Forum Post: National General Strike - December 1st
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 5, 2011, 7:30 p.m. EST by ThisIsNotCapitalism
(156)
from Redmond, WA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I propose a general strike be initiated for 1 day, on December 1st. No work, school or businesses to remain open. Businesses taking action against employees for exercising their civil rights and responsibilities should be placed on a boycott list. This is how the 99 can flex their muscles.
This initiative is very serious and we can expect a strenuous effort by the trolls and sock-puppets to drown out this message. If you agree with this action, please make your vote by reposting this initiative and spreading the word as you see fit.
December 1st - National/International Strike Day!
Police is showing off the power of corporations and their government. What way do workers have to defend themselves if it is not through strikes?
I thought that the call for an Oakland general strike was premature and given its only partial success I think I was largely correct despite all the enthusiasm that the day's demonstration brought. So the call for a national general strike, something that hasn't happened in this nation since 1877, long before all the very restrictive labor laws were enacted, I think such a call is way, way too premature.
Detractors claim that the Oakland strike was not a success yet the movement grows exponentially. That says to me that it was, in fact, a success.
I'm not suggesting that the demonstrations in Oakland were not impressive or that they were not a success on their own terms, but they could hardly be called a general strike the way that term is normally and historically understood. In an authentic general strike typically at least 80 to 90 percent of the businesses are shut down by employeees refusing to report to work. My understanding was that in Oakland while many center city businesses were shut down, it was nowhere near a total shut down of business. Also, because to a total shut down of businesses, some alternative center of power besides the municipal government, which is necessarily ineffective because of a general strike, needs to assert itself and take on the responsibilities to govern society, especially to take care of emergency services. Typically that role usually falls to the central labor council, though some other body, like a General Assembly, could concievably take on that role. None of that happened in Oakland (though it did during the 1946 general strike). Therefore, while I was excited as anyone regarding the sweeping nature of the demonstrations in Oakland, I don't think they can meaningfully be characterized as a general strike.
Well, sorry, I exagerated. Almost in every country, but few exceptions like Iceland and a few more. Corruption is the rule.
Time to take it back. December 1st - International Strike Day!
Yes, I wish someday there is a international strike. As the world is now, there is a war between governments and people in every country.
Only big actions like this can change the country. The evil is big and only big actions can do something.
A strike for what? What do you want businesses and government to do? What is the purpose?
My goal in suggesting this is twofold. Firstly, it is providing an opportunity for those that feel that have not been presented an opportunity to voice their opinion, without fear of reprisal. Secondly, it is meant to communicate with the corrupt in a language they can understand.
Giving a day for the benefit of the entire country, is not to great a price to pay. If times are so tough that we cannot afford to give a single days worth of business, than things are worse than we thought and is all the more reason to go forward with the strike.
Still what is the point? What do you wish to accomplish? It sounds as if is a strike for the sake of getting a day off of work.
My daughter had better be at school and so should her instructors since that is their job.
My kid works hard at her job to pay for those classes that she takes in the hopes that they will pay off one day.
Of course, even better would be if everyone just quit their jobs.
Then she could take her pick of the jobs and demand one heck of a nice salary/bonus/benefits package.