Author: James J Jackson Jr

Avoid the “Self Care” Trap

/ James J Jackson Jr / Leave a comment

Self care is a radical act, never forget that. When you practice self care you are doing so in order to exist in a world that tells you you shouldn’t have any power.

This is why self care was created by radical black femmes in the 60s and 70s. It was an act of rebellion to do what it took to exist in an world trying to extinguish or diminish a person’s existence, and it still is.

This is why we need to make it clear that self care is about self preservation, not indulgence.

Several rich, mostly white people, use the term “self care” as an excuse for spending thousands of dollars on spa treatments or for drink service during nights at the club. I have no problem with indulgence but self care is not just about self indulgence. Calling self indulgence self care is once again a co-opting of the work and culture of non white radicals.

Self care is taking a mental health day. Self care is opening your mail that has been piling up on your desk. It is doing your laundry and organizing your space. That is self care.

It is true that for some, especially those with PTSD or anxiety, a yoga class or a massage is in fact self care, because what might be an indulgent treat for some of us is to them a need for preservation of their sanity.

It is easy to fall into what I call, “The Self Care Trap,” because the truth is humans are always looking for an excuse to indulge. Humans are effort minimizers and euphoria maximizers, especially the privileged and the rich. Any excuse they can use to indulge in yacht trips and day drinking, they will, but rich people aren’t the only ones who have co-opted the term self care.

I have seen several self proclaimed “leftists” use the term self care as excuse for a night of binge drinking or as an excuse to avoid an organizing meeting and get stoned for the billionth time. There is nothing wrong with a drink or a toke, in fact I’d say I’m very self indulgent with those two things myself, but I am not about to pretend my drinking is an act of self preservation.

I am a white, straight, cis male, so my need for self care is far less than that of someone who was queer, non white, and non cis gendered. This is why it is important for us to avoid the “Self Care Trap.” We cannot use a term that is about the self preservation of the oppressed as an excuse for our own self indulgence.

So the next time you go out for drinks or go on vacation, ask yourself, is it self care or self indulgence? If you live in a world that allows you to exist, then you probably aren’t the one who needs self care.

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Daley and Hinkenlooper got Booed, GOOD!

/ James J Jackson Jr / Leave a comment

Last week, several of my comrades attended the California Democratic Party Convention as delegates and I watched their live feeds. Thanks to them I got to see how much power we on the left have gained.

Hickenlooper said, “Socialism is not the answer,” and got booed.

Daley came out against Medicare for All, and got booed.

This is great news for socialists. The Democratic Party is currently the most powerful political party in the state of California, and California is the worlds 5th largest economy. The fact that these two got booed means that Leftists have gained a serious degree of influence in one of the largest states!

The California Democratic Party has swept the last 3 governors elections, all municipal offices, and the majority of both the legislature and the senate for the last decade! Within this party that is in control, there is a body of leftists who are sick of the corporate capitalist status quo.

The fact that so many in the party in such a big state are adament about pushing the agenda and candidates of the party further left is a win for socialists than cannot be underestimated.

If it were up to me I would not touch the democratic party with a ten foot pole, but the reality of winning state power is not up to me. The fact that two establishment democrats got booed for over a minute after coming on stage with anti left wing talking points at the convention of the states largest political party means that socialists are on the verge of seizing state power like never before.

Both Hickenlooper and Daley have doubled down on their anti left stances. Hickenlooper has taken to Facebook in attempt to justify his anti-socialism and Daley has even resorted to Ben Shapiro tactics and began begging Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to debate him about Medicare for All. Hickenlooper is blatantly out of touch and Daley apparently hasn’t gotten the memo that women of color do not owe him their time!

Above : Hickenlooper doubles down on anti-socialism. Below: Delaney challenges AOC to debate Medicare 4 All

So BOO to Daley and BOO to Hickenlooper! We can force the hand of corporate capitalist democrats like these if we stay attentive and diligent, and keep the pressure on as we have.

Habit, a poem

/ James J Jackson Jr / Leave a comment

Habit, my old friend,

Or are you my enemy?

You say habit

I hear “monotony.”

Someone else says it,

And I hear “addiction.”

Habit, you could make me a great man

Or you could cause me to self destruct.

Habit,

you are helpful,

But you can also be cruel.

Habit, you be what I tell you to be.

Soul and Pain, a poem

/ James J Jackson Jr / Leave a comment

Soul and Pain.

Here we are again,

A dying planet and a line of willful morons

Humping their hands while complaining about the better sex.

