I tend to think of most people as being alienated by capitalism because of their jobs. Endlessly fed propaganda and given treats to keep them placated and docile.

We’re animals after all. So I don’t think of them as shitty people but I instead look for compassion.

That said, unless I’m working for a small business owner I tend to absolutely feel alienated at work and it’s crushing. I also have health issues that make work difficult so my relationship with it is extra alienating I suppose.

I guess what I’m trying to tell you is look at your boss as maybe the source of that feeling rather than your fellow working-class people.

Edit: I also live in a working class city, with strong socialist roots. So my view is pretty biased I suppose. In the sense that I’m not living in the middle of a conservative place surrounded by people with vastly different views than myself.

Sort of sometimes, but everybody gotta eat and everyone needs to do their part or we will be back to hunting and farming.

Your premise sort of resembles the plot of Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged, but she thought the people who made the world work were all CEOs and captains of industry so she made them all heroes. Because of numerous socialistic policies by the government they all go on strike and withhold their “genius” from the world until it falls apart.

So, like if the mythological Atlas (who supports and holds up the world) shrugged his responsibility and walked away from the world, the world falls.

Obviously, as we all witnessed during the COVID pandemic some of the lowest paid people in society are actually the essential workers. So, Rand had it wrong…but her idea of going on a strike to watch the world fall apart is right, it’s just that she selected the wrong group of people.

Meh. Work isn’t for fulfillment. Work is just there so I can eat, pay bills, and fund my hobbies.

It’s more that society should have asked nicely instead of trying to manipulate me into it with years of brainwashing and coercive economics, so I made it a priority to participate as little as possible and that’s on them. Want a functional system, treat people with respect.