Reaction to my contention that Animal Rights will only be won through socialist revolution has been mixed, but much more positive than I had expected.
This is indicative of either a growing sophistication of Animal Rights activists or that the ranks of activists are swelling with those possessed of political acumen. Making my assertions even a few years ago would have elicited far different comments.
Negative criticism was dwarfed by positive responses, although that is hardly a scientific measure. Of the negative remarks a common theme emerged: current and recent socialist societies were as brutal to animals as any capitalist ones, the logical conclusion then drawn being that the problem is people, or technology, or civilization, or something other than an economic system.
This is also the general rationale proffered by those Animal Rights activists who choose to remain apolitical. The usual canned response is that there is no difference between liberals and conservatives on animal issues.
I believe socialism to be the only economic system that has a chance of embracing Animal Rights. And that is because socialism offers no incentives to exploit, enslave, or murder animals.
When we compare per capita slaughter and animal consumption rates of socialist and capitalist societies, we find socialist societies murder half the number of animals than do capitalist ones. This is a mechanical function of socialism rather than any philosophical aversion to killing animals. With profit removed from animal agriculture, central economic planning, bureaucracy, etc, socialism spares animals.
Were the entire world socialist, 30 BILLION fewer animals would be murdered each year than now occurs. And that would be the case if no one cared about animal protection at all.
Unlike capitalism, socialism embraces a moral worldview. A moral compass suggests that the potential to extend compassion to animals is much more likely under socialism than it would be under a system which is amoral to its core.
Those on the political left have championed every advance in education, in democracy and freedom, in human rights. They have fought for the poor, the disenfranchised, and the exploited. In opposition to them on all these concerns have been conservatives, who always defend the status quo.
The liberals of 200 years ago fought against slavery but they were not ready to embrace racial equality. One planning on ending segregation would have found little support for the idea amongst 19th Century liberals. But it is quite obvious that liberals would have been the target audience for integration long before they embraced the cause, as it was a position naturally growing out of their social worldview.
Similarly, while it is true that today’s socialists and liberals have abysmal records on animal issues, we should not extrapolate those positions into the future. They are much more likely to embrace Animal Rights in the future than are conservatives.
Evolving standards of decency, senses of compassion, and perceptions of justice all drive society to embrace an expanding circle of concerns about oppression, inequities, intolerance and exploitation.
Over time, in fits and starts, the entire body politic moves ever to the left. Today’s conservatives are more liberal than were the liberals who ended slavery.
Tomorrow’s conservatives will be left of today’s liberals.
Armory Notes:
• I am unaware of any other blog with the Armory’s mission of radicalizing the animal movement. I certainly hope I am not alone, and that there are similar sentiments being expressed by comrades unknown to me.
If you know of other blogs dedicated to animal rights and the defeat of capitalism, please comment with a link.
• Be sure to follow the Armory and share it with your Facebook friends and email contacts, as well as on Twitter, Google, and all other social media platforms. Our influence and effectiveness is dependent upon you!
• Natasha Sainsbury, of Good Karma Graphic Design, has joined Armory of the Revolution as Editor, and is responsible for the transformation of the blog’s appearance. Visit and follow her blog V Kind.
• If you are not already subscribed to the Armory, please do so before you leave.
There’s a button to Follow us in the upper right sidebar.
• Be sure to visit Armory of the Revolution’s new commissary and bookstore: The Supply Depot
You will find recommended reading on Animal Rights, revolutionary theory, politics, economics, religion, science, and atheism. There is also a section of supplies for animal liberationists, hunt saboteurs, and social revolutionaries. This is all brand new, and we will be adding lots more merchandise in the near future!
• Feel free to comment. I encourage open discussion and welcome other opinions. I moderate comments because this blog has been attacked by hunters and right wing trolls. I approve comments that are critical as well as those which agree with me. Comments that I will not tolerate are those that are spam, threatening, disrespectful, or which promote animal abuse and cruelty
If you support the Amory’s work and mission, please help us grow.
Just $3 per month will allow is to advertise!
Armory of the Revolution 
However it must be remembered that most current and former socialist countries never did consume large portions of meat… meat is and always was a very small component of the meal being part of a cassarole, dumpling, stir fry etc. We in western society show cased wealth by the volume and quality of meat consumed (and other unhealthy foods such as refined white flour). And unfortunately this became one of the norms in our sick society. Until social media and the vegan and dietary revolution, one was thought of as poor if ones diet primarily consisted of non meat proteins..
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Species and Class.
LikeLike