Lumpenproletariat

"...the term refers to the 'refuse of all classes,' including 'swindlers, confidence tricksters, brothel-keepers, rag-and-bone merchants, organ-grinders, beggars, and other flotsam of society.'"

-Wikipedia & Marx


As you can see, the lumpenproletariat is not considered that great by Marx, or traditionally by Marxists. They are those who are outside the system, who are withouth traditional means of emplyoment. It is referred to as a "dangerous class" by Marx, not likely to be productive in the revolution. A conservative class, a class just as (or more) likely to align with the bourgoisie as with the working class. And why not? Marx & marxist have a way of really neatly explaining away contradictions in the ideology*, such as the revolutionary stance of the working class.

Among communist revolutionarys the working glass is often viewed as something inherently revolutionary. The working class is always revolutionary. A drive for revolution is a part of being working class. But how do you then explain the lack of communist revolutions in the world? After all, the working class exists everywhere. It is because the working class is being misled, you see. It is being fooled by the bourgoisie.

Now, I would say that if the working class is being misled into not being revolutionary it isn't revolutionary. But that don't really fit in with the communist/marxist world view. I would say that being workin class is being conservative, wanting things NOT to change. Out of fear, if nothing else. Why do you think Oi! (evolved out of the working class + punk) has not changed in almost 30 years, while many other forms of punk (a middle class phenomenon) has continued to evolve (in many cases evolved in to totally different genres)? Sure, all the Discharge clones can be pretty boring, but that is a very special case and a very special band. And still, they manage to either do something of their own or they rip Discharge so incredibly good that you know they do it as a specific tribute to a specific band. Another example: Sex Pistols vs. Public Image Limited. Get it?

And the lumpenproletariat... Once again, a piece of the working class that doesn't behave like it should. Therefore it is not a real part of the workin class. The working class is what the marxist decide are the working class. Simply because they, in their romantic mist, don't see the need of destroying the working class. The steps towards a revolutionary society does not include putting the working class on the top of the pyramid. The working class has (as has all people) been contiuously bred to stupidity, fed with fear and hate. The know that if things change, they will change towards the worst. Thats what it means to be working class. But not for the commies. The definition of lumpenproletariat is "those that don't fit."

The working class must be destroyed. ALL CLASSES MUST BE DESTROYED. IT IS A VICIOUS SYMBIOT, THIS SOCIETY. One cannot function without the two others. The must all burn, they must all be purged.

But for now, I can at least romanticise the outlaws, vagabonds and at least potentially free and rebellious spirits of the lumpenproletariat. Sure, their bodies are in worse dangers than mine. The may die, be beaten, used and abused, but their minds and spirits are left to their own accord to a much larger extent. I appreciate that. In my dealings with criminals (not that it happens that often) and other 'outsiders' I see a free will and an uncovered eye about what this society really is than I do in my dealings with representatives of the class system.

Marx called them "the refuse of all classes" and meant it as a derogatory term. I see it as something positive. To be refused by the classes it to be cast out for refusing to be a slave.

You are at the bottom. You have been put at the bottom because the rickety pyramid ahead of won't hold with you in it. You have a choice. Set the pyramid ablaze or build a new pyramid. Both are totally acceptable. Both are good. But you must choose, and you must see. You cannot live in the shadow and in the sewers of this tower of Babel any longer. It must burn or be deserted.





* don't get me wrong. I am a big fan of Marx and of socialism. Marx was a genious. But he wasn't right all of the time. And I should also state that several contemporary marxists use the word lumpenproletariat as simply a description of people outside the wage-labor system.