[lbo-talk] Orwell on catastrophism

[B.]

In that [really good] essay by Orwell that Doug passed
on, Orwell wrote: "If it is to stay in power a ruling
class must constantly admit suitable recruits from
below, so that the ablest men may always be at the top
and a new class of power-hungry malcontents cannot
come into being." (Orwell was paraphrasing another
argument.)

That brought to mind a passage I read awhile back, by
Marx: "This circumstance, that a man without wealth,
but with energy, strength of character, ability and
business sense, is able to become a capitalist, is
greatly admired by the economic apologists of
capitalism.... The more a ruling class is able to
assimilate the most prominent men of the dominated
classes the more stable and dangerous its rule." From
Capital, Vol. 3.

-B.

Doug Henwood wrote:

http://www.k-1.com/Orwell/site/work/essays/burnham.html