Yes, I built a company from nothing over the past decade and it’s all I can do now to make myself go into the shop and do what I used to love to do.
The only thing that has helped is dedicated, disciplined study of political theory and history combined with direct action informed by that knowledge with a group of similarly-minded revolutionaries. Let this radicalize you, not lead you to despair.
A political ideology with cult-like tendencies.
In the US in 2025 it bears a strong resemblance to a hobby at times. No shade intended either. I’m a card-carrying member myself.
Communism. There’s iconography, a separate way of using language, chanting, gatherings, books, meetings, clothing, hero mythology, doomsday plans of a revolution not unlike a rapture, and in some sects there are charismatic leaders and polyamory.
Oh interesting. Tell us about your time in Iran.
There’s a novella by Ursula K Leguin called The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas wherein there is a utopian society that is able to exist because of the misery of one child who endures all of the hardship and sadness of the society. NK is that child for the world. They are kept like a specimen in a cabinet of curiosities warning everyone against communism, making the “free” in the West thankful for what modicum of freedom they’ve managed to preserve.