Being terminally political brained isn’t the norm, and I don’t think we should expect it from the average person, either.

Once you realize this you start to get the feeling the social media echo-chambers of the left are like the bucket full of crabs.

I am prepared for all the hate for this one tbh. Ultras won’t be able to read this from the perspective of your average working class American.

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Let’s be real here—what’s the point of this critique? I’ve called myself a communist, my site is openly communist, and I’m here proposing a way for us to organize together. The fact that “communist” didn’t appear on one poster doesn’t mean I’m excluding anyone. This knee-jerk reaction to nitpick instead of offering support reeks of wrecker energy.

Look, I’m not here claiming to have all the answers or pretending I’m some top-level organizer. I’m not. I’m quitely literally just some working class guy with a small bit of reach. I’m just one person with a bit of reach saying, “Here’s something we could do. It’s actionable, it’s achievable, and it’s something that could bring us together.” I’m giving this proposal a year—long enough to make real plans and short enough to stay in focus. This isn’t about me as an individual; it’s about creating a mass movement where everyone has a role, where no single person is expected to carry the whole thing.

It’s interesting—the responses I’ve gotten to my post-election statement and the call for a December 20th convention are really telling. I’ve heard from people who aren’t usually politically motivated, like my friend down in the deep South who’s now seriously considering joining a party. She’s terrified by the new abortion laws and sees this as a chance to take control of her future. To her, this isn’t about leftist factions or ideological purity; it’s about survival, about hope.

But bring up the same idea to people on the left—especially the hyper-online left—and it’s a whole different story. Suddenly, it’s “You’re not Lenin,” or “You’re just an idealist,” or “You’re not the great man who can pull this off.” The message is clear: don’t even bother. To me, that’s the exact attitude holding us back.

Why not cut through all the noise and just say, “Here’s someone with a plan—maybe I’ll get behind it and see where it goes.” Why not use this as an opportunity to meet other leftists, to get organizing experience, to learn something along the way? That’s exactly why I’m doing this—setting goals and working toward them. at the end of the day, you’ve got a choice: get involved and help, or get out of the way.

The first part of the comment feels like a silly thing to do, here we have someone calling for unity and you immediately jump to a sectarian attack. Listing socialist and communist is redundant and the line of text is long enough.

Now, a bit about me: I run one of the most highly trafficked sites tagged “politics” on Neocities.org, which is kind of like having one of the top politics platforms on Tumblr. My work reaches Zoomers and younger voices in the movement, combining art, fashion, and a pro-Palestine, communist perspective. It’s about engaging and mobilizing the next generation in activism. I have comrades in organizations both big and small who are going to help push for this national convention. The year-long timeline is intentional. It gives us enough time to mobilize and organize effectively, rather than rushing into something half-formed. This isn’t a call for instant action; it’s a plan. This convention will take serious work—getting people on board, securing support from parties and orgs. And it starts with posts like this one, with spreading the word. I am no dragon, I cannot breathe fire. I am a worker, I can tend embers. If we spread these embers, the masses can kindle a mighty fire of liberation.

No, as the other user posted, random calls to action don’t typically work, they take a lot of planning and organizing. That’s the point of making the call to action now, so we can start planning, start sharing ideas.

I’m not sure why but I’ve met several anarchists who hold Mao in high esteem.

yeah I suppose it would be better to say “the red scare is more recent, and anarchism has a more accepted culture built around it” (ie punk, see: hot topic joke below)

So we’ve got the martyrdom and purity fetish for the immaculate revolution covered there. Last of all to circle back around to the ideological comfort of the negative, I’ve seen plenty of anarchists do this and I have definitely been guilty of doing this myself - by not supporting or critically supporting any but the briefest attempts at revolution (and then only maybe 3 or so of those), you can create a rhetorical and ideological detachment from the real world attempts. You don’t have to engage or defend anything, you can just reflexively dismiss things as being statist or hierarchical or authoritarian and thus you don’t have to grapple with the reality of their circumstances or to consider what would be a better way of resolving the contradictions or moving forwards with the project. “You committed the sin of statism? Then I can wash my hands of you and that’s that.”

This is alluring because it’s a simple rubric and you don’t need to wrestle with the reality of things. To put this into an analogy that’s probably more relatable, imagine a Marxist who refuses to engage in the ol’ agitate/educate/organise because “liberals are social fascists and counterrevolutionary - I’m not gonna waste my time befriending my enemies!”

On the face of it, there’s nothing false in that statement. But the application of this line of thinking absolves this Marxist from needing to do any of the hard work because they have created a rhetorical and ideological detachment from the most important task that a revolutionary faces and so by abdicating from this duty they never have to put in any effort and they never have to deal with fuckups and failures and addressing their own inadequacies.

