[WS:] Their motives are really immaterial. I would guess that most of them invest to get rich and do not give a flying fuck about labor, or anyone else. But what matters is objective consequences of their actions.
Capital investment bring innovations, and innovations are being adopted by others thus making it possible to do more things with less effort. It is a good thing even if the motives of people who originally financed it were less than commendable. In the same vein, bankers may be assholes but banks serve useful social functions.
My point was not to defend capitalists as such, but the role of investments in economy and society in response to a comment that all value is produced by labor. That comment is obviously false when labor means only grunts wielding shovels or hammers, because investments also contribute to the creation of value by improving labor productivity. That is all that there is to it. It certainly does not mean that capitalists improve labor productivity out of the goodness of their hearts, or that someone else than capital owners cannot perform the investment function and do it more efficiently. In fact, most of capital investments in the US are managed not by capital owners but by employees investing other people's money.
They are handsomely paid for that service even if they do not own the capital they invest.
I would go as far as saying that today ownership of capital and means of production does not matter, at least not to the extent it did in the 19th century England that served as a model for Marx. What matters is the de facto control of the capital and the means of production - and it is the managerial class that has that control. Their class power rests in that they control assets legally owned by other people. Servants of capital are its masters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gondjza0sUs You consider me the young apprentice Caught between the Scylla and Charibdes Hypnotized by you if I should linger Staring at the ring around your finger I have only come here seeking knowledge Things they would not teach me of in college I can see the destiny you sold Turn into a shining band of gold
I'll be wrapped around your finger I'll be wrapped around your finger
Mephistopheles is not your name I know what you're up to just the same I will listen hard to your tuition You will see it come to it's fruition
I'll be wrapped around your finger I'll be wrapped around your finger
Devil and the deep blue sea behind me Vanish in the air you'll never find me I will turn your face to alabaster When you find your servant is your master
Oh, you'll be wrapped around my finger You'll be wrapped around my finger You'll be wrapped around my finger
-- Wojtek
"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."