what did marx know and when did he know it?

[xchrom]

http://www.nationofchange.org/what-did-marx-know-and-when-did-he-know-it-capitalisms-dirty-little-secret-1384788175




When we think of Karl Marx, we think of socialism, communism, revolution, and all things anathema to capitalism. Marxism is discredited and Marx can't solve the problems of the postmodern world, but perhaps reacquainting ourselves with his ideas can help us understand how we got into this dire predicament – and how to dig ourselves out.

Marx famously wrote, "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles." We seldom if ever connect Marx with the problems of overpopulation or pollution or a presentiment of something even more insidious than class struggles – namely, global warming.

History has conspired to marginalize Marx precisely when we need him most. Why?

First, his ideas were appropriated by Lenin and Stalin to justify the totalitarian system they created. Second, "Communism" reified as the Soviet Union and its Stalinist clones failed spectacularly, while market-based economies – "capitalism" – prospered and eventually won the Cold War.

[Orrex]

1. He knew that he shot an elephant in his pajamas.

[tiredtoo]

2. Marx also said

Capitalism will collapse upon itself due to the inherent greed of capitalists. This is happening right now in the world we live in.

[newfie11]

3. +1

[HereSince1628]

5. I see democracy collapsing due to the fruiting of capitalism's end game.

In that end, capitalism, because it concentrates power as it concentrates wealth, produces global plutocratic rule.

The control of the 10 conglomerate corporations with their ever increasing control our lives will fall into the control of the hands of a few men and women. Such economic monopoly will likely yield monarchies/dictatorships.

And the voices from the pulpits will call it fated by God.

[PowerToThePeople]

4. "Marxism is discredited and Marx can't solve the problems of the postmodern world" Hogwash.

This is only true if you are a Capitalist.

[seveneyes]

6. Put it to a vote

Someone like Bloomberg or Soros have plenty of cash to make a very serious run for President somewhere in the world. Why don't they run on that ticket and prove that it is a viable and working model for the rest of the world to follow?

[Myrina]

7. Aww, I expected a thread about Groucho!

n/t