Do you know how empires win? By feeding their people bread and circuses.

I’ve been talking recently about a general strike for the climate, as have a few other activists. But if I’m being honest, that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon — because almost everyone has an excuse why they can’t participate.

We have all grown accustomed to a *very* pleasant standard of living. Even if you might think it’s hard to get by, try comparing your situation to that of an average person in Nigeria or Pakistan or India or Ethiopia. It’s not even close.

Nearly all of us in the Global North have a nice place to live, lots of clothing, regular meals, and plenty of entertainment right at our fingertips.

So when that call comes for a general strike — for everyone to stop going to work, stop paying bills, and stop shopping — well, sure, we might say, that sounds like a great idea. We support the cause, but unfortunately we just can’t do it right now. Because… reasons.

And that’s the problem. Everyone has reasons. We’ve all grown too comfortable — which is *entirely* by design. The empire knew they had to make us “fat and lazy” (metaphorically speaking), so we wouldn’t be so likely to take a stand against them.

In the late 19th century, when union organizers called for strikes, or when anarchists in the U.S. and Europe were urging an end to capitalism, it was easier for them to get cooperation and to find supporters.

In the 1930s, when a huge number of people were underemployed and times were tough all over, going on strike or campaigning for socialism didn’t mean as much of a sacrifice as it would for most of us today.

Starting in the 1950s, however, leaders and influential thinkers in the Global North realized that the best way to stay in power and enrich themselves would be to provide plenty of cheap “bread” and diverting “circuses” to their citizens.

So far, that’s working for them just as planned.

#History #Capitalism #BusinessAsUsual #Sports