blog assignment #11

Well, ok. Marx begins his manifesto with a history of the oppressor and the oppressed. The Bourgeoisie and therefore capitalism in general has aided the destruction of some of the other feudal classes. These feudal classes were controlling the free market, and with time, the market became free: capitalist. Marx shares this optimistic spirit---that change is good, that breaking away from oppression and control is evolutionary, therefore better.
A second advantage to capitalism is the sudden increase in invention, knowledge, and civilization. This “boom” has created a global market, a chance for countries around the word to make ties, where they before relied mostly on local markets. This boom has also made many barbaric countries into civilized, producing countries. World trade encouraged by Capitalism requires them to do so.
Capitalism has aided the destruction of some classes, but there remains a class system still. Marx has made a comment about the wizard’s own spells are now going to lead the wizard to destruction. The bone that Marx has to pick with capitalism is that there is a great amount of oppression between the owners of production and the laborers. The laborers, though far greater in number, are treated as poorly as possible. As Marx points out, the laborers are not seen as people, but as a means to a dollar sign. There is a comment made that the owners only see these people as extensions of the machinery they work. This is inhumane and it parallels slavery. Marx also points out that the laborers are doing the majority of the work, while the owners of production are able to make the most profit simply by owning the machinery. And the laws made by society side with the owners of production. Societal views, governmental leaders, aristocrats, and the church are all slanted and brainwashing---another means of control.