The Myth of the General Strike

Georges Sorel in the first few decades of the 20th century wrote about “The Myth of the General Strike.”  He felt that it wouldn’t work and wouldn’t happen, but that it should be held out there to keep the workers engaged and hopeful.

Now we get a call from the “No Kings” people for a general strike on May 1, the traditional holiday for lefties across the globe.  The problem with a “general strike” is that there is no way to measure its success.  This is the first major failure of the anti-administration organizations.  It is also a slap at all the working class people who are struggling to make ends meet.  If you are a fire fighter, are you really going to skip work that day?  If you are a kitchen worker at Wendy’s, will your boss understand?  It’s great if you are retired, but how will this involve younger people?

I’m not supposed to drive, but if I have a doctor’s appointment, I am keeping it, and I will hope the doctor will also be there.  

At our previous “No Kings” demonstrations, you could count the participants.  You could get aerial photos from drones of people filling the streets.  What are you going to get now?  “It was a success because no one showed up.”  That just doesn’t work.