Defense and Condemnation of U.S. Industrial Capitalism
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Wolran Kim (Oct 2010)
Between 1870 and 1900, the United States transformed itself from an agrarian nation composed of farmers, merchants, and artisans to an industrial giant. Indeed, by the time of World War I, the nation had become the greatest manufacturing country in the world.
Rapid industrialization precipitated, among other things, a debate over the merits and demerits of the capitalistic system that so radically changed the typical workplace in America and the means by which people made a living. Some lauded the system that dramatically raised the standard of living and made it possible to go from “rags to riches”, while others pointed to the growing disparity in wealth in America and the exploitation of workers by industrialists who put profits ahead of the well being of human beings. Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist who made his fortune in the steel industry, and Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate in five national elections and a prominent union leader are two examples of the divergence of opinion in the United States over industrial capitalism.
According to Carnegie, Capitalism is surely necessary for development of human. The lifestyle was revolutionary beyond a simple change and the rapid development of civilization has brought to us better food, clothing and housing through the product of a capitalist economy. The gap between rich and poor is regrettable, but it is also inevitable in the evolution of civilization. It is necessary to find a solution for harmony of poverty and wealth for the development of humanity rather than dismiss these issues as social exclusion. Whether these changes would benefit or harm depends on our efforts. It is fabulous and cannot be compared with anything past. Citing a return to the old days is just the same as sweeping development of human civilization away because of the ills of capitalism, which can be solved.
Debs believes that the capitalism is the most advanced economic system for mankind of historic interest despite all the inequalities and imperfections. The gap in wealth between the nations’ wealthiest and the poorest groups of people can be widened in the development of capitalism. But how could such a development be possible without the capitalist economic system? Human society is not equal any more. Employers and employees, the labor shares and laborer, capital and laborer, wealth and poverty—their friction and feud will continue under the law of competition. However, it is impossible anywhere that capitalism can be replaced with the principle of substitution. Capitalism is based on private ownership. We need only efforts to eradicate intensifying stigmas and shortcomings. It depends on efforts of people of wealth who are concerned about returning profits to society.
Mass production of commodities for food, clothing has become available in mechanization of factories, and industrial development. Our lives have been enriched and convenient by lavish luxury. We have transportation development of resources, guaranteed survival of mankind, and maximized adaptability on the environment. Future developments will be even more gorgeous. Everyone gets equal opportunities in accordance with their efforts and anyone can accumulate wealth legitimately way because property is privatized. Capitalism is absolutely necessary for comfort and tomorrow's future development which creates huge profits. The sovereignty of individual choice and the right of consumers is guaranteed in parallel with political democracy, and maximized technical innovation and productivity. The economic principle of capitalism is creating profit. Capital grows wings easily and money breeds money. The laws of economics are fair such as the law is legitimate to everyone. Capitalist economic principles respect the features of the market itself in balance with supply and demand, but the gap between rich and poor and the ills of capitalism should be eradicated by progressive property taxation for the upper class in society who monopolize profits.
Carnegie said that the people who had biggest benefit from the economic prosperity of the society have the obligations to spend their money and talent to make a better place in the world. He also said that it really is a shame to die while rich. It is praise that living rich in capitalist society means to pay back for hard work. But apparently the word "rich" until they die is not praise because that means unpaid debt in society before they died. It is worthless that they kept quiet and embrace as a monument of folly the welfare the world. The wealth tax should be progressive for their struggling for the accumulation of wealth to the death. The parents' ignorance and false affection will be inherited if all property is passed down to their children, and heredity of individual honor and possession is vain ambition. It is not worth keeping precious fruit of society as property for the family's pride. After all, we are all empty-handed, and why not to listen to social welfare which could last forever?
“No man can become rich without himself enriching others.” This is from Carnegie's words. The acquisition of wealth only for the benefit itself without social welfare is the same as abusing the justification of capitalism. The society will be turned into endless struggle filled with greed. In the evil practice of capitalism, the gap between rich and poor from unequal distribution of wealth can be solved only by reduction to society. The wealthy people have responsibility and obligation to society who made them rich, and their life time should be divided into periods of acquiring wealth and wealth distribution. The returns of capitalism should be invested for eternal benefit to society for a public purpose rather than accumulation of personal wealth. The surplus should be reproduced as a true wealth manager by humility, simplicity, and moderation of the waste. It should be contributed to the development of humanity through charitable donations. Abusing personal wealth and conspicuous is a hundred harms without a single gain, and the value of honor will be always judged by a fair society.
