[lbo-talk] Re: working class? (and other responses)

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

Bill Bartlett
> You're missing something obvious, the concept of class is not merely
> a social analysis designed to justify a claim, or for its own sake.
> The primary purpose is to work out whose interests are objectively
> reconcilable, as a theoretical basis for organisation. Class
> analysis, in other words is a practical issue of concern, the very
> foundation of working class organisation. In the sense that you can't
> even begin the task or organising the working class if you have no
> idea what it is and if you get the class analysis wrong the
> organisation you build on these foundations will probably collapse.

No, I do not.  I believe I mentioned the practical aspect of the notion of
class for organizing - but I also said I do not think that the 19th century
concept of class will be a very effective organizing tool today.  I think
this view is consistent with the reality of the labor movement (or rather
what is left of it) today.

I also sense a certain contradiction in your views.  On the one hand, you
seem to yearn for a totalizing military-like organization of all people who
have objectively common class interest (which btw would scare the living
shit out of me if it became reality).  On the other hand, your coop example
suggests organizational differentiation of people with different interests -
which seems to be a much more realistic position.

Now, if you cannot unite people in a relatively small cooperative (btw, my
coop has the same problem, renters seek mainly short term housing that is
conveniently located and do not give a flying fuck about the coop's
governance and long term interests) - what do you think are the chances of
organizing a 100+ million people who sell their labour power for a living in
this country?

Wojtek