Does Capitalism Exploit Workers?



The idea that capitalism exploits workers stems from Karl Marx's work in the late 1800s. Although the definition of "exploitation" has changed since then, many still believe capitalist systems take advantage of vulnerable workers. Prof. Matt Zwolinski explains why capitalism actually tends to protect workers' interests. And Zwolinski contends that even if it were exploitative, increasing political regulation and control would actually make the problem worse. Increases in government make citizens more vulnerable to the state. Political officials are tempted to exploit this vulnerability for the benefit of the politically well connected. Unlike free market transactions, which are mutually beneficial, when politics is involved one party's gain usually comes at someone else's expense.

State controlled planing committees run by a minority are the only was to stop exploitation of the many.

Pantheon wrote on Oct 29^th, 2013 at 10:31am:


As I have just said in another post, I agree that the current standard Economics & indeed the Capitalist system will have to undergo some surgery, in the very near future, as will Politics in general, as none of them can/will survive in the longer term, in the format that they have had for the last 50-100 years!

This will require some basic changes to the ways people think, But the change/s will be necessary, as we will not be able to continue stumbling along for much longer, unless we do start to do things differently!

|dev|null wrote on Oct 29^th, 2013 at 10:58am:


Would you like to tell me where i went wrong

|dev|null wrote on Oct 29^th, 2013 at 12:09pm:


I could say the same thing to you, however unlike you, i'm not a child. Please tell me where i went wrong.

Because looking at workers in the West and workers in Socialist states, We have far more rights and freedoms than other workers from socialist state don't have.

Pantheon wrote on Oct 29^th, 2013 at 12:29pm:


There are NO socialist or capitalist states

So what exactly are you comparing?

The USA is a run pseudo capitalist fascist Oligarchy

China is a run pseudo capitalist fascist Oligarchy

the differences are trivial and superficial

You continue to portray capitalism as some sort of product of democracy (when it is not) and socialism as a product of totalitarianism

Capitalism is just an economic model, like the barter system. It is not a political doctrine in its own right.

So the opposite of socialism is fascism (although so called socialist states can be fascist even though their rulers claim other wise - which is the case int eh USA as well - they claim to be free and democratic when they are far from it - the USA isn't even capitalist)

It's a "Hey! I ordered a cheeseburger!"

Pantheon wrote on Oct 29^th, 2013 at 12:29pm:


I could be wrong but I thought the state guaranteed our rights and freedoms, not the economic system.