raghu wrote: > > On 8/2/07, Carrol Cox <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This belief should make the capitalists happy, since it guarantees > > disunity in the working class. > > > > Carrol > > Are foreigners on work visas part of the working class? Does setting > domestic workers against foreigners not guarantee disunity in the > working class?
Yes. That too. Actually, I think moralism of one form or another is at the root of all the divisions within the working class. A classic case. Many years ago I had a lengthy conversation with a freshman student on the subject of "welfare cheaters." I convinced her that welfare cheaters were a minor problem; I convinced her that whatever hurt welfare hurt all workers; I convinced her that hunting down welfare cheaters wasted rather than saved resources. I convinced her that in practice the hunt for welfare cheaters caused immense difficulties for those in need who were not cheaters. She agreed to all of this -- but still thought it wasn't right to let cheaters get away with it. The criticism of "high-paid" workers (who ARE working-class, not part of the bourgeosie) introduces a moralistic element into thinking about class. That is disastrous. Higher wages for already high-pay workers DOES NOT effect in any way the wages or benefits of poorly paid workers. It corrupts consciousness to say or hint that it does. Carrol > -raghu.
