Michael's summary of the positive side of capitalism (according to Marx) seems fairly complete. A few observations.
As to the _present_ (1650 -- 1750 -- 1850 -- 1900): i.e, the present _at any time_ during the growth and development of capitalism. Capital ALWAYS, without exception, destroyed more lives than it enhanced. It has been one continual massacre from which, at any one time, only a small proportion of the earth's inhabitants drew benefits. That continues to be the case today. Every sentence in Michael's summary (and in this he is quite true to Marx) points towards THE FUTURE. "Progressive" means ONLY that possibilities (only possibilities, not certainties) for the future have opened up. It never means that the present has been made better for more than a few, while it has been at best not worsened too much for the many. There is simply nothing good about capitalism taken in and of itself and there never has been. Carrol
