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Alienation is among the most PERVASIVE sentiments in the US, felt across the ENTIRE political spectrum.
Yet few can identify it, let alone envision a less alienating world - mainly because the Left has failed to convey an accessible language of oppression... & liberation. 1/29
Yet few can identify it, let alone envision a less alienating world - mainly because the Left has failed to convey an accessible language of oppression... & liberation. 1/29
Alienation makes us feel like we don’t matter; like our voice doesn’t matter.
We feel like a feather floating in the wind, with each new direction at the whim of some external force.
Alienation feels like the decisions that affect our lives are made FOR us, not BY us. 2/29
We feel like a feather floating in the wind, with each new direction at the whim of some external force.
Alienation feels like the decisions that affect our lives are made FOR us, not BY us. 2/29
Where does alienation come from? And what is it about humans that makes alienation so oppressive?
And finally, what institutional changes can we make to have a more fulfilling & less alienating society? 3/29
And finally, what institutional changes can we make to have a more fulfilling & less alienating society? 3/29
Humans are a highly conscious species. Consciousness includes the ability to abstract thoughts, recall relevant memories & information, weigh options, forecast outcomes & plan ahead… all in our mind.
I.e. consciousness includes the ability to make decisions for ourselves. 4/29
I.e. consciousness includes the ability to make decisions for ourselves. 4/29
Engaging, participating & applying our consciousness to have a *real* say in the decisions that affect our lives is a source of *fulfillment*.
Taking away our ability to apply our consciousness to the decisions that affect our lives is an oppressive feeling of *alienation*. 5/29
Taking away our ability to apply our consciousness to the decisions that affect our lives is an oppressive feeling of *alienation*. 5/29
When I say alienation is pervasive in the US, I mean PERVASIVE. Every group, every political leaning across the entire political spectrum, feels alienation – with the ONLY exception being the 1% who actually have real decision-making power. 6/29
Across ALL political affiliations, 77% feel elected officials ‘lose touch’ with their constituencies, and 74% feel our political system doesn’t even care what we think; that literally, our voice means NOTHING. 7/29
76% say the government is controlled by & only serves the interests of a tiny few, with 73% saying it is major corporations that have far too much power.
77% say money in politics is a major problem & that there should be limits on the amount of money spent on campaigns 8/29
77% say money in politics is a major problem & that there should be limits on the amount of money spent on campaigns 8/29
These sentiments span across all political affiliations & are felt REGARDLESS of which faction of the corporate-controlled duopoly is in power.
And these feelings are NOT unfounded. 9/29
And these feelings are NOT unfounded. 9/29
A Princeton study looked at 20 years of public-opinion surveys & compared them to government policy and found that the opinions of the bottom 90% have NO IMPACT AT ALL on policies, priorities, or political decisions.
NONE. 10/29
NONE. 10/29
The corporate-owned duopoly, essentially ‘two factions’ of the same corporate party, BOTH elevate the interests of corporations & the 1% over the interests & desires of the population.
In effect, they essentially work together to curtail democracy. 11/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1285647367585374208
In effect, they essentially work together to curtail democracy. 11/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1285647367585374208
Is it any wonder why among the 99% approximately 50% don’t even bother voting?
MOST people see the political system as a corrupt & alienating circus-show that doesn’t represent their voice AT ALL regardless of whether or not they vote. 12/29
MOST people see the political system as a corrupt & alienating circus-show that doesn’t represent their voice AT ALL regardless of whether or not they vote. 12/29
But the political sphere is not our only source of alienation.
Capitalism requires approximately 80 to 85% of workers, the working class, to have little to no say in any decisions at work – literally alienating us from our craft. 13/29
Capitalism requires approximately 80 to 85% of workers, the working class, to have little to no say in any decisions at work – literally alienating us from our craft. 13/29
Surveys show approximately 85% of workers are “not engaged” at work: cognitively disconnected, emotionally uninvested & *unfulfilled* at their jobs.
Why? Because top-down authoritarian capitalist workplaces are alienating & oppressive. 14/29
Why? Because top-down authoritarian capitalist workplaces are alienating & oppressive. 14/29
For a much fuller discussion on why Capitalism is inherently alienating, please see this thread: 15/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1212842818286211072
Beyond the political & economic, alienation also extends to EVERY sphere of our society, including culture, community, kinship & sexuality.
For a theoretical framework for understanding alienation within society, please see this thread 16/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1291852504112586752
For a theoretical framework for understanding alienation within society, please see this thread 16/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1291852504112586752
In summary:
1 Alienation is PERVASIVE
2 Alienation is caused by anti-democratic societal institutions that prevent us from applying our consciousness, engaging with, & having a fair say in the decisions that affect us.
