[iDC] viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace

[Guido Sohne]

On 6/25/07, Dmytri Kleiner <dk at telekommunisten.net> wrote:
> Class is still based on property, which in most cases is inherited, and
> wealth is still concentrating, class mobility is still all but non existent.

The nature of wealth is to ease the process of concentrating it and
power. Unlike before, it is no longer exclusively inherited or out of
reach due to accidents of birth. It is still hard to reach, but not
unreachable.

> Wages are still equal to reproduction costs.
>
> Don't confuse increased reproduction costs as a result of scarcity of
> innate or acquired human capital with the capture of the surplus value
> of other labourers by way of property ownership.

Surplus value capture via property ownership or rent, makes it
unnecessary for someone in that position to actually have to struggle
or work (e.g Paris Hilton).

It is not the same as making it impossible for others to acquire the
same position, and is not quite the same as making it hard for others
to advance. To be realistic, possible doesn't always mean achievable,
but from my point of view, things are much more achievable starting
from an advanced society, than starting from a developing society,
given the global capital, human movement and trade directions and
restrictions.

> Lower paid and higher paid workers and _not_ different classes.

Shades of grey. The CEO with a million dollar golden parachute and the
assembly line worker with the pink slip and small compensation are
definitely from different classes. My point is they can start from the
same class. The problem with class is that it entrenches and builds
structures to protect itself from lower classes and to provide means
to unseat or enter the higher classes.

> Those who derive their income from rent and interest versus those that
> derive their income from wages are.
>
>
>
> --
> Dmytri Kleiner <dk at telekommunisten.net>
> robotnik, epicurean socialist, aspiring crank
>
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