Socialism is the beginning stage of organizing an industrialized society. By default, there will still be class divisions as there would still be material differences in the lives of people across society (for example, someone working in a factory or on a farm would still have a different material relationship to someone, say, managing logistics or a representative in a democratic body). A classless society, communism, is the distant horizon, a goal for socialist organization to strive for. …cus nobody actually knows how to set up a classless society (or at least, an industrialized classless society). We have to figure it out, with a principled scientific approach.
But first, we have to figure out how to have industry and nature co-exist. But first first, any socialist project would have to fend off attacks from the capitalist classes across the rest of the global economy. Like the rest of history’s developments, theses things will take time.
I don’t think we’re going to see anything beyond state capitalism as long as industry exists. There are just too many people who will do anything for control, riches, and power. They’re chasing the dragon of anxiety relief, and as we’ve seen time and time again from leaders of all backgrounds, this human condition is not cured no matter how much you have.
This is why so much sci-fi writes about “AI will decide its best to eliminate us”; we already know we’re broken beyond hope.
Maybe. Maybe not. This really is the make-or-break century, where we see if we can wrangle industry back into the natural world. I mean, it’s worth at least trying. What’s the point of living at this moment in history if we don’t try? If we just assume it’s a forgone conclusion? “Damned by our own inaction” is such a waste of potential. And if it really isn’t possible, then at least we’ll know as much for having tried.
Specifically, it will not end class divisions, imho.
What makes you say that?
Socialism is the beginning stage of organizing an industrialized society. By default, there will still be class divisions as there would still be material differences in the lives of people across society (for example, someone working in a factory or on a farm would still have a different material relationship to someone, say, managing logistics or a representative in a democratic body). A classless society, communism, is the distant horizon, a goal for socialist organization to strive for. …cus nobody actually knows how to set up a classless society (or at least, an industrialized classless society). We have to figure it out, with a principled scientific approach.
But first, we have to figure out how to have industry and nature co-exist. But first first, any socialist project would have to fend off attacks from the capitalist classes across the rest of the global economy. Like the rest of history’s developments, theses things will take time.
I don’t think we’re going to see anything beyond state capitalism as long as industry exists. There are just too many people who will do anything for control, riches, and power. They’re chasing the dragon of anxiety relief, and as we’ve seen time and time again from leaders of all backgrounds, this human condition is not cured no matter how much you have.
This is why so much sci-fi writes about “AI will decide its best to eliminate us”; we already know we’re broken beyond hope.
Maybe. Maybe not. This really is the make-or-break century, where we see if we can wrangle industry back into the natural world. I mean, it’s worth at least trying. What’s the point of living at this moment in history if we don’t try? If we just assume it’s a forgone conclusion? “Damned by our own inaction” is such a waste of potential. And if it really isn’t possible, then at least we’ll know as much for having tried.
Technically true, because that will be communism. But it will seek to resolve class contradictions rather than intensify them for the sake of profit.
Fair enough, yeah.