Should a working-class person read Karl Marx?

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Above us only sky
Posts: 99
Joined: Sat Oct 15, 2016 3:50 pm

Should a working-class person read Karl Marx?

Post by Above us only sky »

Hello, guys, I grow up in a working-class family in China, during my teenage years living in a Soviet-style communal houses built during the Mao eras, I sometimes wonder why I have to live in conditions like that yet my classmates whose parents owns company or are senior party officials can live a way better lifestyle than I did, this propels me read some books in my free time after school so I can answer my question.

During my years of schooling we have to study the so called "Marxist-Leninism" courses in schools as we are required to graduate, just like the pupils in the former Eastern Germany and USSR once did.  The purpose of  those Marxist-lennism courses is not to educate the pupils so they will become Marxists, But to teach them the history of the Chinese communist party and why under the Marxist-lennism ideology it has the right to rule, Usually,as a result, after taking them we actually don't know what Marxism is, all they can tell you is we feel it is obvious indoctrination yet we have to learn it and to pass the exams in order to graduate. 


But later I become more or less a leftist not because of those Marxist-Leninism classes I have to learn at school, but because of some progressive magazines and books I read after school, including the Nation, some Jean-Paul Sartre and some videos by professor Richard wolff; My leftist political conviction goes even to the point where I feel I have an urge of organize a public rally against capitalism or organize a workers’ co-op so I can contribute to the collapse of capitalism.


But like anyone from a working-class family, I also have the dream of one day becoming a rich man, and having the opportunity of enjoying a better life. This means I need to spend my time not on reading Karl Marx, But accepting capitalism as it actually is, and spend time reading some books about accounting, finance, investment and other job-related books, be a good employer, learn the game of capitalism, so I can hopefully make more money as some of my friends who has managed to do so by starting their own E-commerce business did. because China currently is in a position where capitalism is still on its upwards path.
 
What should I do? should a person from a working-class background read Karl Marx and spend her life as an anti-capitalist activist or should she forget Karl Marx and learn the game of capitalism and trying to get rich instead?

Or I do not have to make such a hard choice, maybe a third alternative exists? Say, becoming a so-called ‘Champagne Socialist’. That is, becoming a person who is rich yet at the same time a leftist. But when I think about it I do not think this is a way out, after all, how a ‘Champagne Socialist’ is able to justify the champagne part of his lifestyle? (btw, is there any champagne Socialist here?)

Is there a way out? Thanks!
Eodnhoj7
Posts: 8595
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2017 3:18 am

Re: Should a working-class person read Karl Marx?

Post by Eodnhoj7 »

Above us only sky wrote: Sat Feb 24, 2018 4:16 am Hello, guys, I grow up in a working-class family in China, during my teenage years living in a Soviet-style communal houses built during the Mao eras, I sometimes wonder why I have to live in conditions like that yet my classmates whose parents owns company or are senior party officials can live a way better lifestyle than I did, this propels me read some books in my free time after school so I can answer my question.

During my years of schooling we have to study the so called "Marxist-Leninism" courses in schools as we are required to graduate, just like the pupils in the former Eastern Germany and USSR once did.  The purpose of  those Marxist-lennism courses is not to educate the pupils so they will become Marxists, But to teach them the history of the Chinese communist party and why under the Marxist-lennism ideology it has the right to rule, Usually,as a result, after taking them we actually don't know what Marxism is, all they can tell you is we feel it is obvious indoctrination yet we have to learn it and to pass the exams in order to graduate. 


But later I become more or less a leftist not because of those Marxist-Leninism classes I have to learn at school, but because of some progressive magazines and books I read after school, including the Nation, some Jean-Paul Sartre and some videos by professor Richard wolff; My leftist political conviction goes even to the point where I feel I have an urge of organize a public rally against capitalism or organize a workers’ co-op so I can contribute to the collapse of capitalism.


But like anyone from a working-class family, I also have the dream of one day becoming a rich man, and having the opportunity of enjoying a better life. This means I need to spend my time not on reading Karl Marx, But accepting capitalism as it actually is, and spend time reading some books about accounting, finance, investment and other job-related books, be a good employer, learn the game of capitalism, so I can hopefully make more money as some of my friends who has managed to do so by starting their own E-commerce business did. because China currently is in a position where capitalism is still on its upwards path.
 
What should I do? should a person from a working-class background read Karl Marx and spend her life as an anti-capitalist activist or should she forget Karl Marx and learn the game of capitalism and trying to get rich instead?

Or I do not have to make such a hard choice, maybe a third alternative exists? Say, becoming a so-called ‘Champagne Socialist’. That is, becoming a person who is rich yet at the same time a leftist. But when I think about it I do not think this is a way out, after all, how a ‘Champagne Socialist’ is able to justify the champagne part of his lifestyle? (btw, is there any champagne Socialist here?)

Is there a way out? Thanks!
When in doubt always get another viewpoint and read as much as possible.

To answer your question from a practical perspective, I have been both broke and living a relatively high standard at different times in life. Both manners have their subjective challenges. Poor is not always miserable, Rich is not always happy.

The best piece of advice, and also the most difficult, is to ask yourself a question: how do you want to make your mark on the world...we all do it whether we intend to or not.

I know in the U.S., with the exception of the recent election of trump, socialist communism values have been diffusing into our culture. And from what I have heard about China, the same applies there.

In my personal opinion, this diffusion of values on both sides is preparing us for a technocratic globalism. I don't view things in terms of capitalism or communism anymore, technology will create its own new form of government.
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