 The addition of Marxist-Leninist thought, Dialectical and Historical Materialism, the theory and practice of dialectics has been a gift from the heavens in the recent years of my life. I have achieved personal growth spiritually, ideologically and mentally, which then led me to taking steps such as joining a Communist organization, an action that never crossed my mind previously. The works in the classical texts, when I began first reading in 2023, prior to knowing of Midwestern Marx and Infrared helped reconcile questions I had been lamenting over for years. How did the world work? What is responsible for strife and conflict in the world, and can things be done to make it better? Study discussions since joining the party have hammered in key concepts and material that must be studied and built upon. Dialectical interdependence and material relations allowed me to understand and comprehend men such as our founding fathers, and Joseph Stalin, and how there are ways for the masses to organize, and that throughout history concrete change such as seen in China today can only occur when direct interests and relations are properly understood in a universal framework. In 2017 I entered the workforce as a teenager, since then I have only done proletarian work. I’ve gone through healthcare factory work, clothing factory work, rental services as a flyer, to today where I currently work as a Postman for USPS, in a Clerk position. Everyday is something new, yet the same in the plant in regards to the logistical troubles and personal strife seen throughout the night. I witness 1 woman doing the work of many daily, due to a shortage of workers. Equipment constantly failing due to not upgrading machinery. Old equipment, divisions between workers, etc, I could go on. Without the help of the writings of Engels, Marx and Lenin there would be no comprehension to this anarchy of production. Even Mao’s “Combat Liberalism”, which explains liberal tendencies such as gossip and lack of discipline found occurring in party organizations I witness inside the workplace. Centering in on the issue of worker shortage, modern economic circumstances place us in the world post NAFTA, the crushing of labor unions and public institutions. Our industrial base has been depleted and broken, and while the mailing industry has seen decline in its volume, billions of parcels still need to be processed and delivered. Despite these demands, the USPS faces a worker shortage which causes delays in deliveries and stress for both career and non-career employees. As a pre-career employee, I am placed on the bottom rung in which I must do the work of multiple positions. I and many others are not afforded the same protections as “regulars”, the position was essentially made to be an auxiliary worker that can be used any way. Regular employees have been under the yoke of bourgeois management for too long, causing them to burnout and work less and not as hard, which can foster division. The “Industrial Reserve Army”, kernels of which can be found in “Wage Labour and Capital” is a constant threat, as being let go can occur for slight infractions (such as needing reduced hours for required medical purposes) and despite how they say new people won’t be hired, spots are open and filled. There are material issues the post office faces, ranging from logistical to managerial. The industry requires a complete overhaul, a radical solution which is only found in the nationalization of industry and a Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The modern American industrial workplace is a place with many struggles, in which workers discuss among each other. Though they may not be aware of it yet, the spirit of American Marxism is found in them. In and outside the workplace, I have found to believe that if one indulges in a pursuit of knowledge particularly concerning literature in relation to American concepts, you will be able to relate to your coworkers and community in a much more grounded way. Carlos Garrido’s reference to Vladimir Lenin’s Speech to the Youth Communist League found in “Why We Need American Marxism” has been instilled in my spirit: “You can become a Communist only when you enrich your mind with a knowledge of all the treasures created by mankind.” Since picking up texts such as Lincoln’s address at Cooper Union and Scripture, I have been able to relate in a material sense to the history of this country. The Bible is the book that has perhaps influenced American society the most, with it being read by the Puritans and taught down through the generations. Today we, including me at one point in time, are alienated from each other due to the weight of Finance Capital, leading to stress, debt and being constantly overworked. We may not be as widely read as the Puritans in their day, but Americans are still familiar with the text, and by becoming acquainted in a genuine manner, we can appeal and relate to working class interests in ways that can be understood by all. Our spirit of 1776 and a love for the country is still found in the industrial base. Despite what purity-fetished brained western Marxists may say, indulging in Historical Nihilism would only lead to division between the working class and our party. Having an appreciation and connection to both country and countrymen is necessary to overcome class divisions and concentrate our interests. Things must be understood in a dialectical manner and applied in a practical, pragmatic way. Reading and discussing theory and text with party cadre allows one to connect the modern problems we face today as a society. We must use the tools of Historical and Dialectical Materialism, Marxist-Leninist thought at our disposal to analyze and comprehend our situation in our unique American context, and as we continue forward continue to foster a development and foundation in our workplace and communities. Originally published on the Florida Worker blog Author swordorball is a Floridian Postman for USPS. He is a committed cadre member of the Florida Chapter of the American Communist Party. You can find him on X: @maskandarms. Archives June 2025
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
July 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed