Starting a REAL Leftist Party or Union

I question why no one ever seems to actually do anything to support the cause they talk about on the internet all day long, especially when they tend to hold such stubborn and militant views (I needn't name one group of people who fall into this category). Would it actually be that hard to start up some kind of movement, even if it is simply something small like a hundred people within an hour or two of a reasonable meeting point? I feel like reading and talking about socialism on the internet while waiting for something to happen actually puts me below all of those who don't even understand the first thing about politics or what's going on in the world today. I understand that there are many leftist meetings that happen on a regular basis around the world, but they seem to talk about distant topics which may well be of significance to our lives, but cannot be supported, stopped or changed with a happy little group discussion. People often comment on how useless contemporary trade unions and similar organisations are, and really, I fail to see what significant steps they are taking towards doing anything for the workers of the world beyond a few strikes here and there. It seems as though many who support a vanguard party to drive a revolution and build socialism simply turn to this idea out of laziness or lack of hope in the wider proletariat itself, which would make sense considering what little activity there is amongst workers.

What do trade unions and socialist parties do for workers? Keep poorly paid workers under the false impression that they have some sort of proletarian megaphone and chain people to the hope of having a leftist party voted in? Am I extremely blind or ignorant for thinking that the majority of "socialist" organisations aren't doing enough? Do we just wait for capitalism to crumble on its own while people roll around in their own faecal matter and the powerful gain more control?

I understand what you mean, but starting up an organization isn't that easy. There are a few within an hour's drive from me but they aren't really from a tendency that I agree with. I suppose that I could contact them again to see if I can lurk around at some of their meetings and sometimes join in without interrupting.

As for leftists not doing enough there is something to be said for that, but there are some things being done. Take Food Not Bombs, that organization is run by anarchists and anarchists provided security at some of the Occupy events. To be honest, I've heard of more things that anarchists are doing than Marxists, but that's just going by hearsay.

We should get more involved but I don't think it's as easy to do while openly anti-capitalist as it is to join one of those liberal organizations, but to join them would be against the point I think. Honestly it would be much easier if there were more leftists that I knew around me.

I would say the same thing about anarchists. Most active "Marxists" are hiding away behind the curtains of a political party which will never gain any support. I think the first task would be to organise a small but reasonable number of people to meet up and discuss ways of getting the word out in ways that these pointless socialist aren't.

I wonder if starting not one Facebook page, but a collection of pages under the same name for different areas would be a good idea to at least put the idea into people's minds. I think most people are put off by these extremely centralised groups that they won't have much say in; I'm a bit of a social closet monster so I'd much rather join something aimed at people on a local scale.

I don't see much difference in making facebook groups to having discussions in designated forums. If people are interested they will seek out the forums. That said, there are already facebook groups, but I haven't been on the site in months. If you want to participate in those discussions then that's great, but don't think it's actual organizing. It is much the same as what those "pointless" leftists are doing, which I don't think is that pointless. See what organizations are active in your area and ask if you could sit in at one of the chapter meetings nearest you. If you like it then great, if not try another. Or you could make one yourself, which would take more effort.

I know what you mean about them being much the same, but like I said, discussing ways to get heard that political parties aren't is a big thing. Most people join a party and receive a newsletter and that's the end of it. I'll have a look for some organisations and see what if they're doing is worth the time or not.