Capitalism is, in Mao's language, the main contradiction in the world today and so our efforts have to be focused on ending this system and making a new one.

What needs to be grasped is that the system itself is the cause of all of the misery in the world. This is a simple but powerful idea.

Without an understanding of the issue of race and a willingness to confront it head on, the working class will not build its strength.

We are all, after all, just human beings, and most of us have a lot in common.

National chauvinism is a very tough nut to crack, since a vast propaganda network is in place to keep the workers whipped up into a patriotic frenzy. Maybe this will change, but I doubt it unless it is addressed.

Racism is the most divisive force in our society, so until it is dealt with we cannot hope for much.

Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless consumption isn't much of a life. And work offers us very little satisfaction. Plus our work and consumption is destroying the environment. And this is in the rich countries. Add starvation, etc. to the mix, and you have a lot of people in the world pretty unhappy with things as they are. Modern communications make all of this known to people far and wide, and we see the fundamental unfairness of it all.