i grew up poor surrounded by poor people. first time i landed in the west we lived in public housing among asylum seekers. my conditions led to my own decision to educate myself of alternative ways to live/take a step away from western programming.

no one around me grew to become radicalized by living condition. they either took the punches and continued to play the game, or turned to crime (i don't blame them). i think it's also why i find it difficult to fully integrate into leftist groups; the loudest voices are often from the most privileged

[–] UlyssesT@hexbear.net 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I was raised in the same material conditions as my immediate biological family.

Pretty much all of them still alive now besides myself are fucking fascists.

I don't think I had some magic gift of enlightenment, though I highly doubt that all it takes is people checking their pay stubs, bank statements, and zip code then deciding "the math says time for fascism!"

[–] Collatz_problem@hexbear.net 14 points 2 months ago

Now, we've been radicalized by living conditions and theory just pointed at the real cause.

[–] Barx@hexbear.net 13 points 2 months ago

It is both, both are necessary. Material conditions set the stage for struggle but it requires political education and organization to create radicals. The political education itself also emerges from conditions and history. They are co-creating.