The Deprogram Podcast

I don't think the ACP are dangerous relative to say democrats, DSA, or republicans. Those that buy into their reactionary messaging have perceived material interests otherwise they wouldn't be doing so.

I think as MLs we have to really unlearn metaphysical concepts of how persuasion works and the myth of "brainwashing"; we are meant to be dialectical materialists which means the material always comes before the idea. For example, the material interests of colonialism furthered racism not the other way around.

I understand we are all at different stages of our ML journey and the above might ruffle up some feathers, and if one is a westerner living in the imperial cores it will inevitably mean some deep internal and external reflection to identify who in our populations truly has revolutionary potential*, and who we can compromise with to make a mass movement without tailism (think what the 4 smaller stars of the PRC flag means!), and sometimes appreciating the futility with some online crusades at attempts to "raise awareness" without considering the marxist scientific theory of political change.

Truly understanding the above will lead to two things: (1) a correct approach to class analysis and revolution (2) revolutionary optimism.

A must-read for all MLs on "brainwashing": https://redsails.org/masses-elites-and-rebels/

What are the strategic consequences of decisively rejecting the tripartite social theory advanced by Orwell, and adopting Marx’s all-encompassing one instead? The basic call to action looks something like this:

Stop accusing the masses of being “brainwashed.” Stop treating them as cattle, stop attempting to rouse them into action by scolding them with exposure to “unpleasant truths.”

Accept instead that they have been avoiding those truths for a reason. You were able to break through the propaganda barrier, and so could they if they really wanted to. Many of these people see you as the fool, and in many cases not without reason.

Understanding people as intelligent beings, craft a political strategy that convincingly makes the case for why they and their lot are very likely to benefit from joining your political project. Not in some utopian infinite timescale, but soon.

If you cannot make this case, then forget about convincing the person in question. Focus instead on finding other people to whom such a case can be made. This will lead you directly to class analysis.

I began this essay by relating the tough lesson that people often weren’t receptive to my research into anticommunist atrocity propaganda narratives. However, this wasn’t the only lesson I learned in all this time...

*ie benefits from the end of USAmerican imperialism in this timeline. So for example, if socdem politics in spreading the loot of imperialism is considered a greater material benefit than the end of US imperialism well then you may find it challenging to convince otherwise. Yes this is hard. But not impossible. As Kwame Ture said wherever there is oppression by definition there is resistance, even if that resistance appears to be silent. I suspect MLs will need to do a stastical deep dive of US population to understand who need to be targeted and how.