Chapotraphouse

The black Panthers figured this one out a while go. The seik peoples as well come to mind. Beans quite possibly are the solution to capitlaism.

This is like a lesson that's so obvious that no one ever bothers to write it down. You'll have young lenin quoting communists who will not even think to order a pizza.

We need like a Sun Tzu of all the obvious practical organizing.

100%, the local organization I'm part of does a ton of potlucks in addition to other events and the potlucks are always the best attended.

fun fact: potluck isn't actually a bastardization of word potlach in the pacific northwest, but the potlach was made illegal for basically the same reasons you're advocating for foodsharing and potluck events. the potlach system was really important to Indigenous political organization, national identity, and resistance to colonization.

Also gonna add, I have more people show up to my shitty HUD apartment in the ghetto to get fucking beans and rice, and the beans and rice are often mid as fuck because I'm so poor that I still have barely bought any seasonings for my house. I really need to find money to expand past serving Mexican black beans. Anyways, if I can get people to drive through the shittiest part of the city (a place where I have now been shot at at point blank randomly and witnessed another person get shot for being annoyed at a tweaker within 3 months) to get mid ass food and listen to what I say, these huge fucking orgs can provide better food

Unfortunately these huge fucking orgs (at least near me) are gonna be teaching ridiculous shit if they ever pick up on this.

food not bombs

Neurotypicals that go to events and say "oh I'm here for the people" are lying to themselves and everybody else because that's all the neurotypicals are capable of.

Based.

for about a decade, i used to work in informal adult education (free, voluntary, generally just teying to get people to know about free resources and provide free technical assistance) and even when the target audience would be stable, comfortable income... providing food was a game changer. and providing time to eat and talk casually amongst each other was huge for participation.

i always advocated for it and other professionals were mostly on board. it was frequently the boards (the pursestring holders) that would push back and instead want to blow the budget on some fancy venue and let people scatter to feed themselves.

i would just say, "if you feed them, they will come." it's the easiest part of the equation. food is community, land, people, and connection.

You remind me of that Austrian communist guy who went to people's apartments and fixed faucets and other stuff landlords were too cheap and lazy to do.

I think people believe your actions a lot more than your words. If you want people to believe that you want to improve conditions for the masses, actually helping people in whatever way you can is going to be one of the most persuasive things you can do.

I cant fit food through my mask so its very awkward (and annoying, and depressing) to sit there while others eat. But unfortunately my org has given up (back in like 22) on covid precautions. So you'll be happy to know we're doing our part to infect everyone with covid bc treatlerites cant be bothered to come to shit without material incentives

That is to say, I agree with your analysis strategy in the modern day; i strongly disagree with your presentation of this as human nature. When I read about the actual old proletarian organisations in 48, 71, or 17, i dont see food mentioned (except as needed to fuel revolutionaries, or as aid to the poor (edit: i.e., as its own event, not a motivator to do political work). Its only among the petty bourgeois and upper classes i see mentions of banquets and social events predominate over education and action as the way to get people out

Also bold of you to assume we have funding for food; we spend most our money sending execs around the country bc god forbid people have a zoom meeting instead of exchange germs face to face.

To anyone doubting you:

Image from "La Fiesta del PCE" in the late 1970s, the party (as in festivity) of the Partido Comunista de España. Why the fuck were there so many people in a communist party's party?

Because free/cheap food & wine.

In Venezuela, when the PSUV visits barrios or comunas, they make sancocho, which is a traditional dish of the Caribbean with potatoes, yam, corn, any choice of meat, and I'm sure there must be vegan options. It's the fastest way to someone's heart, and an activity as old as time.

I'm just an individual doing this, I fucking wish orgs around me would pick up the same energy

Maybe you can suggest this to them? Your experience might be useful for them too

what kind of beans and rice recipes are you making?

immediately thought of some chili with rice. then Mujadara (rice lentils and saute onion)

do you put msg (aka powder chicken boullion) in your dish? really easy way to add savoury for the cheap

Yanks were right all along: communism is when free stuff...

In my experience, people lose interest very quickly and it also get very expensive, very quickly. I did this last ramadan, and within 4-5 events, the number of people declined from 35 to 6 and every event costed like $150 with lots of leftovers.

Also im kinda hoping you are not the leyla i know irl, she also lives in a ghetto part of the city lol

oh shout to the budget bytes

for the economically focused meals

Potlucks are also just plain fun. It's fun to share your food you prepare and show off a bit or share some culture. Plus if you have allergies or other dietary requirements you will have at least one thing you can eat.

can confirm, I'm autistic and I'm there either for the food or for the dogs and preferably both