What Does the Spartacus League Want?

From dead machines assigned their place in production by capital, the proletarian masses must learn to transform themselves into the free and independent directors of this process. They have to acquire the feeling of responsibility proper to active members of the collectivity which alone possesses ownership of all social wealth. They have to develop industriousness without the capitalist whip, the highest productivity without slavedrivers, discipline without the yoke, order without authority. The highest idealism in the interest of the collectivity, the strictest self-discipline, the truest public spirit of the masses are the moral foundations of socialist society, just as stupidity, egotism, and corruption are the moral foundations of capitalist society.

~Rosa Luxemburg, from
What Does the Spartacus League Want?

Although in her ephemeral lifetime she construed a philosophy that was too subversive for the Germany of the early twentieth century, (Undoubtedly playing a role in her execution),  Rosa Luxemburg prophetically touched upon the still needed political reform of today. This passage is a call to the working class not to remain the puppets or "Dead machines" of the capitalist system but instead to learn how to become the machine themselves, or, as she says, the "Free and independent directors of this process". Those who have attained such wealth would then learn to maintain their station using the values opposite those of capitalist society. "Industriousness without the capitalist whip". "Highest productivity without slavedrivers". 

Luxemburg's stance against capitalist society is as evident as is her solution. She sees capitalism as a source of the weakening of the proletarian system, indeed of the proletariat himself/herself and thus a force of degradation and devaluation of human life. This harkens back to Nihilism in that its original thinkers believed the moral fabric society was void and that a life that was meant to be lived in content was more often spent in lifelong agony, despair, and human labor which only sated the pockets of the bourgeoisie (Representing the most uber form of amorality). A life meant to be lived became a life (lived) without meaning. Nihil.

As far as World War II itself, as are most wars, it was one presumably not only fought by the lower classes on the battlefield, but one whose preproduction labor (Such as in the making of weapons, in factories) also was fueled by the labor of the proletariat. Although the war may not have been started by the bourgeoisie 

The war did not voice the concerns of the people. Rather the war exploited the people and put them into danger as the close proximity of the violence reached the cities. 

These words as penned by Luxemburg remind me of the "Trickle down effect" theory, or even the image of one person's greatest being another person's ladder upwards, if those ahead of us are willing to bring us along for the ride. She speaks of solidarity in lieu of selfishness.  It is a lesson the world still has not learned.

If I have interpreted her words correctly, then I feel that I have a great example of how I was able to break away from the great machine that is capitalist society and to create my own, though still only growing, lucrative position in the world.

For about four years and six months I was a cashier at a drug store/pharmacy downtown. Long story short, the only reason I lasted so long there was because it was the only job that worked with my class schedule. 

Sometime around or after hitting the two and a half mark, I was certainly the proverbial disgruntled proletariat. I knew I was working towards something greater but my disappointment at my situation then could not be masked. But instead of wallowing in my disappointment, I decided to do something about it. 

I decided to start my own business. 

I opened a retail chain (Fashion) that did not last more than a year or so. But it gave me the drive I needed to keep going. I knew the path to freedom lied in the ability to be my own boss. In this economy, "You have to make your own job". That is my motto. 

So I networked with people, eventually being revisited by a lady who had seen me on and off at my job for the past year or so, and wanted to give me the opportunity to work in Social Media for a friend of hers, who is a mini celebrity of sorts (Producer, Nightclub Owner, Investor, etc...Pretty much a jack of all trades in the entertainment industry). 

Needless to say, I had already known the power of Social Media through the work I did for my own company, gathering more than four hundred souls to my Facebook page through various means, so I jumped at the chance to work for this person. 

After working for him for eight months, and then for two other companies in Social Media, and beginning my ascent further upwards by having finally worked for a company in my industry (Biology/Biotech), I can understand the power we have to shape our condition. 

Rosa Luxemburg speaks of learning to "Become" like the affluent in the sense that we learn their tools of the trade but do not adapt to their vices. Most people are complacent being a part of the machine. 

Facebook is the best example.

So much business potential lies in using Facebook as a means to market businesses and products...But most people simply use social networking sites as a means to keep in contact with family and friends, while, unbeknownst to them, they are a market to which different products and services are being targeted.