, workers simply seizing the means of production as their own, which is a very easy task considering we outnumber employers 1000 to 1 or more.
Individually we are nothing, collectively we are everything.
There is no sane argument against it, because communism is true democracy. To not want democracy is to believe that the majority of people must be treated as livestock. There is no liberation without communism, and humanity must carve its own path as decided by the majority of humans, not a tiny minority of the sociopathic few.
(commenting for algorithm boosting purposes so more people who need it get to see this critically important video)
@comradeinternet467 (very important; you are doing holy work, comrade! and I appreciate your "commenting for algorithm boosting purposes so more people who need it get to see this critically important video"! have you also clicked like, so that the channel gets more movement?)
Comrade, thank you for another practical video for us fellow workers!
last time I was this early, BB was still in power
Likes for the engagement gods, comments for the algorithm!!
Yup. Basically, as an individual, all you can do is join up with other people and go from there.
Ya Lenin is great. It is where I started my daughter when she wanted to know more about socialism because I was pushing back on the narrative that their school was telling. That and Engels are where she is at so far
professors at uni made it abundantly clear that school is a tool for indoctrination, which made me pause and reflect how in post socialist countries like mine they avoid teaching us anything good about our socialist history to better shape the narrative. It's nefarious
@AbrasiveTea Engels is a great writer in my opinion. His texts have flow.
@AbrasiveTea Engels is a great writer, in my opinion. His texts have great flow.
@@ClassicalTraining I feel like they are both not hard to read and they are short so people can get through them quickly which is a plus for Jr High/ High schoolers
0:23 I still have quite a lot of debt due to me being so stupid to study university shit. So I cannot fund you at the moment. I am glad to hear that fellow watchers do see the means to fund this channel. I am glad. What we need now more than ever is class consciousness. And I believe this channel helps in that effort0.
Today's Fact: The largest iceberg ever recorded was the B-15 iceberg, which broke off from Antarctica in 2000 and measured over 4,200 square miles in size.
I was about to ask what bomber aircraft is the B-15 lol
Nice graphics!
Thanks! Glad you liked them
Something I want to add: everyone should be ready for the very real possibility that you will not see substantial change in your lifetime. It is very much possible that things will actually get much worse - e.g. through climate collapse by the end of this century and beginning of the next - before a chance of a humane alternative appears, and you won't be around by that time. But the reason that should not dissuade you from organising and networking with people now is that in our short timespans as humans, the process is as significant as the end result. If you spend your life creating emancipating, welcoming, humane communities with like-minded progressive and leftist people, the positive effects of that on your quality of life, mental health and practical outcomes will make life under this ultraconsumerist, hyperindividualist, exploitative global reality bearable.
We will see developments if not here elsewhere, stuff is just getting started
Nice text Svalbard! I'll just nitpick one point: about people not seeing substantial change in their lifetimes. In retrospective, previous estimates about what climate change would be doing by now fell VERY short, so it's safe to assume we'll see generalized game-changing turns before even the 2060s.
@@marcriba7581 Yeah, I meant like substantial changes of the system for something better. But I agree about climate change timescales getting shorter.
I think this is probably one of the most important steps, to realize the underlying class interest of "the boss" that causes them to act the way they act by giving systemic incentives. Many people agree that Elon Musk is a complete tool, but fail to draw the connection to the fundamental economic relations, the mode of production that enables tools like Musk. This isn't only manifested in idealist criticism of capitalism that lacks materialist analysis, but also in capital-friendly civil rights activism that doesn't engage with capitalism but will instead be satisfied if the next Musk or Bezos is a woman, from an ethnic minority or LGBTQ+.
Yep. Also in February Medium found that, quote "Feminist Icon Gloria Steinem Was An Anti-Communist CIA Operative who Kept the Feminist Movement From Discussing Class; only Gender". Makes you wonder
I needed to hear this again. For the millionth time. Thanks Vlad.
Is there a discord for non-patrons?
Hiya! Fantastic video JT - off to watch the recommended vid
8:37 the "safety third" segment of "well there's your problem" is a good example of this kind of "exposure"!
Definitely one of the most important videos out there - we can’t fall for the ‘doomerism pill’, that’s built in by the system. Instead, we should analyze, look back at the vast history of emancipatory movements and be inspired by their continued struggle. The future is ours and together we can create it.
How do I snap my co-workers out of their anti-union beliefs, when they have had bad experiences with unions in the past. Like how do you fight someone’s anecdotal experience when they don’t care about the statistics or other examples of stronger union countries yielding better results?
