On Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 12:48 PM, Jim Devine <[email protected]> wrote: > > "Marx does not 'oppose' capitalism ideologically; but Rousseau does. For > > Marx, it is history; for Rousseau, it is evil." > > > > Gáspár Miklós Tamás: Telling the truth about class > > http://www.grundrisse.net/grundrisse22/tellingTheTruthAboutClass.htm > > I think this is half-right. Marx opposed capitalism both ideologically > and morally. [...] > > In contrast, I think it's quite possible for very conservative people > to totally agree with almost any Marxian analysis of capitalism. They > may think that there's an immanent tendency for capitalism to fall > apart and for the working class to replace the system with socialism > but then fight like hell against liberty, equality, and fraternity
This is exactly right. There is a guy - a famous self-help author named Robert Kiyosaki. You will often find his books on bookshelves that also contain such books like "The World is Flat", "The Art of War" and 'Seven Habits of Highly Effective People". Kiyosaki's most famous book is called 'Rich Dad Poor Dad'. Its main message is that the world consists of two types of people: the first type, let's call them 'the suckers' exemplified by Poor Dad, work hard all their lives for a salary and spend it on a good lifestyle and saving for retirement. The second type, 'the winners' exemplified by Rich Dad, sit back and let their money work for them. Kiyosaki has made millions peddling this insight because when people first learn to think in these terms, it seems like a brilliant revelation (which it is). Most of Kiyosaki's fans however, would be horrified at the notion that this is exactly Marx's theory of class. Kiyosaki certainly does not want the working class to rise up against their exploiters; he wants the working class to admire them and aspire to join their ranks. The idea that Marxist theory is completely free of normative judgment is complete nonsense. -raghu.
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