3 Alienation permeates every sphere of our society 17/29
1 Alienation is PERVASIVE
2 Alienation is caused by anti-democratic societal institutions that prevent us from applying our consciousness, engaging with, & having a fair say in the decisions that affect us.
3 Alienation permeates every sphere of our society 17/29
So how do we make society more fulfilling & less alienating?
We need our institutions to reflect more engaging & participatory democratic structures such that people have a say in decisions to the degree they are affected.
Detailed here: 18/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1125471207086649346
We need our institutions to reflect more engaging & participatory democratic structures such that people have a say in decisions to the degree they are affected.
Detailed here: 18/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1125471207086649346
We need to radically restructure society to give decision-making power to those who are affected by those decisions.
We need engaging & participatory democracy in ALL our societal institutions. 19/29
We need engaging & participatory democracy in ALL our societal institutions. 19/29
Considering how pervasive alienation is in the US, how it cuts across every political leaning of the 99%, how it cuts through every sphere of society & how it is one sentiment that unites the 99% (who hold almost no power) against the 1% (who hold almost all the power)… 20/29
How is it the Left has utterly failed to convey any *accessible* language of oppressive alienation vis-à-vis liberatory participatory self-determination? 21/29
Yes, yes, I’m aware of the corporate-owned mainstream media & of the corporate & military biases in universities.
But EVEN among left spaces, there are far too few talking about INSTITUTIONAL problems & institutional SOLUTIONS in an accessible way. 22/29
But EVEN among left spaces, there are far too few talking about INSTITUTIONAL problems & institutional SOLUTIONS in an accessible way. 22/29
The right-wing actively preys on people’s alienation.
They blame everything (immigrants, POC, deep state, etc.) but the TRUE source of people's pain, suffering & alienation:
*the very system that benefits them at the expense of everyone else*. 23/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1280201273686454272
They blame everything (immigrants, POC, deep state, etc.) but the TRUE source of people's pain, suffering & alienation:
*the very system that benefits them at the expense of everyone else*. 23/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1280201273686454272
While the left accurately places blame on inherently undemocratic, alienating & inequitable societal institutions, we fail miserably in conveying an accessible vision of what a good society might look like. 24/29
Here’s the thing: Almost everyone already knows everything is broken!
What we desperately need is a modern, accessible alternative of societal institutions that reflect our shared values: 25/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1157358909054574592
What we desperately need is a modern, accessible alternative of societal institutions that reflect our shared values: 25/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1157358909054574592
In the same way that capitalism is inherently alienating, our form of ‘representative democracy’ is also inherently alienating.
Okay. So, what would a fair, equitable, engaging & participatory democratic polity look like? 26/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1256288796414361600
Okay. So, what would a fair, equitable, engaging & participatory democratic polity look like? 26/29 https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1256288796414361600
What might a fair, equitable, engaging & participatory economy look like? 27/29
https://www.participatoryeconomics.info/
https://www.participatoryeconomics.info/
To win a better world we have to not only connect the dots of oppression – like the alienation universally felt by the 99% - but we need to also present an *accessible* alternative of what a fair, equitable, engaging & participatory society might look like. 28/29
Imagine what we could accomplish with a shared language of oppression & liberation.
Considering how pervasive alienation is, & peoples’ inherent desire to want to have a fair say in the decisions that affect their lives, alienation unifies the powerless against the 1%. 29/29
Considering how pervasive alienation is, & peoples’ inherent desire to want to have a fair say in the decisions that affect their lives, alienation unifies the powerless against the 1%. 29/29
Poll Data used in this thread:
Beyond Distrust: How Americans View Their Government:
Perceptions of elected officials and the role of money in politics by Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2015/11/23/6-perceptions-of-elected-officials-and-the-role-of-money-in-politics/#elected-officials-seen-as-intelligent-not-honest
Beyond Distrust: How Americans View Their Government:
Perceptions of elected officials and the role of money in politics by Pew Research https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2015/11/23/6-perceptions-of-elected-officials-and-the-role-of-money-in-politics/#elected-officials-seen-as-intelligent-not-honest
“The opinions of the bottom 90% of income earners in America has essentially no impact at all” https://www.upworthy.com/20-years-of-data-reveals-that-congress-doesnt-care-what-you-think
Princeton Report:
https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf
https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf
Additional Polling Data Thread: https://twitter.com/ArashKolahi/status/1283648404598386688
