Posted by David A. Searles on September 21, 2009 at 11:59:17:
In Reply to: Re: Housing Question & Real Democracy posted by Demos on August 18, 2009 at 06:48:59:
To me "capitalism" is way too undefinable a term to say that capitalism ought to be made illegal. Perhaps if we used the term the wages system we could have a more solid basis for discussion.
In general workers ought to be in collective control of means of production and distribution. But suppose after the great revolution you want to pay a teen age neighbor to weed your garden. You would probably agree that shouldn't be illegal. Suppose on the afternoon after the great revolution there are two auto body repair shops, one owned or previously by a corporate auto dealership, the other owned previously by your Uncle Ted. Over at the large auto body shop the workers are working for labor vouchers. Uncle Ted tells you to go over and work at the large shop if you want to but that you are free to work for him directly,and that he will continue you at your old rate of pay by providing you the equivalent in goods that you used to be able to afford with your wages. Should that be ILLEGAL? Suppose you really like your Uncle Ted and that he was teaching you all kinds of tricks that the large shop wouldn't? As long as there are other options available, the wages system in and of itself really isn't all that bad or is it? I think that it isn't.