According to Debs, Capitalists say this is the era of remarkable progress and success achieved, but the industrial workplace is just a grim corral. Their wage is ridiculously small compared to production so they are intent on living, and the advantages gained by the development of industrialization fill the pockets of the capitalists. Who can enjoy a vacation and ride the car which they made among the workers? It is separated into those who make cars and people who do ride. The laborers are worse than slaves. The spirit of independence under the slogan, "No taxation without representation" is infringed, and the workers have no liberty and no voice. The owners assured their slaves lived in the slavery era, but no guarantee exists for working class in this capitalist country. They are driven into the streets after exploitation of labor. The workers experience only the ills of capitalism, and do not enjoy freedom and equality in the dishonest and unequal society. Capitalism is a weapon of destruction to the majority of the workers' welfare. All small plants disappeared in front of mass production of large-scale factories. Their fate, which has become the victim of capitalism, goes down to their descendants.
The fate of capitalism lies in the hands of a few capitalists. They build wealth by exploitation of labor, and wield more powerful authority than the tyrants of the past era of kings. They must be secured to the further system, land, production, capital, and people to keep and expand their seats and make certain political power, the administration of justice and legislation dominated by economic systems. Lawyers also secure the positions by serving the capitalist class. Consequently, all trial judges who sit in the court are merely sycophantic minions of capitalists. If wages of workers increase, the prices of necessities increase accordingly. There is no hope of a fair wage system. Capitalism breeds the age of limitless competition, so people have to meet force with force and countries compete against each other forever in this inhumane atmosphere. Sly self-interest brims over conscience, and the middle-class loses their economic power. Business people treat others with a mercenary spirit, and workers' status is degraded to slavery of industry. For all the success from failure, but success looks possible only in the destruction of the majority of people.
His only hope is in new society order. He said, he is not capitalist's mercenary soldier but a proletarian revolutionist. He refuses to obey the command of ruling class as irregular forces for the general public. He devoted that he fights with his whole soul and a passion for socialist revolution in the world. The reality of capitalism revealed all, and the ills of capitalism require changing the system around. The society which women and men are equal, the wealthy and the poor are equal, is the dream of a socialist movement. It is relief for this society in an age of materialism, limitless competition, and greed from economic crisis. For that reason he wants to create a heaven for workers.
Carnegie's capitalism is much more convincing argument in the history of mankind. Even I must admit that capitalism was the foundation of human development, and this fact was proved in history of communist countries: Russia, Eastern Germany, and Eastern Europe. The assertion of socialism, which is social sharing of wealth, is not realistic at all, and the relationship between rulers and the governed inevitably arises even under any economic and political system. The New York Times article in July 1897 shows this; Equal was given an enthusiastic welcome from the American people. According to the article, the rush to the bank was nothing in Panic time compare to the people rush to the bookstore to get Equal of the first edition. It reported that every book sold out within 36 hours. This parable explained briefly and easily the contradictions of capitalism: exploitation, panic, and the problem of unemployment. And many socialists sprayed this fragment in the handout in the early 20th century in the United States. But the limitations of socialism made proof clearly enough in history.
The concept that everyone is the master—Socialists cry for this—Is the same notion that nobody is the master. All socio-economic countries suffer the most underdeveloped and economic levels from the absence of private property, ownership, and the desire under strict control of the government due to inefficiency. Finally, they must fix the ideology toward recognizing private property. On the other hand, the Democratic capitalists who thought there will be no difference for the general public by the aristocracy maintaining their private property, all the people committed to their economic activity freely without any interference or constraints due to the abolition of the caste system. And they could develop, which is unthinkable under communism or monarchy as they sought freedom and competition in the republic.
But today, the Democratic capitalists still have extreme concentration of wealth and absolute poverty as serious problems. The hierarchy of power and economy try to pretend like they are the royals or nobles as under the past monarchies. The government power must serve the people, filling up their greed by collusion with small number of capitalists. Their self-interest throws down people's quality of life. The side effects of capitalism still exist, but this economic system cannot be compared with socialism any more.
