Pete’s blog

Going to delve into some post-Fordist Marxism here. Been thinking more about good people and how they fit into the workplace, and came up with an interesting perspective. One way of looking at the world is as a series of class struggles – Mr Marx was a big fan of this idea. The timeless struggle between the haves and the have-nots, the ruling and the servants, those in power and those without power. But it is a struggle that has had some major victories – the people freed themselves from monarchy with democracy, the slaves were emancipated, women got the vote, blacks got equal rights. These victories have not ended discrimination or hierarchy, far from it. One of the biggest divides is still the rich and the poor, the haves and the have-nots. But it has introduced a new dynamic. Your potential is no longer restricted by arbitrary divisions, it (theoretically and only in some countries) is now possible to obtain any level of power or success no matter if you are black, white, male, female, rich or poor. It can just be a lot more difficult for some people. This has effectively eliminated any group dynamic from the struggle – the only commonality between people is their level in the society and that can change. No longer will there be slave revolts, women’s suffrage movements, black civil rights movement or anti-apartheid struggles – it is now a personal and individual struggle.

Now some people interpret this as meaning that it is each man (or person) for themselves, screw everyone else just look out for number one. These are the empire builders, that carve out their little kingdoms and surround themselves with yes-men; people who do not consider or value other people’s opinions; people who measure themselves entirely by their own success; they will bite, claw and backstab their way to the top and then cling onto power by any means necessary, not caring how they use that power, only that they have that power. This interpretation is that since everyone is now equal in the struggle, the struggle is against each other. But this is wrong, this is not how it should be interpreted. The struggle is with each other. The battle is not to see who gets to the top, but to see that everyone can reach their own top. We are all in this together, we are not in this by ourselves.

So what does the second interpretation mean in practice. If you have power, if you are at the top, it is your duty to help those below you to reach their potential. Helping them does not weaken your hold on power, it strengthens it through the support of those you help. Power is not meant to be held, it is meant to be given. If you lift those below you, you with be lifted with them; if you push those below you down, you will never get any higher and chances are that eventually everything will collapse under you. Just remember you are not creating yes-men, you are helping them reach their own potential.

If you don’t have power, your duty is to help those around you. Power can be created by groups – combining the tiny little bit of power each person has into a cohesive group can create large amounts of power. Help those around you, support them and pool your efforts, you will accomplish far more. Be strong against the empire builders, do not allow them to grind you down, use the power of the group to resist them. But do not resist everyone above you, support the good people, both those above you and amongst you. Every bit of support you give a good person will provide a tenfold benefit to everyone they go onto support. Also be wary that you aren’t building your own empire, you should be pursuing group goals and not just your own goals (if your own goals are the same as the group that is great).

But just remember what I said at the beginning, it is still a personal and an individual struggle. Do not get caught up in group-think, you are your own person, you have been emancipated, you have been given freedom and choice and opportunity, do not allow others to take that from you. Remember this and be strong when you are faced by an empire builder, remember this is still a struggle, don’t take it laying down, don’t become one of their yes-men. And when you have power, don’t let others force you to use that power badly. How you use that power is your choice and your responsibility.

Welcome to the new revolution – we’re fighting this one one person at a time!