The Montgomery Bus Boycott
In the deep south, African Americans and their allies held virtually no elected positions, but they were still able to win clear victories. Why were they able to accomplish this? Because they understood how power and politics actually work, something most liberals seem to have forgotten in the decades since.
African Americans made up 75% of the Montgomery bus system’s ridership. For over a year, they walked or found alternative transportation rather than give Montgomery their money. Not a single day boycott, ONE YEAR. Tens of thousands people were disciplined and consistent. And the segregationists caved.
What even is politics?
Politics is the way resources and rights are distributed. Groups each with their own agendas use the power available to them to advance their goals, in conjunction or in opposition to other groups.
There is a common aphorism “Everyone wants the same things but disagrees about how to get them” that simply isn’t true. A man with $100 billion does not in fact want the same things as the majority of us normal people who just want enough to live a prosperous life. Oligarchs and workers simply have different class interests, and they are using their political power to advance policies that harm us directly.
Politics goes far beyond elections and the direct lobbying of elected officials.
What is power?
Power is the ability to make others act in ways they otherwise would not have, illustrated by the carrot and the stick. Examples are financial coercion, social pressure, and physical violence.
If a person is hungry or facing homelessness, they can be convinced to do or accept terrible things, things they would not be okay with if they were financially secure. Having money often leads to power, but they are not the same thing. Moneyless people are not necessarily powerless, especially when united for a goal.
The desire for the approval of friends, family, and peers, as well as fear of ostracism can enforce certain behaviors.
Physical suffering and its threat is ultimately what underpins power. Democracy is not magic. Elections are a replacement for violent conflict when determining who will rule. The largest group wins the election and is usually able to take power because the other parties are unwilling to contest the law. But if a smaller group is more willing to do violence, they they will chose to fight. The Spanish civil war began because the military supported the losing side, and because they were the military, decided to take their chances.
How do protests work?
The bus boycott was successful because they had a coherent goal and were able to display their collective power in the pursuit of it. The protesters financially crippled the bus system, and just as importantly, they displayed a threat of violence: tens of thousands of disciplined people physically inconveniencing themselves for a cause for an extended period of time.
Non violent protests can work but only if actually leverage the power available to them.
Why didn’t the Women’s March accomplish anything?
Why didn’t Pelosi ripping up some paper do anything?
Why didn’t the Iraq war protests do anything?
Because there was no stick. No matter how many people are marching, if they just go home after an afternoon of holding witty signs, there is no threat of any kind. When there are no consequences for ignoring your demands, then they aren’t demands at all. You’re just asking nicely.
In order for boycotts to have an effect, they have to be sustained, not just a single day. Holding back for a single day then going back to normal the next day won’t actually cost shareholders any money. You need to actually show them the consequences of ignoring you.
Take power from the oligarchs
The power of oligarchs grows directly with financial disparity and wealth. One person with $100 billion can be more powerful than 100 people with $1 billion each.
Their wealth is primarily in the form of stocks. Even a 10-20% drop in revenue can cause their companies to go from hugely profitable to unprofitable, and it would crush their stock prices. Billionaires liquid assets come from taking loans against their stock holdings.
The goal must be to not just reduce the power of oligarchs, but to prevent the ability to become one. Within capitalism, decision making power and profits are given to those who own stocks, land, and property. In a capitalistic system, money begets more money and power.
Build Dual Power
Instead of giving your money to billionaires, start buying from smaller businesses first. When there’s not a more ethical alternative, consider trying to start a worker co-op with some like-minded people, or crowdfunding others who want to do the same. Take power out of their hands, and put it into the hands of normal people. Create a parallel economy.