How did the proletariat originate?

"The Proletariat originated in the industrial revolution... which was precipitated by the discovery of the steam engine, various spinning machines, the mechanical loom, and a whole series of other mechanical devices. These machines, which were very expensive and hence could be bought only by big capitalists, altered the whole mode of production and displaced the former workers, because the machines turned out cheaper and better commodities than the workers could produce with their inefficient spinning wheels and handlooms. The machines delivered industry wholly into the hands of the big capitalists and rendered entirely worthless the meagre property of the workers (tools, looms, etc.). The result was that the capitalists soon had everything in their hands and nothing remained to the workers...

"labour was more and more divided among the individual workers so that the worker who previously had done a complete piece of work now did only a part of that piece. This division of labour made it possible to produce things faster and cheaper. It reduced the activity of the individual worker to simple, endlessly repeated mechanical motions which could be performed not only as well but much better by a machine. In this way, all these industries fell, one after another, under the dominance of steam, machinery, and the factory system, just as spinning and weaving had already done.

Fredrick Engels
Principles of Communism

learn a skill instead this is a miserable existence

Can't tell if that s*** flies in the communism thread. See, this is what I mean... y'all be talking a whole different language in here

The Clanguage

Man just read "the marx-Engels reader" don't learn about this s*** on here of all places

I want to join some kind of socialist organization but the only one where I live is PSL, which I'm not principally against but the chapter by me does a lot of lobbying for democrats as part of their public policy, which I just can't endorse.

Like it's one thing if you want to quietly, privately show up to the polls to vote for the "lesser evil". I'm not doing that, but I understand why someone would do that. But if you're using a socialist party to organize for a bourgeois party, I'm sorry but y'all lost the plot.

For anyone here who lives in suburban USA, particularly in conservative suburbia, how do you organize with fellow socialists? Food pantries and protests are cool but I want to be part of a socialist movement and there are no serious ones by me.

The orgs in my city are also a two packs of ass and I live in Germany lmao

What's it like being a socialist in a relentlessly capitalist environment

I mean it is Germany after all

I'm depressed, disappointed, and annoyed a lot

My habitual marijuana use is probably chiefly steered by being a socialist in the heart of anti-socialism.

I hate the US and the west in general

You right

Start with Principles of Communism by Engels

And feel free to hop in our discord if you want to ask any questions

discord.gg/Kh7qvjfM

The ultimate contradiction is how Germany, the cradle of fascism and one of the worst civilizations in history, was somehow able to produce Karl Marx and Rosa Luxemberg

pretty much as described in your quote

Honestly bro

Start with The Communist Manifesto, and then work your way backward through the core of Marxist literature, and then reread The Communist Manifesto after you do that

Capital Vol. 1-3 and The Grundrisse are really hard to get into though, but you should read "Critique of the Political Economy" first, and then read "Capital Illustrated", and then try a few video essays out, before diving in. I still haven't finished Capital Vol. 1 because it's so dense but it is a banger.

And the core of Marxist literature is basically everything Marx and Engels wrote

Go in chronological order as well but, imho, after getting through everything Marx and Engels wrote aside from Capital 1-3 and Grundrisse (as each book is over 1000 pages), start segueing into Lenin and Luxemburg, then Stalin, then Mao, and then try to get into the contemporary Marxist literature. You don't only want to have a bookish understanding of Marxism from the 19th century.

But return to Capital Vol. 1-3 and Grundrisse at some point. I'm gonna try to finish Capital Vol. 1 this year.

Thank you all for the guide

Bro barely anyone reads Critique of Political economy let alone someone just trying to get into communism

Even Capital 1 would be better to recommend a new person and that’s asking a lot

Fr. I don’t count them as German

When I seize the means of production for myself imma share with all y'all

I’m starting with Ernest Mandel’s Introduction to Marxist Economic Theory

marxists.org/archive/mandel/1967/intromet/index.htm

If you ever got the chance to relocate, would you take it

It's a tough ass book but it does help you get through a good bit of Capital Vol. 1

Read their works in chronological order to see how Marx/Engels' theories evolved and cemented themselves over time. (not telling you to do this, but anyone who wants to start reading Marxist literature)

It was punishing when I read it but, when accompanied Marx/Engels' other works, it's pretty useful. I don't think it's honestly possible to dive into Capital Vol. 1 without reading it and Capital Illustrated first lol

It’s not necessary at all and is way more obscure and difficult to read than Capital. You should only be touching that after Capital if anything

I read all three volumes without all that other s***

Regardless, a beginner doesn’t need to be touching any of this stuff yet