------------------------------------------------------
Wolran Kim (Oct 2010)
Between 1870 and 1900, the United States transformed itself from an agrarian nation composed of farmers, merchants, and artisans to an industrial giant. Indeed, by the time of World War I, the nation had become the greatest manufacturing country in the world.
Rapid industrialization precipitated, among other things, a debate over the merits and demerits of the capitalistic system that so radically changed the typical workplace in America and the means by which people made a living. Some lauded the system that dramatically raised the standard of living and made it possible to go from “rags to riches”, while others pointed to the growing disparity in wealth in America and the exploitation of workers by industrialists who put profits ahead of the well being of human beings. Andrew Carnegie, an industrialist who made his fortune in the steel industry, and Eugene Debs, the Socialist candidate in five national elections and a prominent union leader are two examples of the divergence of opinion in the United States over industrial capitalism.
According to Carnegie, Capitalism is surely necessary for development of human. The lifestyle was revolutionary beyond a simple change and the rapid development of civilization has brought to us better food, clothing and housing through the product of a capitalist economy. The gap between rich and poor is regrettable, but it is also inevitable in the evolution of civilization. It is necessary to find a solution for harmony of poverty and wealth for the development of humanity rather than dismiss these issues as social exclusion. Whether these changes would benefit or harm depends on our efforts. It is fabulous and cannot be compared with anything past. Citing a return to the old days is just the same as sweeping development of human civilization away because of the ills of capitalism, which can be solved.
Debs believes that the capitalism is the most advanced economic system for mankind of historic interest despite all the inequalities and imperfections. The gap in wealth between the nations’ wealthiest and the poorest groups of people can be widened in the development of capitalism. But how could such a development be possible without the capitalist economic system? Human society is not equal any more. Employers and employees, the labor shares and laborer, capital and laborer, wealth and poverty—their friction and feud will continue under the law of competition. However, it is impossible anywhere that capitalism can be replaced with the principle of substitution. Capitalism is based on private ownership. We need only efforts to eradicate intensifying stigmas and shortcomings. It depends on efforts of people of wealth who are concerned about returning profits to society.
Mass production of commodities for food, clothing has become available in mechanization of factories, and industrial development. Our lives have been enriched and convenient by lavish luxury. We have transportation development of resources, guaranteed survival of mankind, and maximized adaptability on the environment. Future developments will be even more gorgeous. Everyone gets equal opportunities in accordance with their efforts and anyone can accumulate wealth legitimately way because property is privatized. Capitalism is absolutely necessary for comfort and tomorrow's future development which creates huge profits. The sovereignty of individual choice and the right of consumers is guaranteed in parallel with political democracy, and maximized technical innovation and productivity. The economic principle of capitalism is creating profit. Capital grows wings easily and money breeds money. The laws of economics are fair such as the law is legitimate to everyone. Capitalist economic principles respect the features of the market itself in balance with supply and demand, but the gap between rich and poor and the ills of capitalism should be eradicated by progressive property taxation for the upper class in society who monopolize profits.
Carnegie said that the people who had biggest benefit from the economic prosperity of the society have the obligations to spend their money and talent to make a better place in the world. He also said that it really is a shame to die while rich. It is praise that living rich in capitalist society means to pay back for hard work. But apparently the word "rich" until they die is not praise because that means unpaid debt in society before they died. It is worthless that they kept quiet and embrace as a monument of folly the welfare the world. The wealth tax should be progressive for their struggling for the accumulation of wealth to the death. The parents' ignorance and false affection will be inherited if all property is passed down to their children, and heredity of individual honor and possession is vain ambition. It is not worth keeping precious fruit of society as property for the family's pride. After all, we are all empty-handed, and why not to listen to social welfare which could last forever?
“No man can become rich without himself enriching others.” This is from Carnegie's words. The acquisition of wealth only for the benefit itself without social welfare is the same as abusing the justification of capitalism. The society will be turned into endless struggle filled with greed. In the evil practice of capitalism, the gap between rich and poor from unequal distribution of wealth can be solved only by reduction to society. The wealthy people have responsibility and obligation to society who made them rich, and their life time should be divided into periods of acquiring wealth and wealth distribution. The returns of capitalism should be invested for eternal benefit to society for a public purpose rather than accumulation of personal wealth. The surplus should be reproduced as a true wealth manager by humility, simplicity, and moderation of the waste. It should be contributed to the development of humanity through charitable donations. Abusing personal wealth and conspicuous is a hundred harms without a single gain, and the value of honor will be always judged by a fair society.
