The End Of Capitalism Is Already Starting–If You Know Where To Look

getpocket.com ^ | 10/10/2019 | Eillie Anzilotti

[rktman]

(Original pub date was 9/2017)

“Americans are getting closer and closer to understanding that they live in an economic system that is not working for them, and will not work for their kids.”

These days, Richard Wolff is feeling pretty glad he stuck around teaching this long. Now in his 70s and lecturing at the New School University and having become, over the course of his nearly 50-year-long professorial career, one of America’s most prominent Marxist economists, Wolff is used to being fringe.

In 2011, the same year that Occupy Wall Street injected dissatisfaction with the financial system into the American mainstream, Wolff founded Democracy at Work, a nonprofit that advocates for worker cooperatives–a business structure in which the employees own the company, and share decision-making power over salaries, schedules, and where profits are directed. “If I had to pinpoint right now where the transition away from capitalism is happening in the United States, it’s in worker co-ops,” Wolff says. Though he’s been championing the cause of cooperatives–a radically democratic departure from the top-down capitalist business structure–for years, certain recent events, like the 2008 recession and the presidency of Donald Trump, poster boy for corrupt capitalism, have galvanized a distinctly anti-capitalist movement in the U.S.

[rktman]

Yup. Wasted 50 years when he could have been just one of the foot soldiers in some socialist pit somewhere.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Most of the worker co-ops will get tired of voting on minutiae such as which soap dispenser vendor to use

I disagree. Modern IT technology makes it easy and convenient. All voting will be done through an app.

[beef]

“”Most of the worker co-ops will get tired of voting on minutiae such as which soap dispenser vendor to use, and will finally vote to hire as professional management team.”

I am afraid that professional management will be entrenched bureaucrats and capital markets will not exist. The only way back will be a revolution like the one that happened when the wall came down. That will take several generations to happen.

[Lou L]

Good point...but I think even at the "20th Century Motor Company," that band of employees "took over" an existing company that at one time, did very well.

It was almost like the employees were a union, and "voted" to organize the company like that.

If I remember correctly, that's where John Galt said, "enough of this, I'm out!"

[veracious]

USA is based on private enterprise, not capitalism, a subset of it.
DC is all in on capitalism due to it’s treacherous funding via money from-thin-air.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Stuff like this DOES happen in places like Argentina.

A company decides to close a factory. The workers go to court and win an order handing the factory and production lines over to them. They organize a co-op and go into competition against their former employer.

The revenge factor in that make it attractive to a lot of Leftists.

[cuban leaf]

Yep. That is how I think it went down.

[hanamizu]

“...worker cooperatives–a business structure in which the employees own the company, and share decision-making power over salaries, schedules...”

---

Although not a co-op, I worked for a few years under such a system. It was at a state juvenile prison (we called it a “youth center”). It was decided that it would be progressive to eliminate all middle management and have the staff manage itself democratically. Our unit (cottage) consisted of a dozen “youth specialists” (guards), three teachers, and a “group leader” (counselor for the little criminals).

The guards thought it unfair that teachers (who made more money) got to work regular hours, so they made the schedule so that every couple of weeks we had to work weekends and pull a graveyard shift overnight as well as our regular teaching shifts. The guards, not being certified teachers, couldn’t take teaching duties, so we had teach after the all nighter.

In addition, our group did our official evaluations, so the guards got to evaluate our teaching abilities. Of course any negative reaction to all of this lowered your scores. The staff meetings resembled what you saw out of Red China back in the day, with people going out of their way to praise the group.

Worker’s democracy is wonderful, I tell ya.

[RinaseaofDs]

Socialism, in any of its forms, has never worked. Not once.

It is sheer arrogance when the newest revolutionaries come along to say, “Those guys just did it wrong. . . “

[Harpotoo]

Donald Trump, poster boy for corrupt capitalism,...

All these accusations without a single damn fact to back Dems up!

[antidemoncrat]

“Americans are getting closer and closer to understanding that they live in an economic system that is not working for them, and will not work for their kids.”
= Grade “A” BS

[seawolf101]

POLICE SHUTDOWN LEMONADE STAND.

[Buckeye McFrog]

“Americans are getting closer and closer to understanding that they live in an economic system that is not working for them, and will not work for their kids.” = Grade “A” BS

Grade A BS that is believed and embraced by tens of millions of people. Perception often trumps reality.

[PeterPrinciple]

. Perception often trumps reality.

---

I understand what you are saying. but we tend to manage the past not the present.

I have looked long and hard for anyplace in our personal/business/economic lives that the FEDERAL govt IS NOT.

Note I said Federal Govt, not including state and local.

I would welcome anyone telling me something the federal govt is not involved in.

I have found places and things where there is LESS government.

THE REALITY IS WE ARE ALREADY A SOCIALIST/FACIST GOVERNMENT IN EVERYTHING BUT NAME ONLY.

I do not say this as a defeatist but one has to know the enemy to defeat it. As Chesty Puller said, “We’re surrounded, that simplifies the problem.”

There are many small skirmishes to be involved in, we are surrounded. I give monthly to Trump and FR. I wear my Trump hat in a liberal town. I have activity engaged in conversations that have cost me money and relationships.

I am a little old and tired and “ain’t as good as I once was but am as good once as I ever was.” Folks, engage in the battle, you don’t have to look far.

Wow, did Trump inspire last night............................

[bgill]

Horse hockey.

[Buckeye McFrog]

No I think you are absolutely correct there.

We are a Socialist/Fascist government, and have been for some time.

Which is having the corrosive effect of causing more people to gravitate to Socialism. “If it’s all a rigged game where business is tilting the table in their direction then by gawd, it’s our turn to tip it back in ours.”

[PeterPrinciple]

A further thought is that Big Government and Big Business go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.

Trumps tax plan has very strong incentive for self employment, small and medium business, I hope it works.

[Nabron]

A “Marxist economist”

Is that a joke? Like an “atheist preacher?” Or “military intelligence?” Why would anyone let a Marxist teach economics? Show me a wealthy, prosperous country practicing Marxism.

[oblomov]

I thought that what was distinctive about the new breed of socialists is that they are not Marxian, at least insofar as they reject doctrines of historical and economic determinism.

In other words, they are Veblenites.

[Secret Agent Man]

Government is often an unnecessary obstacle for business. if they are being critical of that, I totally agree with them.

If they are b1tching they aren’t getting govt handouts, that is a different story.