You made an insightful point here, especially in describing the “comfort in the negative.” It’s a powerful way to frame something we often see among leftist movements—communists, anarchists, and so on. In each of these groups, the ultimate goal is revolution, but it’s an incredibly challenging task. Achieving it will require facing repeated failures, trying things that might not work, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone. It involves risks, potential ridicule, and, most importantly, a willingness to act even when it’s difficult.

As you noted, when people detach ideologically from these necessary actions, the movement can turn into a “crabs in a bucket” scenario. Anyone attempting to step up and say, “We need to organize, try new approaches, or take real action,” often faces pushback. They’re met with ideological deflections—labelled statist, accused of being bourgeois, criticized for appealing to the proletariat in the wrong way, or dismissed for engaging in electoralism. These buzzwords, tied back to ideology, become tools for avoiding action altogether.

This resistance often stems from a fear of failure. Being self-critical and confronting one’s own limitations is uncomfortable. So rather than grow through action, some people use the very ideology that promotes change as an excuse to avoid taking the difficult steps required to enact it. Instead of embodying the call to action, they let theoretical adherence to action justify inaction.

tfw you become a martyr for anarchism and don’t even get merch in Hot Topic

#The Houdini Line: Our Post-Election Statement and Goals My friends, brothers, sisters, comrades, today we face a moment that will test us all. It’s the kind of moment that comes once in a generation. As you know, Donald Trump has won the presidency again, and there’s no sugarcoating it—things are about to get harder for working people, for women, for our LGBTQ comrades, and for every community that’s been pushed to the margins of this country.

And what have we seen from the so-called opposition? The Democratic Party—the party that was supposed to be for the people—has shifted so far right that they’re promising walls and advancing genocide. They’ve got no vision, no courage, and no heart for the people. They don’t want to fight for you; they want to fight over who gets to hold the reins of power. But let me tell you, folks: the people who hold that power don’t care about you or me. They don’t care about us any more than they care about the grass they step on or the wind that blows.

Now, I know that many of you—especially those who are young and facing this for the first time—might feel like the ground has been ripped out from under you. You’re worried, maybe even scared about what the future holds. Some of you may even be wondering if you’ll be safe here, wondering if you need to leave this country just to find security and a fair shot at life. But let me tell you this: you are not alone. You are not alone. There is an entire generation of people who have been where you are, who have felt that same fear, and they’re still here. And I’m telling you, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Let me tell you, my friends, DIY networks exist. Real, true communities exist—communities that don’t rely on politicians and their empty promises. You don’t have to depend on the person on your TV screen. You can depend on each other. And I’m asking you right now: reach out. Look to your left, look to your right. Connect with your neighbors, your friends, your comrades, because now is the time to build, and build strong.

In the words of the great revolutionary Thomas Sankara: “There is no true social revolution without the liberation of women. May my eyes never see and my feet never take me to a society where half the people are held in silence. I hear the roar of women’s silence. I sense the rumble of their storm and feel the fury of their revolt.”

And we’re going to take that message and put it at the heart of our movement. Because, folks, there is no liberation if women aren’t free. There is no justice if women’s rights, including the right to choose, aren’t protected. This is not a side issue—this is the issue. Women’s rights are human rights. And we’re going to make that clear in every corner of this nation.

We’re still in the first half of this new American century, and what we build now will set the course. Let’s remind ourselves of those words held by Lady Liberty herself:

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

That’s the America we could be. And in that struggle for a better, freer future, women have always been the ones pushing forward. They’re not just part of this movement—they’ve been leading it, keeping it strong, giving it life. Women are the backbone of every fight for real change. And we’re here to say that if we want freedom, if we want equality, we have to start with them.

Because, let’s be real: what kind of country are we building if we don’t guarantee the basic rights of women? What future are we heading toward if half our population has to fight to be seen, to be heard, to be free? Fighting for women’s rights isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s how we build a country where everyone can live with dignity.

So let me put it plain: if we’re going to face these next two years with courage and strength, we need each other. We need connections that go deeper than the political rallies, that go beyond isolated protests on college campuses. We need a robust national network, built by us, for us. Not from the top down, but from the ground up, with every voice, every hand, every heart pulling together. I’m talking about a coalition that spans this whole country—local organizations, radical youth, labor unions, mutual aid groups—all of us together.

I believe it’s time to think big. It’s time to organize at a scale we haven’t seen in decades, a century even. So here’s what I’m proposing: December 20th, 2025, New Orleans. I want a national convention, a place where every corner of this movement can come together. I want to see communists, anarchists, democratic socialists, labor union leaders, Indigenous leaders, prison abolitionists, climate activists, creators, content makers, and organizers from all walks of life come together to build a plan, a strategy, a path forward.

This convention isn’t just some meeting on a calendar. It’s a starting line—a launch toward a future we choose, a future we build together. Because we’re already 25 years into this century, and we’ve seen where the current leadership has taken us. The crises of our time—climate change, economic injustice, systemic racism, the oppression of women, the attack on LGBTQ+ rights—are too critical, too urgent to be left to the whims of the powerful. This convention is where we draw the line and start shaping a new way forward.

