Saturday, November 7, 2015
Capitalism
We spent a lot of time--especially the last class and a half--talking about Marx's view and the reality of Capitalism. To be honest with you, I am not the most fluent in finances and money and exactly how our government or capitalism works. People--and textbooks, for the most part--always made it seem like Capitalism was a stroke of genius that surpassed all other attempts for peace and harmony amongst a large community and population. Now, I 100% believe that Capitalism has done some wonderful things for our country and offers the opportunity for innovation, change, and hope; however, the harsher realities of Capitalism--for me, at least--seemed to cast a bit of a shadow over the happier perspectives of Capitalism. I think of the Hunger Games Trilogy, where the poor, starving 12 Districts are forced to do grueling, manual labor in order to support the wealth and luxury of the Capitol. Clearly, the more difficult sides of Capitalism are what Suzanne Collins was trying to reveal through her novels. The Capitol represents the United States and our ability to take from others hard work, give them next to nothing, and then carry on in our worker/slave state trying to make enough money to survive and buy the next best thing. While the Districts are symbolic of the 3rd world countries working for barely enough money to survive in dangerous situations, solely to have their hard work, the products of their labor, be whisked away without a second glance because let's be honest, if they don't do it, someone else will…for even lower wages. As stated before, I do not truly know or understand the ins and outs of Capitalism, but if it supports and encourages child labor and the devaluation of human beings in poorer areas because they cannot afford the "luxuries" we can and so wealthier people here can make more money for greed's sake, then something needs to change.
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I agree with your ideas on Capitalism. It is an improvement from where we once were (slavery), but is far from the best solution. I like your comparison of Suzanne Collins' series to what Capitalism is. While Capitalism is a step up, it is simply a step up from the slavery we once had to a new form of slavery. We are forced to work because of debt and our need to survive and there will always be someone more desperate than we are. It's difficult for us to change our mindset that Capitalism is a positive system for our society. It's always frightening to realize how easily brainwashed we can be. Capitalism seemed like the best solution and now that we have looked deeper into it we realize there needs to be a change. And it is so frustrating to contemplate this change because of those that will work for a penny less than we will. It seems impossible to rally together when we view each other as competition. Certainly there will be a time in the future when Capitalism will fall- things are constantly changing- but I'm not sure if we will see many great leaps towards a better system in our lifetime. It will be an incredibly slow change that will require a lot of bravery and sacrifice of the proletariat class.
ReplyDeleteI never really thought about comparing the Hunger Games to Capitalism, however I can see that even though the novels are extreme, our society has the means to do those kind of inhumane things in order to make the best profit and easiest life for the wealthy. After all, we were willing to disregard the personhood of African Americans during the time of slavery, so indeed we are capable of some pretty crazy things for money's sake. It really is terrifying at times to think about it.
ReplyDeleteI, too, found the last class and half on capitalism to be an eye-opener. I never really stopped to consider how unfair it is for workers to labor so hard and not really enjoy and benefit from their work. I also like your comparison of Suzanne Collins’ book. When I read the Hunger Games trilogy, I was intrigued and entertained by the tale and felt sympathy for the characters who were forced to compete not only for their districts but also for their lives. However, I never thought about the possible symbolic connotations associated with the Capitol and the districts to modern day capitalism. I agree that something may change in the future. Eventually, people will get tired of being misused and abused. Working for the “man” and having nothing to show for it but debt, fatigue, and unhappiness will no longer be acceptable. As has already been stated, the time is slowly but surely coming when the proletariat class will stand up to the bourgeoisie and demand what is rightfully owed to them. Moreover, I contemplated whether the demand for an increase in minimum wage could be seen as an effort to bring about change--if some are starting to realize that their labor is worth more than they're being paid. Of course, in class we discussed how altering the minimum wage may not help as much as people would like. However, this could be a tiny indication that the proletariat class is starting to realize the unfair aspects of capitalism.
ReplyDeleteI think capitalism aimed to do well at the beginning, but has turned out to become a competitive society in which those who do not own the factors of production have to struggle to make ends meet with the work they do. It has caused those who own the factors of productions greedy and wanting more and more while workers have no choice in what they have to do. In my eyes, the Bourgeoisie have a choice in capitalism while the workers have to go to work to survive with little to no choice. The system of capitalism has made the wealthy wealthier with no real regard to those who are responsible for making them wealthier.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't really thought about how Capitalism does in fact relate fairly directly with the Hunger Games. It's a little scary to think that that is how it may truly be for the workers in 3rd world countries. They may not even truly understand the extremity of how bad their lives are. In my mind I could see how they would almost accept the world they live in, like most everyone in the Hunger Games series. It is very depressing to think that such hard working people don't even see themselves as having a chance to better their lives just from how dark and depressing it is where they live.
ReplyDeleteI like your comparison to the Hunger Games, that was very unique and a good way to look at Capitalism. I agree that there are a few good points that Capitalism makes. However, my big kick to Capitalism is the way it alienates the workforce. I would never feel okay or agree with the dehumanizing of workers. The good that Capitalism does could not outshine the fact that it does this to workers in my opinion. Good post!
ReplyDeleteFirst, great job comparing The Hunger Games to capitalism. Same as you, I do not know much about how our government works, but from what I was taught in this class about capitalism, put me into a state of awe. The owners to the mean of production are basically slaving their workings to gain high number of surplus value. This modern day slavery is similar to the past slavery but the only difference is that the chains are concealed. The chains is similar to having to work in order to survive. Basically being forced to work without even realizing it, and it sickens me. But in all, this was a great post and really gives information.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of the Hunger Games in that perspective I totally agree with you. I myself don't truly understand how our nations economic system truly works but I do understand that it's not truly in our favor. Us being what Marx would consider the Proletariat. After discussing the ideas of Marx in class I do understand we live in a capitalist society because growing up and the histories I've taken they always play Marx and his idea as evil and bad to "our free country".
ReplyDeleteI really love the way you interpreted capitalism and compared it to a well known series. It helps make more sense of what capitalism is really about. For anyone that's ever read that series or watched the movies, it really hits home that, one day, hopefully in the very distant future or not at all, the US will become that way. It's a scary thought, but it's bound to happen.
ReplyDeleteI honestly never even thought about how the Hunger Games is pretty much like capitalism. I think that is an awesome way to describe it and compare it. And I do agree with you in that Capitalism may look good on the outside but in the inside it really hurts more people than you think.
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