Ok, then, here goes my short thread on the "small business" question:

First, it’s important to note how context dependent the attitude of working class people is going to be to “small business”, and how much of this context is defined by the phenomenon of imperialism.

I’ve notice that both sides in this argument are, for the most part ignoring this and swinging one way or the other without taking context into account. Either 100% for or 100% against.

There are cases where a worker - small business alliance can make sense (see quote from Lenin). This is particularly relevant under imperialism, in which case we have to divide between the exploited countries and the exploiter countries.

The exploited countries absolutely have something to gain from such an alliance, since their first objective is to overthrow imperialism, which affects both workers and small business.

The exploiter countries have a more complex dynamic. On the one hand, imperialism goes hand in hand with the formation of monopolies and the concentration of capital, which tends to hurt small businesses.

On the other hand, small businesses in imperialist countries also depend on imperialism. How can the “jet ski dealerships” (everyone’s favorite example) keep themselves afloat without being able to acquire cheap jet skis and abundant capital, both of which require imperialism.

Small businesses in imperial countries are dependent on the same system that obliterates them. This is why they are such a reactionary force. Even segments of the working class in imperialist nations benefit from imperialism (see quote), let alone small businesses.

Lastly, just because an alliance isn’t really likely or advisable in imperialist nations between small business and workers, that doesn’t mean the hostility has to run both ways. Small business may be set dead against workers, but workers do not have to reciprocate 100%.

It’s not a personal vendetta. The establishment of a worker state doesn’t instantly abolish all small business, and if anything it can be beneficial for them in some ways (e.g. much easier to get loans from state run banks that don’t work for profit motive).

Basically, it’s complicated. There is a fundamental class antagonism, but context always has to be taken into account, otherwise you’re engaging in detached theoretical speculation, which is pretty useless.