I really feel like this video was just a fancy way of saying "check the links in the description" I didn't learn anything about what the advantage of organizing through those groups would do vs any of the ineffective protests you mentioned. You didn't give any specific examples of what any of these organizations actually do. I will check the links more thoroughly eventually but there is a LOT to go through and I struggle to interpret everything that is being talked about and which parts are relevant to finding out what I want to know about the organizations.
I used to think unions were bad, but 25+ years ago I started working under a union job, day one I changed my mind, so stay open and remember that we are the one’s that do the work. And don’t forget we are the cattle and the companies need us.
Keep in mind that he doesn't include all the reputable organizations. Revolutionary Communists of America is a big one that myself and others have recommended, but he continues to ignore.
The way your team progress and don't do any meaningless petty compromizes are admirable ❤ the real new hero rises to stand on the shoulders of giants and not under the heel of atlas
My issue is lack of local chapters. The closest DSA chapter for me is DSA Philly. Philly, depending on the part and time of day, is going to be (I'm in the process of moving) a 45 minute drive + needing to find parking (most likely have to pay an exorbitant rate to the Philly Parking Authority just for street parking, and they are known for ticketing the smallest infraction on their esoteric and poorly explained/signed rules). Due to automotive and gas industry lobbyists, the closet train station to me is going to be 30 minutes away by car, and takes an hour to get to Philly (and operates on an hourly schedule where if I miss a train, I have to wait an hour for the next one). Not to mention, the Philly DSA committee meetings are on Sunday during my work shift. The town I am moving to (Phoenixville) is fairly liberal, has lgbtqia+ pride symbolism strewn about the the busy shopping/entertainment district, and has neighboring towns of comparable size. Once I move there and make a couple friends with similar political views, I will see if we can get the Philly DSA to help spread awareness in our town to try and start a local chapter/subchapter.
I've been enjoying your content for years, JT, just got a raise, and you'll be seeing part of it. Your videos are important, and I hope you won't need to rely on sponsors again.
UPDATE: I see the PSL has a local chapter in my county, so I will see if there is any way I can help there.
If that doesn't work out, Revolutionary Communists of America also has a couple chapters in Philly.
@@Rubinsmom Sorry, don't mean to dox you, but are you in the Philly area? I was looking across the revcom website, and couldn't find anything on local chapters, or how to contact them. Would you be able to share info for the Philly chapters?
A very important thing to say is: the rich know exactly their class. That's why the workers are submitted to egregious levels of propaganda. That's why we have no time or space to organize.
Class consciousness and materialist analysis are at the heart of organizing. Individualism, both in the rugged Hooverian sense and the illusion of unity in identity politics, undermines both class consciousness and material analysis. What you're referring to as missing "politics" in uprisimhs like BLM is really a lack of both a material analysis and class consciousness.
Memes are great for political activism because they can deliver a message quickly
I haven't gotten through the video yet, but BELIEVE IT!! I will.
I watch you here and I listen to The Deprogram. I've been pushing and finding allies in the pharmacy scene. I've been shooting for Union, but most want a guild to keep the power closer to the workers who make the day-to-day decisions. Many seem afraid lf joining a union out of fear of outsourcing decisions to someone who might be law conscious but not concious of our daily life.
How do I go about finding someone to properly represent us, or is it better to start a guild?
It's surprising how many people I've met in the pharmacies that are really left wing (I'm still somewhat new to this area), 95% of the workers I meet believe in universal healthcare.
Even though scripts haven't gone down in frequency, corporate is using the time lf year as an excuse to cut back hours, since people are getting less shots. This would be maybe one less person, but they're cutting hours back so far many of us might lose the "full-time" benefits, its ridiculous.
While the the stock of "take your guess" retail pharmacies's shares are going up.
We all know what we need, but corporate keeps pressuring us to shorten hours as if they can't afford it..
Basically, just curious of what would be the best way organize?
Ayy early gang here. Informative video as usual. Thanks JT!
thank you for this!! together is the only way we can ever make a change. there's so much infighting and divisiveness on the left that we often struggle to see that
What can I do as a minor? Are there any organizations that could use assistance (or would even allow it) from a freshman in highschool?
Sure! You could look into YDSA, that's the DSA's youth branch
I've ordered a copy of What is to be Done?
Unionize! Organize
Song Tip:
CAPITALISM SONG by eddy