[Ualeindiv] Jive talk about general strikes

[Michael]

May Day has generated a lot of talk about "general strikes."  Here's 
what the unions in Ontario said about what it took to organize a real 
general strike there years ago (attached).

General strikes are like heaven.  Everyone who talks about it isn't 
going there.

To be effective, movements need to be credible in the eyes of their 
constituents.  When they start to speak in terms that are hyperbolic, 
bombastic, exaggerated, flatulent, or wishful thinking, they lose 
credibility.

The class struggle is not a 'dream state' in which one gets to 
conjure up fantastic plans and have them turned into reality.  Unlike 
the little engine that could, repeating the words frequently does not 
make it possible to do what social reality says can't be done(in that 
moment).

Magical thinking is not a good substitute for careful planning, 
painstaking organizing, and the demonstrated readiness of massive 
numbers of people to take responsibility for constructing a new social reality.

General strikes are always mass protests.  All mass protests, 
however, are not general strikes.  It pays to know the difference.

Michael



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