America’s Future Depends on a General Strike—Let’s Make It Happen

The General Strike: America’s Most Feared and Necessary Revolution

Throughout modern history, workers have wielded one of the most powerful weapons against oppression and exploitation—the general strike. It is a tool feared by the ruling class, censored in school textbooks, and actively discouraged by the very systems that profit off the everyday person’s labor. And yet, despite its effectiveness, America has never fully embraced this form of resistance. Why? Because a general strike would expose the fundamental truth that billionaires and corporations are utterly dependent on the working class, and not the other way around.

The Stranglehold of Capital

The American economy is structured in such a way that most workers are one paycheck away from financial ruin. Wages have stagnated for decades while corporate profits have soared. Healthcare is tied to employment, ensuring that people stay in jobs they hate out of sheer survival. The government—both parties, let’s be honest—exists primarily to serve corporate interests, not working people.

These realities are not accidental; they are by design. The capitalist class understands that a desperate and overworked populace has little energy left for political action. The mere idea of a general strike is met with fear-mongering about economic collapse, job loss, and retaliation. But let’s be real—who is actually at risk if workers take action? Not the billionaires. It’s working-class people who face financial precarity. That’s why collective action is key; when workers move together, they have power.

A Legacy of Labor Power

History provides ample evidence that strikes—especially general strikes—are one of the most effective means of enacting real change.

• The Seattle General Strike of 1919 saw 65,000 workers shut down the city for five days, forcing business and government leaders into negotiations.
• The 1934 San Francisco General Strike was sparked by police violence against striking dock workers. The result? Strengthened union rights and better conditions.
• The 1946 Oakland General Strike—the last significant city-wide strike in the U.S.—saw workers paralyze the city for two days in solidarity with retail employees. The result? Union recognition and a boost in labor organizing.

These moments in history remind us of a basic truth: The system only works because we allow it to. The minute workers withdraw their labor, the machine grinds to a halt.

Why America Needs a General Strike Now

We live in an era where billionaires launch themselves into space while millions struggle to pay rent. The ruling class—propped up by politicians on both sides—exploits racial and cultural divisions to keep the working class fragmented. But deep down, most people know that the system is rigged.

Consider this:

• Wages vs. Inflation: The minimum wage has not kept pace with inflation, meaning workers are making less in real dollars than they did 40 years ago.
• Healthcare Injustice: Nearly 30 million Americans remain uninsured, and even those with insurance face medical bankruptcy.
• Union Busting: Corporations like Amazon, Starbucks, and Tesla pour millions into anti-union campaigns, using every dirty trick in the book to suppress worker power.
• Wealth Hoarding: Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos pay shockingly low effective tax rates while schools, roads, and hospitals crumble.

The ruling class is fully aware of the power of labor. That’s why they push the false narrative that America is too big, too diverse, and too individualistic for a general strike to work. The truth? Those same divisions exist in every country where general strikes have succeeded.

The Logistics of a General Strike

Critics often ask, “How would a general strike even work?” Here’s how:

1. Mass Organization: Labor unions, community groups, and activists would need to coordinate across industries, much like they did in the Fight for $15 movement or the Black Lives Matter protests.
2. Escalation Tactics: A general strike doesn’t have to be all at once; it can start with industry-specific strikes that gradually expand.
3. Mutual Aid Networks: To counter financial hardship, communities would need to pool resources, ensuring that striking workers can still pay rent and put food on the table.
4. Political Pressure: A strike without demands is a protest. A general strike must have clear objectives—universal healthcare, higher wages, stronger unions, wealth redistribution, and an end to corporate welfare.

The Opposition’s Playbook

Make no mistake—the response to a general strike would be swift and brutal. The ruling class will use everything at its disposal: propaganda, police violence, legal threats, and economic coercion. Media outlets will frame strikers as “selfish” or “violent radicals.” Corporations will threaten mass layoffs. Government officials will attempt to criminalize the movement.

We’ve seen it before. Striking miners in West Virginia were murdered for demanding better conditions. The Reagan administration crushed the PATCO strike, ushering in an era of neoliberal anti-labor policies that still haunt us today. Every single time workers rise up, the state cracks down. But here’s the thing—history also shows that every single gain we’ve won has come from people refusing to back down.

Fighting for a Better Future

A successful general strike in America wouldn’t just be an act of resistance; it would be a declaration of power. It would remind the ruling class that their wealth and status are entirely dependent on the very people they exploit. It would force a reckoning with the failures of capitalism and open the door to policies that actually serve the majority, not just the wealthy elite.

If we want universal healthcare, a living wage, and a system that prioritizes people over profit, we have to be willing to fight for it. And yes, that fight will be hard. As I. F. Stone put it: “The only kinds of fights worth fighting are those you are going to lose, because somebody has to fight them and lose and lose and lose until someday, somebody who believes as you do wins.”

That’s the truth of political struggle. The first general strike might not win everything. But it will lay the groundwork for future victories. And eventually, we will win.

Get Involved

A general strike won’t happen without mass action. Join a local union, support labor organizers, contribute to strike funds, and educate others about the power of collective action. The billionaires are counting on you to feel powerless. Prove them wrong.