if we give up on Lenin, then What Is To Be Done?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Is_to_Be_Done

Nyet.

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What’s been developing can be seen as a movement of various transformational post-capitalist movements … some focusing on system change and some working to directly build the new within the shell of the old.

Movements for … eco-socialism, permaculture, bioregionalism, worker cooperatives, intentional communities, mutual aid, communitarian economics, Green politics, and more. Where a person is motivated to apply their efforts (to electoral politics or direct action or sector organizing (including labor, of course) or cultural expression) is a dispositional thing. We should encourage each other in all areas.

We certainly want to elect to office activists who put forward legislation that fosters the movements and that leads in the direction of system change. My own interest is in building up the Green Party; I don’t think much will come of efforts trying to transform the Democratic Party, but some people prioritize the latter as a significant commitment. I wish them well.

What Is To Be Done

. revamp governmental policies [Green New Deal, military budget reduction, etc.]
. move incrementally toward eco-socialism [system change at the macro level]
. foster a cultural shift toward green values [via media, art, spiritual expression, etc.]
. build the new within the shell of the old [undermine capitalism from below at the micro level]

In regard to system change, the Bernie movement showed the potential for sudden escalation in resonance for democratic socialism. In regard to prefigurative endeavors, Samuel Alexander talks about a “diversity of expressions” … transition towns; the divestment movement; sharing networks; intentional communities and ecovillages; permaculture groups; the downscaling/voluntary simplicity movement; neighborhood direct democracy assemblies; community energy projects; activist and artist hubs; alternative journalism websites; mutual aid groups; re-skilling workshops; progressive non-profit enterprises, credit unions, and worker cooperatives; networks of radical environmental and social justice groups. It’s unlikely that the capitalist power elites could shut us down if we’re essentially self-sufficient, constructive, and incremental.