this post was submitted on 02 Jan 2024
142 points (91.8% liked)
Solarpunk
5464 readers
46 users here now
The space to discuss Solarpunk itself and Solarpunk related stuff that doesn't fit elsewhere.
Join our chat: Movim or XMPP client.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
You basically have two schools of though on the issue of reform or revolution. The reform path is mainly working on pushing the current system in a better direction, while at the same time building alternatives. Since the biggest problem currently are private corporations influencing politicans, that would propably be voting for the best the current system really allows, which is social democracy. At the same time you destroy the private capitalist corporations by building up cooperatives.
The other option is revolution, where you try to destroy the old system and fully replace it with a new one. So you ban capitalism outright and try to set up something new. I happen to be of the opinion that revolutions just end up quickly scaling up ideas, which were around before the revolution. So those ideas need to spread and they can only really spread by actually showing at least some results. Hence you have to set up small scale new system anyway.
As for what is better. Honestly a revolution requires luck and is unlikely. So I prefer the reform approach as it seems to me to be a safer path and also allows the option of a revolution as it is sure to plant the seads of a new better time.
Of the two options, reform would be better, however i am not seeing that happening. At every possible chance, even fundamental steps fail against any opposition from corporations, or the government. In its stead i have seen things only get worse. And here i am looking at the harm of Revolution vs. the systematic harm caused by the direction we have been sliding in for decades. If i have no confidence in reform then the only thing left is hope in a risky revolution. I would prefer reform.
It depends were you are. Some places have managed to actually get some progress done. Stuff like coal exits, IC car sales bans, gas heating bans and so forth are certainly steps in the right direction. So it is possible, but not even close to fast enough. I honestly hope that that hurts fossil fuels enough to weaken it so some other places can overthrow them too.