Disclaimer: bipolar rant.
tl;dr: I’m frustrated that no one is working on clever schemes like this where I could help. All the weaponized math is for capitalist crypto-bros, drug dealers and think tanks, what an unfair world…
Honestly, seeing the real economic and social implications of fields like game theory, cryptography etc. makes one wonder if it could be possible to put these to revolutionary use. I know about the Revolutionary Technical Committee and might get in contact with them, but I’m not sure if they’ll know of some concrete project that would help, something like a bunch of decentralized software, smart contracts, mathematical proofs… I can write all of these, but what for?
For example, this comment of mine proposes an economic scheme that would require all of the above to coordinate, secure and trust, to optimize functioning and minimize necessary involvement. But I’m sure there are other (better?) ways to use math and tech directly for revolution. Any revolutionary ideas where the questions arise of “why should I trust…?”, “how can we ensure…?”, “how to optimize…?” can theoretically benefit from them.
Even my local revolutionary organization mentioned a problem that could be solved using a certain crypto scheme, namely securely and anonymously swapping vehicles between owners, to be presented to the general population but actually meant to avoid identification while reducing transportation costs.
Maybe we could make something like a FOSS stuxnet, only targeting burger infrastructure instead of Iranian infrastructure.
I’m not good at writing malware sadly… Should try maybe? I mean, theoretically we could even make a device that undetectably keylogs three-letter agencies from outside their headquarters using SQUIDs.
I know nothing about writing malware either, but it seems like a good idea keep it on the table.
Should try maybe?
Just don’t admit to it on Lemmygrad (or anywhere else)… Remember, this is a public website, and we have some notoriety as a communist space, so for sure the three-letter agencies are reading and surveilling this site. And AFAIK hacking has some serious consequences if you get caught, whether it was three-letter agency infrastructure or just regular infrastructure.
I’m not saying not to do it. Just be careful what you do and be careful what you say.
I think your time and expertise would be better spent on something constructive rather than destructive. And you won’t go to jail for it.
It is totally possible. Think about it, what is the main problem with using the master’s tools to dismantle the master’s house? You end up entrapped in the same incentive structures.
Solution? Build a way to accumulate resources that is diversified enough that you can legitimately support the working class without acting against the interests of the fund, but allocate all of the fund to creating new institutions that can create safety for revolutionary activities.
Mathematics and technology are among the most important instruments of the revolution, notably of the revolutionary war. Historically, the October Revolution depended heavily on engineers among the revolutionaries who succeeded in hijacking telecommunications and holding the Transsiberian railway. Famous Soviet mathematicians like Kolmogorov helped the Soviet Union during its darkest hour by using statistics to organise the aerial defence of Moscow. In general, revolutionary warfare must employ all kinds of mathematical and scientific schemes to ensure its ends are reached with as few casualties as possible.
But the greatest labour for the mathematician only starts after the revolution succeeds. Millions of choices that were previously decided through bourgeois class interest now require scientific reevaluation based on the merit of the subject. Who, if not socialist mathematicians, will lay out the democratic planned economy? Who if not them will rid industrial processes from the stains of their capitalist origin? Who if not them will research space, time, and energy in order to pour over the existential questions that lie at the very foundation of Marxist-Leninist philosophy?
Creating / contributing to alternative means of communication is great
A solidarity and mutual aid communication network would be so amazing for revolutionary projects around the world
Well, one of the problems with e.g. Uber and other gig economy apps is that they’re controlled by exploitative vampires. This is just one example of apps, etc, that harm workers.
Any tech built on cooperative, non-profit lines could help millions. Just be careful to build something in they prevents the design from being abused for petite bourgeois purposes. (Although maybe that would happen, anyway, if the workers had more control over the means of production?)
Edit: so have a think about what’s out there that would be better off being controlled by the workers and create a clone (but not an actual clone, otherwise you’ll be sued out of existence for IP violations).
Build a mutual aid network, then use open source software available to improve the effectiveness. Most cryptocurrency is used for speculation and not a reliable currency to actually use for currency. Although the precident of cryptocurrency could be used to create a digital currency within your mutual aid network where you can track hours of labor where hours can be traded for hours. As the dollar drops, people in your network can trade services for services at rates outside of the ever inflating dollar and work towards building farm networks that your people can eat off of.
Beware the Restrict act and other acts coming about though. They are trying to outlaw end to end encryption through some legislation in burgerland, and make doing the right thing illegal.
These guys are utopian, but some of the ideas mentioned in here might give you some other useful ideas for how to build semi commodified systems that can transition to non commodified systems. https://srslywrong.com/podcast/unlocked-platforms-of-freedom-prefiguring-library-socialism/
That’s a great idea.
Have you heard of skills exchanges? Is that the kind of thing you’re thinking of?
If this were backed by a trusted system of the type that the OP describes, it could be a great way to build community strength and resistance.