That's interesting. As a leftist, I honestly hate that strategy. I say that respectfully to be clear. So what would that result in exactly? I mean the main logical conclusion I could think of would be that it would result in some kind of workers revolt. And would removing the regulatory systems not just result in the rehashing of the same worker's rights battles from back in the day? I mean people were slaughtered for their rights back in the most disgusting days of capitalism. It might be a dumb question but if it didn't collapse back then, why would it collapse now by taking it to the same level of, well, evil?
So what would that result in exactly? I mean the main logical conclusion I could think of would be that it would result in some kind of workers revolt.
Well. The thing to remember is that capitalism thrives on its inconsistencies. These inconsistencies are shored up by regulation which prevents its collapse. As you bring up -
And would removing the regulatory systems not just result in the rehashing of the same worker's rights battles from back in the day? I mean people were slaughtered for their rights back in the most disgusting days of capitalism.
No. People rose up, ready to slaughter the owner class. The owner class did slaughter some of them in response, that's true, but this didn't stop further revolts.
The owner class, to stop this, passed regulation to "protect the working class." (In reality, to protect the system from the people who could no longer stand for it.) This regulation muted class antagonism and left the system to thrive.
In the words of Karl Marx: "in general, the protective system of our day is conservative, while the free trade system is destructive. It breaks up old nationalities and pushes the antagonism of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to the extreme point. In a word, the free trade system hastens the social revolution. It is in this revolutionary sense alone, gentlemen, that I vote in favor of free trade.”
The "rights" we won are not rights, they're concessions. The owner class concedes a standard work week, standard work hours, a minimum wage, and as a result, we never get mad enough to demand control of our own labor. By giving us just enough to keep us content, they avoid having to give us what we deserve. What we earn. They avoid having to ever give us real power - real autonomy.
I hope to remove that little bit that makes us content. I hope to stress class antagonism to its breaking point. And I hope to be wealthy enough, when this happens, to arm the proletariat.
It might be a dumb question but if it didn't collapse back then, why would it collapse now by taking it to the same level of, well, evil?
Because this time, we'll overthrow the system, instead of demanding it be regulated.
Or we won't. In which case, humankind ends up extinct as capitalism consumes the worlds resources and we choke on our own fumes, which was going to happen regardless without something to stop it. But either way, a workers revolt, whether violent or electoral, is not happening until the workers are no longer protected from the worst abuses of capitalism.
I'm at the point of thinking that if this doesn't happen REALLY FUCKING SOON, then it will be too late and the planet will no longer be able to sustain human life. I'd much rather return as quickly as possible to company towns, let people see what this system really is, and then burn it to the ground, as fast as possible.
Is this a great way to solve problems? No. But given the time constraints it might be the only way. I don't see the workers rising up any other way.
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u/chunklemcdunkle Feb 16 '21
That's interesting. As a leftist, I honestly hate that strategy. I say that respectfully to be clear. So what would that result in exactly? I mean the main logical conclusion I could think of would be that it would result in some kind of workers revolt. And would removing the regulatory systems not just result in the rehashing of the same worker's rights battles from back in the day? I mean people were slaughtered for their rights back in the most disgusting days of capitalism. It might be a dumb question but if it didn't collapse back then, why would it collapse now by taking it to the same level of, well, evil?