The Merits of Unorganized Revolt

We are always hearing that the American resistance is failing because we aren't organized enough. We need to be united. We need a general strike.

Hey, nobody's more enthusiastic about a general stike than me. I think it would be the fastest way to bring down a brutal regime. IF we could do that.

The truth is, a general strike is tough. It asks a lot from a lot of people. But people have immediate problems and responsibilities. They have families, and work that—in the current society—they must perform to get money and food and keep a roof over their heads.

A general strike seems way too risky.

And so, the thinking goes, Americans don't have what it takes and we are therefore doomed. Some say we deserve exactly what we are getting.

I disagree.

A Multi-Pronged Approach

First of all, we DO have an organized resistance. I would argue that this organized resistance—with help from 5051 and Indivisible—is doing an excellent job. The resistance has engaged and mobiliized many millions of people. This movement is large and growing.

Much of it is invisible but doing important work. There ar zillions of local subgroups each doing work in their neighbohoods and regions. Most People's Revolutions are like icebergs, with 7/8 of it below the water and unseen.

We need and have a fine, well-organized and sizable protest and resistance movement. It's useful and even necessary. But insufficient.

There is a 2nd movement, and this 2nd movement combined with the Indivisible/5051 jaggunaut can and I believe WILL be unbeatable.

This 2nd movement is disorganized, decentralized, leaderless, random and unpredictible. This movement is guided by conscience and fuled by a fury at injustice, at cruelty, at a society built on a foundation of exploitation, greed, selfishness and stupidity.

I am active in both movements. You can see me at almost every large-scale protest in city. But I do more things on my own, many of which prove worthless and others energize and grow the strength of the cause of humanity. These individual revolts are everywhere and take every imaginable form—from public protest art, to making a scene at a public meeting, to writing and illustrating and distributing provocative flyers.

Look at stickers on utliity polls evicerating the violent regime and their many ongoing crimes against humanity. Every action we take, no matter how "small", justifiably worries our adversaires. As they should, because we outnumber them and our cooperation and obedience is the only thing that sustains them.

The "powerful" so-called leaders and bosses and institutions are actually powerless. They don't produce anything, they don't invent anything, they don't have any abilities and they number a few thousand at most. More likely, the fools in charge of this atrocity being promoted as a "civilization" number in the hundreds.

Now governments and corporations and other exploiters can deal with organized resistance. That kind of resstance has leaders and positions and tactics. They can be threatened, attacked or co-opted. 

But unorganized resistance? You have nobody to deal with, or perhaps even worse, zillions of unruly disruptive people that you have no hope of dealing with. They are simply impossible to do anything about.

And we misunderstand how revollts work. When we notice them at all, we notice ONLY the final moments of that revolt and mistake the ending for the succssful strategy.

But every successful movement is both organized and messy. It has definable tactics and seemingly random acts that contribute to success. Because a successful revolt isn't just a movement. It's a culture, an embryonic hint of the society to come. Governments can fight a movement, but they can't fight a culture.

So, things like building a community, putting down your phone and talking in person to other people. growing and sharing food—all these seemingly scattershot and "irrelevant" acts are very, very important. They are the uncontrollable part of our revolt. These are forward-thinking actions. These are creative and experimental actions. 

And so my message to you is this:

Daydream and explore inside your own heart and conscience. Think about what the world needs, what would mean something to you, what would inspire you to act and what would give you hope. And then DO IT. It may or may not feel right once you've done it. That's okay. Keep going and, if needed, try something else.

You aren't merely opposing evil. You are building good. You are restoring humanity. You are making a positive contribution with long term implications.

Ready? GO!