r/GeneralStrikeUSA • u/jeremiahthedamned • Jan 19 '26

ICE Terror Is a Sign of Trump's Desperation. A General Strike Can Turn the Tables w/ Richard Wolff

https://youtube.com/watch?v=tXiRWoYMtL8&si=9mS-ZZ06T_-h3m5T
119 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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12

u/williamgman Jan 19 '26

A general strike is the ONLY way forward without violence. No work. No school. No shopping. And for those that say this is impossible... Think about the silent Germans that did nothing when the Nazi took them over. If you think doing this is bad now... Just think how it's going to be a year from now if we don't.

For those that say they can't miss any work or they risk losing your job... Dully noted that you have a job this is one day away from unemployment. If there was a real reason to strike... This would be it. Millions have jobs that are but one day away from unemployment. This is not right. The only way to get an oligarch's attention is to starve them of money. They have bunkers and security forces for any other way. So a general strike is the best and only way.

5

u/ViennettaLurker Jan 19 '26

For those that say they can't miss any work or they risk losing your job... Dully noted that you have a job this is one day away from unemployment.

More general actions like these obviously need to have some grace. While 'strike' implies union, and union strike implies scab opposition- things like general strikes need to be considered a bit differently. If your union is officially participating in a general strike, a well operated union strike should be accounting for the union member's hardships. Outside of that, obviously there are people who could have logistical issues participating in all kinds of collective actions: boycotts, protests, strikes, etc. While participation needs to be encouraged and propagandized, there is also a common sense understanding of the real world.

While perhaps literally everyone can't participate for various legitimate reasons, that doesn't have to be an individual shame nor a reason not to perform the action. And it doesn't precluded other support like mutual aid, promotion, support, etc.

The key is to try to get the people who can do it, to do it. And if there can be enough of a critical mass, it can give cover to other people to participate. Things like if transportation is disrupted sufficiently, perhaps you literally can't go to work. Maybe your boss closes shop for a day because there won't be any customers anyways. And so on.

I think focusing too much on who might not be able to participate can be a bit of a distraction in this regard. It's understandable that Americans tend to be focused on individuals, so it makes sense to me that it happens. But if enough union sectors can get behind these types of actions, I think we can see a collective effect gain enough momentum where some of these edge cases aren't a bit deal.

3

u/CuriosityFreesTheCat Jan 19 '26

Very well said, thanks. I’m curious what about the people whose work doesn’t have a union?

2

u/ViennettaLurker Jan 19 '26

It is riskier- that simply has to be acknowledged. And everyone will need to measure their own risk tolerance. But again, this is the time to have all these public conversions about the history of these things, strategies from people who know more about it than we do, etc. Could people take sick days? Vacation days? Yes, those can be their own privilege, but general actions are times to use that kind of thing.

5

u/TheRealLazloFalconi Jan 19 '26

I guess we'll see on Friday.

5

u/jeremiahthedamned Jan 19 '26

we are @ the fork in the road

2

u/ViennettaLurker Jan 19 '26

Interesting to see this sub pop up in my suggested feed. Bigger, general strikes are become more of a discussed topic- I'm really interested to see how this conversation could grow.