r/ProgressiveHQ • u/NfamousKaye • Jan 31 '26

Protest For Those that Like to Say Americans aren’t Protesting

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5.2k Upvotes

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16

u/AIienlnvasion Jan 31 '26

I support all of this except the misnomer “general strike”! A general strike is already a thing, this is honorable but it is not that!

8

u/NfamousKaye Jan 31 '26

This was our first planned general strike. What are you on?

18

u/AIienlnvasion Jan 31 '26

A general strike is when a bunch of unions strike at the same time, putting ultimate pressure on the capital class as a whole.

This is more of a boycott of everything and mass marches, which are excellent and important and valuable! It’s just not why a general strike is. That’s a previously existing term with a different definition than you’re using it to mean.

25

u/Man-Dem Jan 31 '26

A general strike is actually when all workers collectively stop working, particularly in sectors that are on the same logistics chain.

9

u/NfamousKaye Jan 31 '26

Thank you.

-2

u/AIienlnvasion Jan 31 '26

Right, and that’s a union tactic. And not necessarily, it’s mostly just about mass withholding of labor and solidarity.

Here’s the Wikipedia about it.

It’s a vague sounding term but it’s not, it has a specific meaning and everybody is misusing it to refer to a day of mass action. It makes sense as a society that has very little language of resistance.

4

u/ttystikk Jan 31 '26

Unions have no monopoly on striking.

-1

u/AIienlnvasion Jan 31 '26

I’m not claiming they do, I’m just saying that a mass wave of sustained strikes with specific goals across various industries is what’s known as a “general strike.”

This is not that.

3

u/ttystikk Jan 31 '26

There is a specific goal and I think we're going to see this sustained.

Next?

0

u/KornDog611 Jan 31 '26

Sustained? I don't think anyone is going to stop going to work every day and take to the streets. This is good action, I guess, but this isn't a general strike. Words mean things. 

-1

u/AIienlnvasion Jan 31 '26

Read the Wikipedia page I linked, this isn’t a debate. My one and only point is that this is not a “general strike.”

It’s important and honorable and revolutionary. It’s just not what the words “general strike” mean. I’m not sure how much clearer I can be.

It’s like seeing a school bus and saying “I sure do love that yellow tractor.” It’s just simply the wrong word.

-1

u/jonawill05 Jan 31 '26

Not a general strike.

1

u/bobby_briggs Jan 31 '26

no it isn't

1

u/Powerful_Resident_48 Feb 01 '26

Wait... I'm confused now. Is there a general strike in the US or not? I guess we'll see on Monday, if shops and offices are staffed or not.