No game, and they won’t shut up about it.

Our so called leaders are afraid to lead

Because they might not be leaders anymore if they do.

Complacency is safer than action only if you’re rich.

Sex and violence and sexual violence.

Two souls comrades butchered in the streets.

Lynchings protected by badges and city hall.

Soul and pain.

21st century lies and truth.

Soul and pain.

A blunt, personal argument in favor of #Medicare4All

/ James J Jackson Jr / Leave a comment

Needless to say for those who have been keeping track, I am a strong supporter of Medicare for All and of socialized medicine.

These people will also remember that I was in a car accident last year, where I lost my ability to walk for months and, oh yeah, I almost died btw.

It should also be noted that my grandfather had Alzheimer’s and my father has a chronic blood condition.

I don’t think it is surprising that I feel very strongly about healthcare.

With all of that said, I think if you are against Medicare for All, then you are a terrible person.

I don’t have a coherent, intellectual point to make here. I just want people to know that I think people who put finances ahead of humanity are worse than scum, and that didn’t used to be a controversial stance but apparently it is now. When did it become not okay to call selfish idiots what they are, selfish idiots!?

Every person whose first concern is “How are we going to pay for it?” when we discuss Medicare for All, I just want to fucking slap them in the face while wearing a giant ring!

Real talk folks, I would be dead, I repeat, I would be DEAD, if it was not for Medi-CAL. If it was not for my states form of socialized medicine I would be a corpse.

Again, I repeat, because of SOCIALIZED MEDICINE, I am still alive. Idgaf how we pay for assuring everyone care but I’m pretty sure if we can afford to increase military spending by $700 billion a year we can muster up the funds for Medicare. Senators Cory Booker, Liz Warren, and Kamala Harris weren’t worried about how we pay for every increase to Trump’s military spending that they voted for, but now that we are talking about spending money on helping people instead of building bombs, suddenly we have to start being thrifty!?

When I hear “How do we pay for it?” What I really hear is “Money is a bigger concern to me than your human life.” Or I hear “I’d rather spend it on bombs.”

Human beings should not be allowed to have such a point of view.

I will not play nice nor be civil when it comes to accessing healthcare. Be it for the elderly, the disabled, for access to abortion, or for my own treatment. I refuse to be nice about what is a human right. Fuck the monetary mindset, it needs to be eradicated. I spit on anyone who is more concerned with capital and spending than with the sick and dying.

Give me my Medicare! Give me my socialized medicine! Give me my life you bastards!

Call the Abortion Bans what they are, FASCISM!

/ James J Jackson Jr / Leave a comment

In this episode on my video blog I try to make the point that I have been making on my blog ever since Trump was elected.

The abortion bans that are being passed in places like Alabama and Georgia are evidence of one thing, fascism is not “on the rise” in America, it is already here.

We here arguments made all the time that Trump is Hitler or Mussolini. Cody Johnson makes the excellent point however that while there are parallels between these fascists and Donald Trump we need to remember that fascism wont look like it did in Hitler’s Germany or Mussolini’s Italy, it will look like Trump’s America.

This is a true statement, George Carlin said it best before he passed, “When fascism comes to America it will not be in storm trooper uniforms and black leather boots, it will come wearing Nike shoes and smily face t-shirts.” He could have easily just said tacky red baseball caps.

That said the parallels between our fascist state and ones of the past are growing, and none are made more evident than in the abortion bans.

Every major right wing controlled state has instituted bans on abortion on demand, Italy did, Germany did, and now the United States has. The abortion ban is also showing the face of a sad reality of fascism, liberals in power working with the fascists and giving them what they want.

Louisiana’s governor is democrat John Bell Edwards, whose candidacy was endorsed by Hillary Clinton in 2015, has already announced he will break with the Democratic party and sign Louisiana’s abortion ban. Much like how liberals abdicated to Hitler to defeat the communists, or when Chamberlin bent the knee and give Hitler the Sudetenland, so have we seen the so called “resistance” bend to fascist whims.

Call the abortion ban what it is, fascism. We can no longer pretend that fascism is just a “growing problem” in the United States. We need to accept the harsh reality that it is here. We live in a state where elected officials are literally assaulting the press (see my post about Montana’s special election last year.). We live in a state where the so called “resistance” is not only willing to work with the enemy but bend to their whims. But worst of all, we live in a state where laws controlling a human body can be passed. All of these things existed in Germany and Italy circa 1939, and now they are apart of America’s way of life.

Call these bans for what they are, fascism.