According to Debs, Capitalists say this is the era of remarkable progress and success achieved, but the industrial workplace is just a grim corral. Their wage is ridiculously small compared to production so they are intent on living, and the advantages gained by the development of industrialization fill the pockets of the capitalists. Who can enjoy a vacation and ride the car which they made among the workers? It is separated into those who make cars and people who do ride. The laborers are worse than slaves. The spirit of independence under the slogan, "No taxation without representation" is infringed, and the workers have no liberty and no voice. The owners assured their slaves lived in the slavery era, but no guarantee exists for working class in this capitalist country. They are driven into the streets after exploitation of labor. The workers experience only the ills of capitalism, and do not enjoy freedom and equality in the dishonest and unequal society. Capitalism is a weapon of destruction to the majority of the workers' welfare. All small plants disappeared in front of mass production of large-scale factories. Their fate, which has become the victim of capitalism, goes down to their descendants.
The fate of capitalism lies in the hands of a few capitalists. They build wealth by exploitation of labor, and wield more powerful authority than the tyrants of the past era of kings. They must be secured to the further system, land, production, capital, and people to keep and expand their seats and make certain political power, the administration of justice and legislation dominated by economic systems. Lawyers also secure the positions by serving the capitalist class. Consequently, all trial judges who sit in the court are merely sycophantic minions of capitalists. If wages of workers increase, the prices of necessities increase accordingly. There is no hope of a fair wage system. Capitalism breeds the age of limitless competition, so people have to meet force with force and countries compete against each other forever in this inhumane atmosphere. Sly self-interest brims over conscience, and the middle-class loses their economic power. Business people treat others with a mercenary spirit, and workers' status is degraded to slavery of industry. For all the success from failure, but success looks possible only in the destruction of the majority of people.
His only hope is in new society order. He said, he is not capitalist's mercenary soldier but a proletarian revolutionist. He refuses to obey the command of ruling class as irregular forces for the general public. He devoted that he fights with his whole soul and a passion for socialist revolution in the world. The reality of capitalism revealed all, and the ills of capitalism require changing the system around. The society which women and men are equal, the wealthy and the poor are equal, is the dream of a socialist movement. It is relief for this society in an age of materialism, limitless competition, and greed from economic crisis. For that reason he wants to create a heaven for workers.
Carnegie's capitalism is much more convincing argument in the history of mankind. Even I must admit that capitalism was the foundation of human development, and this fact was proved in history of communist countries: Russia, Eastern Germany, and Eastern Europe. The assertion of socialism, which is social sharing of wealth, is not realistic at all, and the relationship between rulers and the governed inevitably arises even under any economic and political system. The New York Times article in July 1897 shows this; Equal was given an enthusiastic welcome from the American people. According to the article, the rush to the bank was nothing in Panic time compare to the people rush to the bookstore to get Equal of the first edition. It reported that every book sold out within 36 hours. This parable explained briefly and easily the contradictions of capitalism: exploitation, panic, and the problem of unemployment. And many socialists sprayed this fragment in the handout in the early 20th century in the United States. But the limitations of socialism made proof clearly enough in history.
The concept that everyone is the master—Socialists cry for this—Is the same notion that nobody is the master. All socio-economic countries suffer the most underdeveloped and economic levels from the absence of private property, ownership, and the desire under strict control of the government due to inefficiency. Finally, they must fix the ideology toward recognizing private property. On the other hand, the Democratic capitalists who thought there will be no difference for the general public by the aristocracy maintaining their private property, all the people committed to their economic activity freely without any interference or constraints due to the abolition of the caste system. And they could develop, which is unthinkable under communism or monarchy as they sought freedom and competition in the republic.
But today, the Democratic capitalists still have extreme concentration of wealth and absolute poverty as serious problems. The hierarchy of power and economy try to pretend like they are the royals or nobles as under the past monarchies. The government power must serve the people, filling up their greed by collusion with small number of capitalists. Their self-interest throws down people's quality of life. The side effects of capitalism still exist, but this economic system cannot be compared with socialism any more.