Class War

What does Tyler Durden (of Fight Club), Adam Smith (the father of Capitalism), and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders all have in common?

Dec 31, 2024

In the absence of my daily ‘Reasons To Hate Capitalism’ notes this week, below is a collection of quotes about Class War.

Class War Isn't Just a Slogan

Ever notice how whenever workers demand basic rights or better conditions, they're accused of starting a ‘class war’? Here's the thing - the class war is already happening, and it's being waged from above. Don't take my word for it - even the wealthy and powerful themselves admit to this.

This isn't about individual rich people being ‘bad’ - it's about understanding how our system works. When corporations fight against unions, when landlords hike rents while wages stagnate, when public services get cut while billionaires receive tax breaks - these aren't separate issues. They're all part of the same pattern.

Look at what's happening with environmental issues. When corporations pollute neighbourhoods, it's usually working-class communities that suffer most. When climate disasters strike, it's not the wealthy in their secured compounds who bear the brunt.

The real question isn't whether there's a class war - it's happening whether we acknowledge it or not. The question is what we're going to do about it. While the media keeps us distracted with culture wars, the fundamental divide between those who must work to live and those who profit from others' work grows wider.

Understanding this doesn't mean you have to become a revolutionary. But it does mean recognising that when workers organise, when communities unite, when people stand up for their rights - they're not starting a class war. They're finally fighting back in one that's been raging all along.

Next time someone complains about workers ‘causing trouble’ by striking, or communities ‘making a fuss’ by protesting, remember: the class war didn't start with them. It started with a system built on keeping most people working for the benefit of a few - and it's maintained by those few every day. The only real choice is whether we face this reality or keep pretending it isn't happening.

Capitalists Admit The Rich Are At War With The Poor

‘There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.’ — Warren Buffett — *Warren Buffett, Billionaire Investor*

‘If there is a class war — and there is — it is important that it should be handled with subtlety and skill…. it is not freedom that Conservatives want; what they want is the sort of freedom that will maintain existing inequalities or restore lost ones.’ — Maurice Cowling, Conservative Historian — *Maurice Cowling, Conservative Historian*

‘Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defence of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all.’ — Adam Smith, Father Of Capitalism — *Adam Smith, Father Of Capitalism*

Academics Admit This Class War Is Real

‘The law itself is the instrument of the ruling class; hence it is a logical impossibility for another class to assume power legally.’ — Oliver Cox, Notable Sociologist. — *Oliver Cox, Notable Sociologist*

‘The war against working people should be understood to be a real war. It’s not a new war. It’s an old war. Furthermore it’s a perfectly conscious war … Specifically in the U.S., which happens to have a highly class-conscious business class. … And they have long seen themselves as fighting a bitter class war, except they don’t want anybody else to know about it.’ — Noam Chomsky, Pioneering Professor Of Linguists & Political Activist — *Noam Chomsky, Pioneering Professor Of Linguists & Political Activist*

Civil Rights Activists Believe There Is A Class War

‘And so class will someday supplant race in world affairs. Race war will then be merely a side-show to the gigantic class war which will be waged in the big tent we call the world.’ — Ralph Bunche, Political Scientist & Activist, Nobel Peace Prize — *Ralph Bunche, Political Scientist & Activist, Nobel Peace Prize*

‘Precisely at the point when you begin to develop a conscience you must find yourself at war with your society.’ — James Baldwin, American Civil Rights Activist & Writer — *James Baldwin, American Civil Rights Activist & Writer*

Environmentalists Recognise There Is A Class War

‘Environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening.’ — Chico Mendes, Brazilian Environmentalist Martyr — *Chico Mendes, Brazilian Environmentalist Martyr*

Even Social Democrats Believe There Is A Class War

‘We are in the midst of intense class warfare, where the wealthiest people and the largest corporations are at war with the middle class and working families of this country, and it is obvious the big-money interests are winning that war.’ — Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator — *Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator*

consequences of their decisions. It’s not their children sent into the jaws of violence. It is often the vulnerable, the poor, & working people — who had little to no say in conflict — who pay the price.’ — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Congress Representative — *Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Congress Representative*

& Socialists Have Been Speaking About A Class War Since The Beginning Of Capitalism

‘All history has been a history of class struggles between dominated classes at various stages of social development.’ — Friedrich Engels, German Political Philosopher — *Friedrich Engels, German Political Philosopher*

‘Between these two classes a struggle must go on until the workers of the world organise as a class, take possession of the means of production, abolish the wage system, and live in harmony with the Earth.’ — IWW Constitution Preamble — *IWW Constitution Preamble*

This class war is the real fight, which corporate-owned media platforms and bankrupt liberals refuse to discuss.’ — Chris Hedges, Journalist & Presbyterian Minister — *Chris Hedges, Journalist & Presbyterian Minister*

‘In capitalist history, invasion and class struggle are not opposites, as the official legend would have us believe, but one is the means and the expression of the other.’ — Rosa Luxemberg, Anti-War Activist Martyr — *Rosa Luxemberg, Anti-War Activist Martyr*

‘The revolution of the proletariat — the war of the poor against the rich, is the only way from oppression to deliverance.’ — Johann Most, Radical Politician — *Johann Most, Radical Politician*

‘Yes, friends, governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class.’ — James Connolly, Irish Independence Revolutionary — *James Connolly, Irish Independence Revolutionary*

Which Side Are You On In The Class War?

The only question left is, ‘which side are you on?’

‘We don’t have a great war in our generation, or a Great Depression, but we do, we have a great war of the spirit. We have a great revolution against the culture. The Great Depression is our lives. We have a spiritual depression.’ — Tyler Durden, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk — *Tyler Durden, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk*

‘Daddy, What Did You Do In The Class War?’

Or just focus on culture wars instead

Lenny Cavallaro

Jan 1

Sadly, most of the dispossessed people in the USA haven't yet figured out that class warfare is real. They squander too much energy on lesser issues and overlook the big picture. Thanks for sharing, and Happy New Year.

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