discussion on working class, etc.

Michael Yates mikey+ at pitt.edu
Wed Jul 28 13:59:57 PDT 1999


Tom, if you think class analysis is a waste of time, perhaps you should tell us why. What kind of analysis do you propose instead? What do you think you are doing when you face the employers? If it's not class struggle what is it? and what do the employers think it is?

michael yates

Tom Lehman wrote:
>
> I think class analysis is a waste of time. In general class depends on
> income and wealth and the amount of income generated by wealth---everything
> else associated with the definition of class is to put it kindly,
> anecdotal. Or to put it bluntly, bullshit.
>
> Lundberg wrote his updated classic the Rich and the Super-Rich back in the
> early 70's, although somewhat dated, I think it's still worth reading.
> Like Plunkitt of Tammany Hall it's available at fine used book stores
> everywhere for a couple of dollars.
>
> The big banana republic,
>
> Tom Lehman
>
> Carl Remick wrote:
>
> > > the tendency of capitalism is to reduce a working class with the
> > > potential capacities to do, enjoy, and act politically, to a
> > > collection
> > > of 'just workers'; 'just consumers'; and 'just voters'.
> >
> > I just finished reading the manuscript of a book (destined for business
> > readers) covering the last 100 years of management thinking and
> > practice. While most of the info was familiar to me, I was struck anew
> > by capitalism's awesome capacity to objectify people. The tendency of
> > elites to dominate and humiliate has existed throughout history, of
> > course, but combining this tendency with the reductionistic, quantifying
> > nature of science -- the real driving force behind modern management --
> > has produced unprecedented opportunities to belittle the worth of most
> > individuals in every social capacity.
> >
> > Carl



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