Is it even possible to be truly, authentically happy under capitalism? Obviously, the downtrodden, the abused, the poor and the marginalized are not happy, and the higher you move up in the chain, you are most likely to get a burn-out at the age of 45 by constant exposure to competition, backstabbing and constant personal availability.
But what about the ones who get paid a decent wage, have reasonable work hours, a happy family, access to all the consumer books and can travel the world? Can they be happy? I don't think so. Capitalism's constant drive for commodification, valorization and reification of social relations will make people constantly feel that they are "missing something" or that someone is "always doing it better than you". Looking at these "travel addiction" people on Instagram, I feel like while they are all sheltered suburban pricks, they are actually really inhuman people. All their exploits seem like vanity, they never /truly/ experience the place they are visiting, their inspirational quotes mean nothing, like propaganda slogans, it's like they are designed to mean nothing. Everything seems to be stripped off it's meaning.
So, there is either this life, or seeing through all this bullshit and become and addict or some shit like that. I don't think you can truly be happy in a capitalist society.
Labor aristocracy happiness is incredibly hollow. It actively rots your soul and your morality as you have to grapple with your actual position so you either become reactionary or just a hypocrite/confused leftist.
Lincoln King
The happiness one feels when reading theory or listening to wolff/cockshott/parenti et al. is genuine.
Grayson Hill
No. You cannot be happy if you are constantly on guard because of some possible fuckery, and stability, or even a stable period of life's length cannot exist in Capitalism.
Best you can do - gather friends and family as trusted and reliable people, and pick some trade that is both niche, universal and immune to technological replacement.
Sebastian Wood
Most people are unhappy not because of economic situation but because of their insecurities, craving for things that are impossible to obtain/achieve or being brainwashed into hating aspects of one's life without logical reason. I know many people that have stable jobs, their families have access to health care and education, they don't have to worry about retirement. They lack nothing when it comes to material well being yet they still have tons of reason to ruin their happiness.
The leading reason by far is hating one's job without having actual reason to hate it. That's a good one too. I rarely hear it irl, but imageboards are full of people that crave """"""""""""""meaning""""""""""""""".
Robert Young
I work as a miner, get paid well, get amazing health care, company has been paying me to basically sit on my ass for 5 months while my ACL recovers after tearing it, only work half the month. Shit is fucking awesome. Capitalism is great, I'm not even trying to be a dick.
Sounds like you're with a privileged secgion of the labour force tbh
Angel King
what?
Jonathan Butler
m8 im not even that guy and its pretty obvious the dude is just lucky. Or lives in fucking WV in which case im suprised he Isn't addicted to his pain meds and trying to score some more.
