Sara Phillips
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Labor: The Ethical & Socioeconomic Status Battle
Labor. While it is only a short, two syllable, word, it has enormous political and emotional power. The reason for this is that labor is synonymous with one’s socioeconomic status within society. Indeed, the battle over wages is one medium through which economic classes in society war. However, more importantly, a battle over ethical treatment rages within all political economies. While these two themes are common, nowhere are they more apparent than in The Communist Manifesto.
Indeed, the first section of The Communist Manifesto discusses the evolution of society through history, and discusses “…a complicated arrangement of society in various orders, a manifold gradation of social rank.” (p.8) Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argue that for centuries societies have been structured in terms of classes, one which rules (essentially the capitalist) and the other which is subjugated (essentially the workers). Furthermore, the modern bourgeoisie (the ruling class) is one of the worst taskmasters who exploits the proletariat (the workers) and has stripped the honor from once honorable professions in pursuit of money. Capitalism, according to Marx and Engels, is the pursuit of money at the expense of workers. “In one word, for exploitation veiled by religious and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation.” (p.9)
According to this theory, the struggle between classes is quite clear. Moreover, due to this struggle and widespread injustice between classes, Marx and Engels postulated that communism would unite the proletariat to overthrow the bourgeoisie. In doing so, a Utopian society could be created where the proletariat would be the ruling class, all would be equal, all capital would be publicly owned, and everyone would live happily ever after.
Now, there is obvious historical evidence that communism does not work. Clear examples are the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and the adoption of capitalism in some form by the communist governments of China and Vietnam. However, despite the numerous explanations for the failure of communism, its ideals and quixotic view of class structure and fair wages has continued to influence and shape many societies worldwide.
Indeed, the following articles are grouped into three main categories as they relate to communism. The first position represents authors that support communism. The second represents authors that support capitalism. Lastly, the third position recognizes authors that criticize capitalism, and explore moral and ethical issues, which have been raised by capitalistic practices.
Firstly, The Lawrence Textile Strike, written by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, is clearly a criticism of capitalism and its treatment of wage laborers. In this article, Flynn describes the pitiful living situations of factory workers and their almost nonexistent salaries. Flynn writes, “They had hopes of a new life in a new world… They had hopes… to come to freedom. What freedom?… To be wage-slaves, hired and fired at the will of a soulless corporation…?” (p.27) Indeed, the workers were being treated unjustly and unfairly. In the end, through the call of The Communist Manifesto, “WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTIRES UNITE!” (p.21) the Lawrence textiles workers won their strike and improved working conditions not only in Lawrence, but also across the entire country. (p.31) However, one should note that the workers did not need to resort to a dictatorship of the proletariat to achieve ethical treatment of workers.
Secondly, in abstract, the next three articles highlight a very important concept in relation to the success of capitalism. In order for the hierarchy of capitalism to work, owners must treat their workers in an ethical manner and pay them proper wages. Perhaps this sentiment is most strongly expressed by Bruce Barton who enthusiastically supports capitalism. Specifically, Barton writes in The Founder of Modern Business that capitalism is an economic system that can work, but it is lacking slightly in ethics and morals. If everyone were to be a good Christian and follow the precepts of Jesus, capitalism would work, and laborers would be treated properly as Christianity dictates.
Furthering this sentiment, Frederick Taylor explains in The Art of Shoveling that both owners and workers alike can benefit from profits in a capitalistic society. “…the only way in which you can pay wages 60 per cent higher than other people pay and not overwork your men is by having each man properly suited and well trained to his job.” (p.35) If workers are given appropriate jobs, work hard, and are productive, they can be paid higher wages. Similarly, owners must be organized and watch over the workers to ensure they are working productively. In this approach, both owners and workers can benefit from a profitable business.
The third article, The Corporate Man by John Kenneth Galbraith, tackles the idea of fairness in the payment of wages. Despite sarcastic remarks about a loss of individuality, identity, and creativity, Galbraith writes, “I do not suggest that, given his sacrifices, the modern business executive is underpaid.” (p.44) In other words, due to the hard work and life’s sacrifice of these executives, they are justly rewarded monetarily.
Lastly, the third selection of articles explores the murky area of ethics and morals as a result of capitalism in the modern economy. While all of these articles discuss the problems within a capitalistic society, it must be noted that none of the authors suggest America become a communist country.
To start, both John Dos Passos, and Joseph Heller explore businesses and the effects capitalism has on individuals. In both The American Plan and The Office In Which I Work the corruption of individuals and institutions are discussed. While no explicit criticism is given, the bite of their satirical allegory is enough to demand change of our capitalistic society.
The American Plan is really a political satire written by Dos Passos as a direct challenge to Taylor’s The Art of Shoveling. In The American Plan, Passos depicts an American, Frederick Taylor, who rises to a position of authority and becomes obsessed with productivity and profit. “Production went to his head and thrilled his sleepless nerves…” and Taylor, “lost his friends in the shop…” (p.38) In the end, Taylor dies with “his watch in his hand” (p.39) symbolizing his relentless drive for productivity and structure.
Similarly, Heller depicts the corrupt life of Bob Slocum in The Office In Which I Work. This satire describes the office politics and intrigues, which plague modern corporations. In the end, the main character Bob Slocum decides he is willing to lie to friends in the office, suffer through work he hates, and deal with disagreeable co-workers because he is paid well and has the opportunity for advancement within the corporation. One may ask, is Bob being true to himself and his ideals? There is no clear-cut answer. In Bob’s words, “And I find I am being groomed for a better job. And I find–God help me–that I want it.” (p.86)
To finish, the articles by Juliet B. Schor and Nina Munk explore the phenomenon of work and pay within society. In The Overworked American, Schor describes an epidemic of overwork, which is in keeping with American standards of living and desire for material wealth. While this trend is affecting families and society negatively, in truth, many Americans want to work longer hours as this results in a higher paycheck. “In this sense, leisure exists in spite of rather than as a result of capitalism.” (p.49) In keeping with this being an ethical problem, Schor points out that if people were willing to consume less, they would need less money and have more free time to spend with family and enjoy leisure time.
Similarly, Munk discusses the dilemma of the employee who wishes to be free of the corporate world, but can’t make enough money to support himself or herself as a free agent. In Free-Agent Employees, Munk explains, “They have no benefits, they don’t get stock options or paid vacations, and free agents may not be protected by employment laws.” (p.90) Therefore, in truth, being a free agent is not an option for most people as they can’t sustain themselves, and others, who are free agents, wish they had a stable job.
Interestingly enough, I have worked as a wage laborer at multiple jobs (meaning I was paid hourly), and I’ve found there to be two determining factors behind whether or not I enjoyed my job. Firstly, was I paid well? Secondly, how was I treated? Indeed, these are two main themes found throughout this paper. I’ve found from my personal experience that if I was underpaid and I felt exploited, I absolutely hated my job. What's more, if I only received money, or only praise, I was only moderately happy.
In conclusion, despite the fact that modern communism failed, The Communist Manifesto changed modern thought in terms of wage labor and class within society. While humanity has still not found an economic system that is perfectly moral and ethical, thought provoking books and articles such as the sampling seen here will hopefully lead to the improvement of society as a whole.
