I feel like I’m missing out on the mint hype train tbh. I’ve never tried it before but there’s an ignorant part of me that’s like “how much better could it possibly be than Ubuntu with Cinnamon?”. I know it must be because so many people default to it and rave about it, even after using Ubuntu.

My default ol reliable used to be Solus Linux. God I loved that distro. I had an install that lasted 4 years straight, no issues whatsoever.

But in recent years I’ve taken a major liking to Bazzite. Oh my god it’s incredible: immutable OSs are fucking amazing. I shouldn’t be trusted with accessing system files, it never ends well. So this really helps.

So I guess… with relation to the big government thing, I think another comment has got me on side with what you’ve said here. But I still… Idk I struggle to see it as more effective because I suppose I don’t know of any examples. Like the way I’m seeing it right now is: my country has had 20 years of crippling austerity, of which I’ve fallen victim to. Don’t get me wrong, mutual aid is amazing, but I don’t feel like there’s enough of it in our communities to be as effective right now . But then, I guess that’s more of an “there’s not enough people doing it yet” kind of thing than anything else.

I think that’s why I’ve become a hell if a lot more keen to build local community, particularly with people who engage in mutual aid. So that we can all be in community together and provide for each other.

Yes, communalism! I’ve read about that, it’s really resonated with me. I definitely want to learn more. Will have to pick up some more books.

Thanks for your response, it’s very thoughtful provoking. Particularly the point about big governments and small vulnerable groups slipping through the cracks. Because I very much agree with that perspective.

I have a lot of learning to do, but I’m excited. Thanks again! ☺️

I think this is the crux for me. Like don’t get me wrong: I’d love it if we were all enlightened anarchists, but we’re not right now. Meanwhile, fascism is on the rise in my country and the state is harming my people. I recognise I can’t fully rely on the state to help, but it feels like providing resources to both anarchist movements and an anti fascist environmental party could certainly be a lot worse. Though ultimately my goal would be to have enough people on the ground reliant on each other tha the government to build power.

you’re totally right, I think it’s more about the contradiction than the label itself.

as far as integrating my anarchist values go:

• Do I campaign go for the English Green Party? Yeah. Do I expect that to change everything and liberate us all? Not really. I recognise that it would help more of us if we had a party that advocates for UBI, better trans rights and rights for disabled folk. I recognise it’s make our aims as anarchists easier if we’re not operating on survival mode as much.
• i also feel like, in electoral politics, the Greens are the only ones right now advocating against fascism in our political system. Again, I don’t think they’re going to be our hero when it comes to stopping fascism, that work needs to be done by the people on the grass roots. So the anarchist part of me recognises that it’s vital to build community power, to destroy the systems of power that fascists build on a local level and educate people to do the same.
• In the same vein as “not waiting for electoral power to save us”, I’m working on providing resources for my community. There’s no use in campaigning for electoral power if you’re just sitting there watching the current govt kick the shit out of your community. For me that means using my skills: developing websites to distribute information for my community (vague but don’t wanna dox myself), educating the people around me to get them on board, to work with food banks, hosting community events for trans people (I’m trans).
• I also engage in mutual aid. I have virtually no money to give at the moment, but when I do? I always donate whatever I can. Not that it’s about money anyway. I always offer to help with doctors appointments, form filling and providing resources or information about transition to any of my friends or their friends. I still have a lot to learn about mutual aid but I’m working on it.

I guess that’s how I reconcile the contradictions. Can’t say it feels like enough, hence the post I suppose. I think for me, not engaging in an electoral movement that’s spreading anti fascist talking points and moving people over from the right is an opportunity that feels reckless to miss. Because as much as I’d love it if enough people on the ground got into anarchism and learned, that’s not the reality I’m living in, and while I build that reality I feel like this is a good compromise? Idk, I feel like I could be operating from a lot of logical fallacies.

What do these evening jobs normally entail? They sound awesome lol.