For this part, we will be forgoing any and all information we have been spoon-fed as children and adults in the education system. First, let’s look at who they were. Frederich Engels came from a wealthy family in Germany with manufacturing plants in Germany and England. While he was in college Frederich meet many radicals who believed there would be a revolution in England. The revolution which happened in Russia is the one they believed would in England. They never believed Russia a backward wild country would ever be the home of a revolution. Karl Marx came from a middle-class family. They were Jewish by birth but converted to Protestantism. He was a Law Grad turned Economist. He was chased from country to country because of his beliefs. And his willingness to share them. He also believed there would be a revolution in England, not Russia. When the opportunity came to Engles to go to England to run his family’s factory. He jumped at it.
Right off the bat, they made the connection between feudalism and capitalism. On the surface, it would seem that feudalism had been replaced by capitalism. But when you dig deeper you realize that Capitalism was Feudalism repackaged. The new boss is the same as the old boss basically. They highlighted the class struggle as they were seeing it unfold in front of them. All this was happening in London where they lived. We are witnessing the same thing today. Extreme poverty on one side with people working 40 plus hours a week and getting nowhere. They can barely keep a roof over their heads while some are lucky enough to have full-time employment, the majority work two part-time jobs per adult with a teen working part-time after school. The basic necessities are barely affordable. On the other side of the table, we have people who think a struggle is choosing which Rolls Royce to use today, Red or Blue.
After the Great Depression was in full swing, there was poverty everywhere and a threat of a revolution that had happened not even twenty years earlier. There were Unions formed in every trade from carpenters to electricians. Over the years the bourgeois has destroyed them. After reading through the section I, the conflict between Bourgeois and Proletariat becomes clear to them. This conflict will continue as long as there is one who can exploit the other. Once the proletariat rid themselves of the bourgeois, they can be free. We see this playing out in the Middle East. Our bourgeois government is running around the Middle East murdering for oil and other resources.
They were disgusted by the way men in the bourgeois treated their wives and children. In modern-day, we have the perfect example of this treatment that disgusted them with Trump. He’s married three times and cheated on all three wives. Humiliated them in public through the divorce proceedings except for the third wife. She is hanging till he drops dead. She might as well. He has used his kids for photo ops to make him look like the perfect dad.
These fellows hit the nail on the head. Political power is for oppressing another. We are seeing this every time we turn the television on. Or as my late father called it “the boob tube.” Also, each election brings a new round of insanity. Let’s look at our last election. We had the illusion of two parties that don’t like each other and have nothing good to say about the other. Our choices where two people with one less despised than the other. Of course, that candidate won. Common people from both sides swear by their candidate and the other is completely immoral. Confession: I use to be one of these people. How did I get free of it? I found myself in a situation where I could no longer afford cable or satellite service. That was a turning point for me. We only have “two political parties” yet you get sensory overload at the coffee aisle. This was part of the problem according to Karl and Frederich. The control of the government has on our choices.
How are we going to come out of this? They made it clear, the proletariat must come together. If needed, use force. I have asked myself if we have the stomach for it. I am not so sure. They made it clear as Leon Trotsky did that we the proletariat Must pull together in order for a revolution to be successful. Otherwise, things will remain the same. One group will continue to exploit the other group.
The next section talks about different kinds of Socialism.
- Reactionary Socialism - this form of socialism takes resources from the petty-bourgeois up to the bourgeois.
- Conservative Socialism - This is for the lazier parts of society. They want everything now without the hard work to earn what it is they desire. Of course, this is one of the two most common forms of socialism we see.
- Critical-Utopian Socialism also known as communism. This is where goods and resources are distributed based on need not want. Say if Trump has 9 lear jets and he wants another. He would have to make do with the 9 he has because he doesn’t need 10. So those resources would be redistributed among those who are in need of say food, clothing, or shelter.
Bottom line:
Every system has flaws. As long as one class of people is allowed to exploit others in a lower class there will be a conflict between. Why? Because even a caged bird will open it’s a cage the dream of freedom being too much to resist. Not even the bird likes being exploited for human entertainment.
Reference:
The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Frederich Engels
https://youtu.be/OLUuPZryal4Here is the link to the PBS series on the Great Depression, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtuMUWWx0mLfRspZhJrs900oto6ofK0VX
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