Who was Karl Marx?

[News Feed]

There are few philosophers whose very name provokes more violent responses than Karl Marx.

Continue reading...

 

[redrumloa]

Gee, I wonder why this opinion piece is coming up right now? Just a coincidence, I am sure

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

Gee, I wonder why this opinion piece is coming up right now? Just a coincidence, I am sure

Because the right wingers have been bringing up his name to scare people. Trouble with most boogie-men is that they are caricatures. Sometimes a little depth is in order to see the boogie-man ploy for what it is.

 

[Robert]

That's actually not a bad article.

the charge "Marxist" has been hurled like toxic sludge against politicians seen as ready to redistribute wealth (to the advantage of most Americans), expand social safety nets, or ensure that all children receive a good education.

This is true, at least here in the UK. "Marxist" is used as an insult.

The system's inherent hunger for new markets, new consumers, new and cheaper methods of production in order to increase the flow of capital would result in a destructive system of boom and bust. After each cataclysm, he predicted, the number of capitalists at the top of the pyramid would be smaller, while the base of disaffected workers grew. Gradually even the middle class would be included.

He got that right.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

He got that right.

In fact, by the fact that the elite discourage people from giving Marx any consideration and discourage people from looking at his ideas they are able to use his works not as a critique of what is wrong with unfettered capitalism but as an instructional manual on how to consolidate power.

 

[metalman]

We Put the "U" in Gulag!