Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Communist Manifesto (extra credit)

In the "Communist Manifesto," Marx and Engels suggest some "wonderful improvements" for society. Cite a line from the Manifesto highlighting one of these improvements, i.e, something Marx and Engels want to see changed. Would the change they suggest be a good one? Why, or why not? Do you get a feeling of deja vu when you read through the Manifesto? Any issues raised similar to those in contemporary American politics?

You do not need to read the whole of the Manifesto. Part II (Proletarians and Communists, pp. 135-142 in the Dover anthology) will be sufficient.

2 comments:

  1. “Communism deprives none of the power to appropriate his social product; it only deprives him of the power to subjugate the labour of others by this appropriation.” (pg 138) This does sound alluring, even in today’s American society. Walmart is a great example of how the labor of others is exploited by the few that hold the majority of capital. Although some claim the benefits of working for Walmart make the low wages manageable, it is still poverty wages that get paid to the majority of the employees. Not because the business is not profitable but because the family that owns the business cannot fill their insatiable greed for more despite their already acquired over abundance of capital. Horrible work conditions are created in overseas factories where it is easier to exploit and abuse the working population. The claim is low wages and very cheap labor keeps prices down. The reality is that greed fuels this destructive and harmful form of slavery. Walmart is only one example. America is full of corporations that are fueled by greed in those that hold positions of power. Their wealth grows from the sweat and labor of those scratching to survive and those with the wealth are sure to keep those that labor in their place in order for that wealth to continue to grow for the few who claim it. And the sad part is that our government promotes and encourages this by catering to and funding these corporations. As the “have’s” continue to have and the “have not’s” continue to not have, a gap grows ever wider between the two classes. Part 1 of the Communist Manifesto sort of hit the nail on the head, so to speak, “The bourgeoisie has stripped of its halo every profession previously venerated and regarded as honourable. It has turned doctor, lawyer, priest, poet, and philosopher into its paid wage-workers.” (pg 127) This seems to certainly be true in this society. Doctors and lawyers are only for those that can afford them now, far too many priests hide behind religion to fulfill their own personal agenda and our media is owned by those select few who own the majority of capital. Any writings or ideas that are too contrary are squashed and dismissed. It is discouraging to see mankind as a whole repeat the travesties and mistakes over and over throughout history. The course America is on is not new or revolutionary. We are merely going in circles, making the same mistakes mankind has made since the beginning. This should be all the proof we need to discredit evolution. After all these centuries, human nature has not changed. There has been no evolutionary change so that mankind is less destructive, less evil or less self-centered. The heart of mankind is as dark today as it was in the beginning of time.

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  2. comment posted by Samantha Sabers

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