Will You General Strike With Me?

Part One In A Never-Ending Series

• “the political mass strike, a general strike for political rights (such as the right to vote)
• the general strike as a revolutionary act that would transform society
• the general strike as a “revolutionary exercise” which would eventually lead to a transformation of society
• a one day demonstration general strike on May Day (International Workers’ Day), aimed at identifying a “worldwide proletariat”
• commencing in 1891, a theoretical mechanism by which to stop wars between nation states”

In reading through that short list, the title of this plea bears repeating. Will you general strike with me?

Our right to vote is being attacked at the polls while also being made more and more obsolete with each election. Voter registration laws are marginalizing the voices that are already least-represented in our government. Half of our Congress fits the qualifications of a “1%’er” and President Obama is set to raise $1 billion this election. He’s been the biggest recipient of Wall Street donations in history.

A general strike as a “revolutionary exercise” is another reason to participate in this general strike on May Day. For too long Americans have felt powerless to change the system. Though as one writer put it, the occupations across the country have changed that sentiment. No longer are we dejected into thinking, “We’re screwed”. A righteous indignation has replaced that with, “We’re being screwed (and let’s stop it!)”.

Now more than ever, “worldwide proletariat” conditions are apparent. Students have more in common with other students across borders than the patriarchs telling them to continue to work hard despite the implosion of social security and job opportunities. Workers are being exploited in Nigeria, China, Indonesia, and here at home by the same criminal corporations that are tossing aside worker rights and benefits for the sake of the dollar. The Internet and social networking has made this awareness possible and connected each person in a revolutionary way that has never before been possible.

The last reason that the Hoover Institution highlighted is an especially poignant one. However, to just stop wars between nation-states is missing the point of power and control. The class war is the real battleground this May Day. As Mario Savio said, “And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop”. May Day is an opportunity to declare to the oligarchic 1% that we are here. We will no let the oppressive structures continue. We will hold a general strike to yank our lives, and the lives of our children, back from the yawning abyss of unfettered greed and subjugation.

So will you call out of work for the sons and daughters fighting an illegitimate war, endangering themselves to enrich CEOs? Will you buy nothing in support of the ten million foreclosed homes expected in 2012? Will you march out of classes for the millions of uninsured children in this country?

Will you general strike with me?