POLITICAL THEORY - Karl Marx

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by 4-2-7

I think we're on the verge of a civil war when we have mainstream thinking like this.

Well it's been 150 years since the last one so maybe we're due.

Your side lost the last one and you'll lose the next one too.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by 4-2-7

Would you people read history!! and when you do, don't expect doing the same thing will get different results.

O brother

I think we're on the verge of a civil war when we have mainstream thinking like this.

Violence, the right wing answer to everything. Don't like what other people are thinking? Well, how about we have a civil war and kill them?

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by VanishingPoi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSQgCy_iIcc

Good video, thanks.

I've never read a word of Marx and at this point in my life my 68 year old eyes aren't up to any prolonged periods of dry reading so this was perfect.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by 4-2-7

Politics in this country today is to divide the masses, keep them fighting each other so they don't see the real plan the head has.

It has certainly worked on you.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by donquixote99

Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8GDEaJtbq4

Invest just 1:36 sec listening to the pleasant narrator voice of Stephen Fry. You'll then be less ignorant about 'The Veil of Ignorance."

Radio 4 is nothing but commie propaganda.

[BlueStreak]

"Politics in this country today is to divide the masses, keep them fighting each other so they don't see the real plan the head has."

Originally Posted by Boreas

It has certainly worked on you.

Haven't you heard? It's only Lefty, Libtard, Baby Killing, Communist Muslim, Fag Loving Haters of all things American who engage in divisive speech!

The right is full of sunshine, rainbows and brotherly love, Praise Jesus!

[Dondilion]

Dr. Zhivago: a fav movie. The communists were very upset with the Dr.

A revolution was on going and he was self absorbed with his petty bourgeois
poems.

Such an individual is suspect.

[Boreas]

Dr. Zhivago is a novel written by a very disaffected Russian author.

[VanishingPoi]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Yep.

I always think of personal experiences and things I've witnessed.

Like the failures of various "incentive" plans I've watched unfold over the years as micro-models the capitalist ideal. I work in manufacturing.

I've watched men rewarded for higher rates of sheer output with paid time off. Then watched them work themselves hard, producing astonishing amounts of work with only the top performer actually getting his day off.......until they became injured or too exhausted to keep it up..........

Then get fired for their subsequent decline in performance.

What did they get for their efforts? Most got nothing at all. A small handful got a day or two off over the course of six months. Many of them simply ended up sore, tired and looking for another job.

I've seen the financial reward type of "merit based" system as well. It falls apart because, unfortunately, corruption creeps in there as well. It seems that buddy systems crop up wherein supervisors give favorable reviews of people they like, but for reasons that have little or nothing to do with the job. And this occurs very quickly as it would turn out. People who apparently do very little or nothing all start getting all the raises based on bogus claims of work ethic as the rest, who are taking up the slack, get no rise in income for years.

It destroys morale and productivity DECLINES.

At that point, upper management gets involved intent on correcting the situation. But of course, they have no idea who really does what, so this worsens the situation.

We see similar things occur in the Macro; Crony Capitalism, Corporate Oligarchy, etc., etc.......

I completely understand what you are saying as do many others Thank you. One said to read history but I think he is the one who should read and most of all understand history.

[VanishingPoi]

Originally Posted by Boreas

In a moment of reflection, I believe Marx said as much.

Yes, that is exactly right. All Marx did was critique Capitalism. He never advocated for anything.

Richard Wolff is putting forward some good ideas on the how to end of it.