Let me use this period of social isolation (whether gov policy or self-imposed) to tell you all about my long-fought campaign for #radicalhygge 
Capitalism - and neoliberalism all the more so - thrives on isolating us from one another while maintaining us alive and capable of providing our labour power.
It has been extremely successful in this exercise while normalising constructs such as the nuclear family, minute/extortionate accommodation, and self-employment
In the “West” the process has also destroyed many of the collective forms of organising - be them religious, ethnic, political or economic (eg: rise of secularism; abolition of the Scottish clan system; destruction of trade unions)
Meaning (and I’m being a lil crass for the sake of shortening this thread) we have lost our forms of socialising that require collective debate, that push us to do some collective analysis and (thus) arouse in us feelings of belonging and reconciliation (with others & ourselves)
In light of #COVID19 I’m finding this hailing & fetishisation of #workingfromhome to be a profound misunderstanding of the relationship between capital and our labour power. #WFH is only an escape from a commute/punch in routine. It‘s not the solution to our alienation (qua Marx)
Our politics must call for the end of the capitalist mode of production (sorry lads but that *is* socialism) because only that will truly end our social disconnect.
But in the meantime, our *Transitional Demands* (that’s our policies today) we must now push not only for things like a shorter working week, but also for more collective socialisation
Collective socialisation has many forms. It can come in the shape of trade unions (which we must defend and revive) or community organising (by demanding the preservation or creation of public spaces - libraries, community halls, children’s centres)
But it can also come in the form of private interaction. Here it’s harder for demands to be placed because each individual will have their preference of how to socialise, but here are some basic things that will improve things and push towards my idea of #RadicalHygge:
[NB: #RadicalHygge - taking the Dutch/Norwegian idea of cosy conviviality while removing notions of prefigurative belonging that exclude the Other, but rather encourage the tension of sharing a space with those different from us while promoting wellbeing therein]
Demands that can push for #RadicalHygge:
• Better, bigger housing w/ space for more than mere sleep/individual feeding (eg: rooms to eat collectively, kitchens big enough to cook for more than the immediate inhabitants)
• Thriving local high streets that are accessible by foot
• Better, bigger housing w/ space for more than mere sleep/individual feeding (eg: rooms to eat collectively, kitchens big enough to cook for more than the immediate inhabitants)
• Thriving local high streets that are accessible by foot
• HIGH FOOD STANDARDS - mass produced/standardised food is bad for us & environment. We *all* have the right to organic food, we *all* have the right to food that tastes delicious. Pleasure shouldn’t have to be a radical demand! Let’s fight for our right to ear like the rich do!
• More paid free time - to spend with our loved ones, to rest, to read, TO FUCK! We all have the right to an emotional and sexual life that feels fulfilling, not like an albatross around our necks
All this to say: if you’re enjoying your time at home, cooking, sleeping, fucking, self-caring, chatting to your loved ones (even if via Skype), playing games, watching films, reading.. If you’re enjoying walking down quieter roads for your spot of food shopping without hurrying
If you’re enjoying having full control of your working hours.. IMAGINE IF IT WEREN’T SO BECAUSE OF #COVID19 BUT BECAUSE LIFE WAS THUS ORGANISED!!
Good news: Life **can** be thus organised! Let’s fight for it to be so ✊
Good news: Life **can** be thus organised! Let’s fight for it to be so ✊
