- Capitalism and Alternatives -

Sure...

Posted by: bill on April 30, 1999 at 17:36:54:

In Reply to: im gonna jump in here posted by Crimson Tide on April 30, 1999 at 10:07:54:

: : It is not much testimony to our culture, the culture of capitalism, that employment of a persons time would be considered "natural" in doing nothing "productive". It was Marx's insights into alienation that showed why this might be the case under this system. Breaking free from the coercive structure of wage-exploitation would help release the potential for natural creativity presumed to lie within every member of the species. Until then - work, for most, will be considered a drag.

: Thats meaningless, I used to try and believe that myself. Breaking 'free' of working for wage never freed the members of socialist state countries - salt mines still waited to be dug, farms to farmed, factories to produce. All it did was remove the choice people did have,m and replace it with what others thought was good.

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As usual I'm not talking about State Socialism where the "boss" has simply been replaced by another "boss". I admit that a lot of work may be considered a drudge. But from what I've read of the collectivized farms and factories in Spain, 1936, the reported views of the workers was entirely positive. Nor were the farm communes exclusively collectives, individuals were free to develop their own private plots, which a small minority did.

The principle of freedom to engage in an activity of your choice is a primary concern. It may be THE primary concern. I just feel that there is a better way to create conditions for this than capitalism offers.



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