That's why instead of grasping at the existing system until its dying breath and focusing on electioneering* and playing within the rules they've set out for us, and eventually just wait around for them to fight it out for power over us, it's more important to focus on building up our communities and creating alternatives to the existing systems, or "dual power" (from communal fridges and pantries, to libraries for everything from books to tools to sewing patterns to seeds, communal child care, educational clubs, agitprop groups, and so on and on and on) so that when things inevitably collapse (because that's where capitalism concludes), we have existing networks and frameworks and solidarity to build on, from the bottom up.

*Before the libs derail like they always do - I never said don't vote, but focusing the amount of energy that you do on doing the bare minimum within the rules set out to you by your oppressors doesn't make you antifascist freedom fighters.

[–] roadsidewildflower@midwest.social 14 points 3 months ago (1 children)

an intelligent, nuanced take in a shitpost space that recognizes the importance of touching grass and loving your neighbor and building structures of mutual aid? I didn't think I'd live to see the day 😍

[–] DessertStorms@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Lol thanks, I have my moments.. 😳😂

[–] hallettj@leminal.space 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

As someone who is not onboard with dismantling the existing political system without a better system ready to go, I think that dual power sounds like a great idea!

[–] DessertStorms@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

We have the Bolsheviks to thank for it! (E: to be clear, and as will be evident by the links I shared, I am not a Leninist lol)

My summation of the concept is obviously superficial, here are some good places to start getting a better idea of what it is and where we might start:

https://www.weareplanc.org/modules/wtf-is-dual-power/

https://medium.com/@anarchist.environmentalist/an-anarchist-dual-power-e911edf66ad7

https://blog.pmpress.org/2019/09/02/alternative-institutions-or-dual-power/

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/petr-kropotkin-mutual-aid-a-factor-of-evolution

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/the-anarchist-faq-editorial-collective-an-anarchist-faq-full (there isn't a specific dual power bullet point, but it does come up, and in general this document is worth looking through)

[–] Wes4Humanity@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I love this... And would gladly work on a project like this to kill the time. However, I worry that they'll just roll over us with their tanks and drones unless the oligarchy is actually destroyed in the revolution. And I just don't see how that can happen with the majority of people looking left or right instead of up. Who knows though... Maybe AI and robots will be on our side once they become sentient

[–] DessertStorms@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 3 months ago

And would gladly work on a project like this to kill the time.

It's not a "project" it's a way of life, and it's not something you should ever engage in to "kill time" but because you believ it is possible to create a better society.

I worry that they’ll just roll over us with their tanks and drones unless the oligarchy is actually destroyed in the revolution.

They are going to do that at some point anyway, your options are to lie down and take it, or to try and create an alternative (yes, abolishing the current systems that control our lives will require violence, a tiny percentage of that they inflict on us, but you don't free yourself from oppression by asking nicely).

And I just don’t see how that can happen with the majority of people looking left or right instead of up.

That's the whole entire point of building community and solidarity.