I think people are missing the moment here. It's a big event in modern capitalist history because it marks the culmination of both technological and cultural movements: 1. the introduction of 'retail' brokerages that allow anyone without a big bank account access to an institution that has historically been exclusive to the wealthy and 2. the introduction of social media as a vector for entertainment and news that, in a certain sense, has grown to serve as a communal gathering place in an increasingly alienating world. I'm of the opinion that the online space has taken the role that churches, temples, etc traditionally held but that's a different discussion.

The market is the final frontier of capitalism. Will said on the pod recently (forgive me), in a world so bleak and in a landscape so saturated with capitalist misery this might be the only thing that moves the needle. Watching wall street vampires squirm is the only thing that moves the needle, actually bringing the fight to the capitalist's own arena is the only thing that moves the needle in influencing the masses in the imperial core.

I think this current debacle has pointed out the need to look at the quality as well.

Are we looking towards building a popular movement? Yes, wanting to radicalize the usual WSB user is misguided at best. To think they aren't already prime picking for the right is naive. But this news is huge and has spread like wildfire, not because of fucking Gamestop, but because the concept of collective action has dominated the narrative and is the subject of people's curiosity regarding this matter, even if they're wanting to make a quick buck. Whether it's really David vs Goliath or simply capitalists eating capitalists, the sentiment can only be described as anger towards the professional investor class. I have never such consensus in this country over anything remotely to do with class consciousness until this past week.

This is the empire, we haven't even reached the conditions of protosocialist thought. Class consciousness is the first step to reaching people and again, the stock market is the only thing in this country that motivates class consciousness among the general populace. Radicalization and mutual aid are only steps towards a goal, and this is one of them. This is very clearly the 'heightening the contradictions of capitalism' part and even your mom can see it, how are we not there to take advantage of it?

The perfect storm that will create the conditions for revolution will never fall on our lap, we must create it. We can't turn down every opportunity we've gotten. Look at their front page, look at what people elsewhere are talking about how do you not want to at least try to build solidarity with the masses on this? Many American leftists already refuse to reach out to black or minority people, they refuse to reach out to the actual poor working class that slaves away at Walmart in favor of the boutique worker, they refuse to recognize the 'nerds' being taken advantage of in the massive it industry. WE HAVE DOWNED OUR TOOLS IN EVERY FRONT THAT'S WORTH A CAUSE. Please pardon people for getting excited about this moment.