Folks, this convention is where we’re getting down to the brass tacks. We’re not just looking to fill up seats; we’re looking to make real changes, to organize and strategize for a future we actually want to live in. If you want to help make this convention a reality, here’s what you can start doing right now:

1. Join a Group—Just Pick One and Start Showing Up

Look, it doesn’t matter if it’s Freedom Road Socialist Organization, PSL, the Green Party, the Socialist Alternative, Food Not Bombs, or a mutual aid group in your area. Just pick a group and start showing up. Get into their meetings, meet people, understand their goals, and make connections. Our aim is to have people embedded in all these organizations, and we need them all talking to each other. If there’s a meeting or event coming up, go. Bring up this convention. Even if they aren’t officially involved, open up the conversation. 2. Educate Yourself—and Pass That Knowledge Along

Not everyone has the time to sit down with a stack of books, and that’s fine. But if you do have that privilege, use it. Educate yourself, but don’t stop there. Bring that knowledge to others. Be a resource for your friends, family, and neighbors. Don’t talk down to them; we’re not here to preach from some high horse. We’re here to learn and build together. Remember, we are the masses. Share what you know in a way that’s practical, that connects with people where they’re at. If we want to see change, we have to make education and dialogue something real, something people can understand and see in their own lives. 3. Start the Conversations Where You Are

This is where it starts—right where you live, work, and spend your time. Talk to your friends and family, your coworkers, the people you already know. Bring up what’s happening around us, what we’re working toward. If you’re a community leader, even if it’s not a political setting, make space for these discussions. If we’re going to change anything, it has to start by opening up these conversations in our everyday lives. Get people talking, thinking, and, more than anything, ready to take action.

Now, why New Orleans? Why December 20th, 2025? New Orleans has faced it all—storms, floods, and years of being neglected by those in power. It’s a city that embodies resilience. But with climate change pressing down harder every year, there’s a real risk that it won’t be here in another 100 years. That’s why we’re gathering there: to make a promise, to take a stand, and to ensure that we don’t let this moment slip away.

I’m not alone in this vision. None of us are. This is something so many of us feel in our gut—that together, we can do something different, something real. And I want to make something clear before we close: the attacks on women’s rights in this country are attacks on all of us. We cannot build a free, just future if women are held back, silenced, denied their basic rights. Women hold up half the sky, and we will not stand by while they are pushed down. We need every voice, every hand, every heart in this fight.

So let’s take this energy forward. Let’s walk out of here knowing that we’re not alone, that this movement is growing every day.

This is our moment in history. I know we will rise to meet the occasion.

Thank you.

-Erik Houdini

There was no red scare for anarchism, so it’s much easier to go from liberal -> anarchist than it is to go liberal -> communist. If you take the former route, the propaganda around communism never truly fads. Also doesn’t help that anarchists are typically the most active block of organizers/protestors/activists in the states. Communist orgs a lot of the time are just glorified book clubs, if you want to feed people, build bus benches, do a coat drive, counter-protest police, or whatever else, the people who are often at the forefront of this are anarchists. There is absolutely an image of the “academic communist” too concerned this theory specifics and sectarian lines to do any real action. This stereotype is rooted in some level of truth. I became disillusioned with anarchism, remaining steadfast that a vanguard party is key to true revolutionary change, yet in my own circles and among those I organize with, the communists in that camp simply do not organize, they do not. If you need advice on what book to read? They are the people to go to. If you need advice on mobilizing your neighborhood? You go to the anarchists. When I speak with communists I’m met with defeatism and often, an inflated sense of self-superiority. What is theory without practice? and to the anarchists: What is practice without theory?

It wasn’t always this way, and it doesn’t have to be this way. In the States there’s no doubt that our synthesis of theory and material conditions will be a blend of both camps.

went with the first number from a well known lib source (the independent) but it’s deff higher, the fact that one of the reactions this has gotten is pointing that out is a good thing.

is there like an art or zine channel? I never used reddit b4 this

i got the job g o t t h e j o b

What you’re left with is practically multiple generation’s worth of humanities students, philosophers, social scientists, media critics, media designers and theorists, and other extremely important jobs, with absolute no way to make money from these passions as well as skills without turning to platforms such as YouTube which don’t have a direct hiring process or strict employment limit. With the animator layoffs that have happened and all the shows that have been just outright cut out of streaming services I imagine this issue is just getting worse.

you said it better than me comrade

ayo i got a job tho

This isn’t me saying video essays are bad, it’s me saying the fact that so many are making them, that our youth are spending their most productive years making “content”, it is a sign of ill-managed labor resources. It’s systemic. I support a few creators on youtube, I watch this type of content. Yet I know for a fact that a lot of it only exists because of this labor mismanagement. We are living in an ecological collapse and you’re telling me the most productive work to be done is a 12 hour video essay on TES?

finally some good news

last bump