2d ago

I am maybe a socialist/communist, but live in a capitalist society. I feel conflicted (CW: Champagne socialist)

I have always been a leftie, and sympathetic to socialism.

I live in a social democratic nordic country. Capitalism is the economic system.

I have thought that I should act like an economically rational entity, and make good financial decisions. Regardless of my beliefs.

I have bought an apartment with my wife, and we have started invested a significant portion in index funds to prepare for retirement in the future.

We both work ethical jobs that contribute positively to society. This was a requirement for the both of us.

Our rationalisation is that we should not sacrifice our own lives that significantly, but instead be politically active, donate a significant amount of money to the socialist party and educate people. We can contribute to change, but by not participating in the capitalist economy, we will hurt ourselves in the long run, without actually changing anything.

We have no plans of becoming "rich" by our country's standard. But the end goal is living off the pension from the government and our investments in the future.

I just feel that it is a contradictory way of living life, but we at least try to support socialist causes a lot more financially.

18 comments

walks out of an alley, sets down soapbox, steps up
Leftism is not a poverty cult.
Leftism is not about self flaggelation.
Leftism is not about the individual being responsible for the whole of a society's ills.
steps down, picks up soapbox and disappears into an alley

Do you think all revolutionaries of the bolshevik were impoverished coal miners with very sad kids? No. It attracted people from all tracks of life, each bringing something that the other could not. Unless your job is at the puppy crushing factory or a cop, then it doesn’t really matter that much.

you can be a malt liquor socialist if you want

Sorry but... What do you feel conflicted about?
I see nothing to be conflicted about here. Unless you're conflicted about whether you should be doing more to violently oppose the genocide in gaza or something, and that's like, probably a conflict occurring in literally every single person on this site. Knowing what is happening and feeling powerless about it is rough.
But outside of that extreme conflict? I don't know if there's really something here to be too torn up about. I don't think any of us are guilty for not completely sacrificing our bodies.

As others have said before, being a communist is not a poverty cult.
You obviously can't escape the system you live in and magically live in socialism, you are forced to work for capitalists and do what you need to do to ensure that you and your family can live in acceptable conditions.
What makes someone a revolutionary under non revolutionary conditions is trying to create these conditions. Either by protesting, reaching out to people and making connections, funding or helping the party in other ways, you can do your own little part.
- being a communist is not a poverty cult.
  I've never heard this phrase, but I really like it.

I don't see anything to be conflicted about here. If I had to suggest something, maybe participate more directly in organizing so that you can feel confident that donation money is well-spent. Getting a personal sense for how serious a local party is can be revealing.
Just about every socialist has lived under capitalism. We seek to overthrow the dominant socioeconomic order. Existing socialist projects must still live and develop in capitalistic ways and have different experiments in how they diverge from this. But people there still have/had jobs, retirements, houses.

Sounds like you've internalized rightwing propaganda.
- Can you elaborate?
  
  Pretty much what the other comment said. Your understanding of socialism seems tainted by rightwing criticisms that misrepresent socialism, communism, etc. I'm not saying this as an insult or anything, you're obviously not a rightwinger, but it's a common issue because almost all of us live in a rightwing system and grow up learning this way.
  Participating in capitalism does not make you a bad socialist, it's simply necessary for survival. This is similar to the argument against a country like China, suggesting they aren't really socialist because they participate in the global, capitalist economy. But if they didn't do that, they'd never create the conditions to move forward.
  Like yeah you could live in a commune or something, but that doesn't really do anything and honestly seems worse than just living a "normal" life and trying to radicalize people around you. Basically we gotta change more than our own lifestyles and until we are in a position to change the system, there's not much point in trying to figure out how to be a "good socialist" under capitlaism
  
  Criticizing socialists for being "rich" is a right wing tactic

I don't think anyone here cares what job you're doing unless it's for Lockheed Martin. Financial contributions to socialist orgs is good, but probably much more important is to be active and engaged in an org. Practice organizing people in your community/workplace. Lift up Already Existing Socialist states and the global south's continuous fight against imperialism.

I come from a middle-upper class family in my country. Studied a Master's at the best private university in the country and I'm very well economically.
Do you know what this privilege gives me the most? Time. Not money.
I am now a communist party member here. And do regular organizing.
Want to use your privilege to improve the world? Spend your time building it. Cause most people are too busy finding how to survive day to day to try and take action against the current order of things. That is the true privilege of being well off.

Listen we all "live in a society" right? The economic system is what it is. Someone here recently gave me a good perspective that might apply here.
As [socialists] you have to have two opinions about everything, one that is the true solution to a problem (overthrowing capitalism) and one solution for right now.
That sounds to me like what you're doing already for your personal life, so I wouldn't worry all that much.
Is it a contradiction? Maybe. But it takes all kinds to build a mass movement right?

you can only live in the system you live in.. if you could choose which system to live in and you chose capitalist but maintained that you were socialist or communist that would be a contradiction
- To restate this in Redditor:
  You can't call yourself a communist unless you already live under fully automated luxury gay space communism

Do whatever the hell you want, just dont tell me about it

18 comments