tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34598853.post4320108412082544039..comments2023-12-30T01:47:45.604-08:00Comments on servethepeople: Democratic Socialism is Capitalism Pt 5Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34598853.post-82655582685513621952007-12-04T01:43:00.000-08:002007-12-04T01:43:00.000-08:00Underclasswp writes. On the whole this is a very g...Underclasswp writes. On the whole this is a very good article,<BR/>What constitutes the working class in any economy is a question of class analysis and in the first place this is generally determined by the different classes relationship to the ownership of the means of production .This class ownership in turn determines the distribution of the product and surplus value created <BR/>The capitalist class distribute that value in the form of profits.<BR/> Ownership of the means of production by a socialist society enables a different distribution of the new value created by workers <BR/>But in a 'services based" economy like ours where industrial workers are now the minority the question of class analysis deserves particular attention. There is a great deal of confusion spread by the use of the concept of working people as if were the same as working class.<BR/>It is a question of science. What for example was Marx's definition of a worker?<BR/>Under capitalism a worker and membership of the working class is determined by whether or not that worker is exploited for surplus value and actually delivers up a profit to capital.<BR/>Not by whether or not the worker is involved in the physical production of material goods or by working at providing non material services , rises in production or the like, or by expansion of the working class in its white collar component as simple structural changes etc <BR/>So a worker even in a services industry that delivers up surplus value by being exploited by capital for unpaid labour time/value is working class. <BR/>Those, even while having a wages form of income but who deliver up no surplus value to capital are by class petty bourgeois and their identical brothers in class the unexploited labour aristocracy.<BR/> Determining class is therefore a question of examining the actual flows of surplus not simply the superficial appearances of income forms ,or colour of collars ,or by declaring that all "wageworkers" are working people and must be or are exploited for surplus value.<BR/>Thus class it is not determined by white colour or blue colour or by declaring that white colour workers are still workers because their income has a wages form of appearance and changes are simply structural. .<BR/> It is a question of exploited for surplus value or not that decides classAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com