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Work-democracy adds a decisive piece of knowledge to the scope of ideas related to freedom. The masses of people who work and bear the burden of social existence on their shoulders neither are conscious of their social responsibility nor are they capable of assuming the responsibility for their own freedom. This is the result of the century-long suppression of rational thinking, the natural functions of love, and scientific comprehension of the living. Everything related to the emotional plague in social life can be traced back to this incapacity and lack of consciousness. It is work-democracy's contention that, by its very nature, politics is and has to be unscientific, i.e., that it is an expression of human helplessness, poverty, and suppression.

Wilhelm Reich#27

PsychologyPoliticsFreedomDemocracyEducationRationality

About this quote

What does it mean?
Work democracy adds knowledge about freedom; masses lack consciousness of responsibility due to suppressed rational thinking, love, and scientific understanding, making politics unscientific and rooted in helplessness.
In plain terms
Work democracy highlights that people lack responsibility because rational thought and love have been suppressed, rendering politics irrational.
What can you take from it?
Revive rational thinking and love to enable responsible freedom.

Where it applies

  • education reform
  • civic engagement

Putting it to work

  • teach critical thinking
  • reintegrate love in public discourse

Questions to consider

  • How does love influence political behavior?
  • What concrete steps restore rational civic participation?

Another view

The link between love suppression and political irrationality is broad.

More from Wilhelm Reich

  1. What is new in work democracy is: that for the first time in the history of sociology, a possible future regulation of human society is derived not from ideolo…

    Permalink to quote #26
  2. Only a work democracy can create the foundation of genuine freedom. Long experience in sociological disputes leads me to expect that a great many people will t…

    Permalink to quote #28
  3. Natural work democracy is politically neither 'left' nor 'right.' It embraces anyone who does vital work; for this reason, its orientation is only and alone fo…

    Permalink to quote #25

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