Every time there is a crisis in capitalist systems, there is a purchase of smaller companies by larger ones and of large companies by even larger ones. It happened during the saving and loans crisis. It happened during the time when the auditing companies were caught cooking the books to inflate stock prices and it has occurred during the latest crisis over predatory lending by banks involving mortgages on homes. In the latest crisis Merrill Lynch was bought by Bank of America, Lehman Brothers by Barclays and both Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have suitors that want to buy these corporations.This inevitably results in a concentration of capital and layoffs of many workers, since the new corporations don't need so many employees. The increasing concentration of capital results in more and more of the world's wealth held in fewer and fewer hands. As the saying goes, the rich get richer and the poor, poorer.
Karl Marx predicted this occurrence 150 years ago. But then, the corporate media and the history books say he is irrelevant and outdated and one need not read his brilliant works. Karl Marx also predicted that these continuing crises and depressions would result in the collapse of capitalism. No system based entirely on greed can continue forever. How may fingers can be put in the dike before it collapses. I am trained in science and very reluctant to believe in theories. However, I am utterly confident that capitalism will collapse someday and a sytem more compassionate to the majority of mankind will result. That is, if a nuclear war or environmental catastrophe doesn't occur first.
Never the less, Karl Marx's prediction remains accurate and illustrates the workings of a brilliant mind.
Sincerely,
Gary Sudborough
Comments
Hide the following 9 comments
1929
21.09.2008 21:31
Is capitalism stronger now than it was 80 years ago?
So if it can survive that, I think it'll survive the present crisis.
engels
unfortunately
21.09.2008 22:40
also, seems karl marx didn't predict the massive industrial pollution (thus environmental damage) from the russian regime. which country has lost the most nuclear weapons? a communist one! which countries performed the most recent massive human rights abuses? communist ones!
the political spectrum is a circle!
!!!
You dont...
21.09.2008 23:25
P
Will collapse
22.09.2008 09:38
The economic crysis following the crash in 1929 brought a great shift to the right in Europe, as Hitler and Mussolini exploited the insecurity in the masses to build their political success.
Marx was right on some things and wrong on may others. By the way, if the oppressed masses will 'necessarely' coalesce and overthrow their oppressors, when is that going to happen?
Just a few thoughts.
not a marxist
But communism collapsed!
22.09.2008 11:28
Economist
Personally...
22.09.2008 11:51
I also agree with the poster RE collapse by virtue of the fact of sustainability and scarcity of resources. However, Marx does engage with this as being a limiting factor albeit limited for the expense of political rhetoric.
I do think alternative systems are required, just not a Marxist one (to avoid the constant historical referencing) ! Unfortunately I think the direction pursued will be similar to the fictional account by Susan George, in her book (fiction) 'The Lugano Report: On preserving Capitalism in the twenty-first century'
P
but...
22.09.2008 12:03
A Radical Fool
Communism and Capitalism
22.09.2008 13:02
On the other hand, the communists did their best to undermine capitalism - and failed.
So which is the more robust?
engels
Communism
22.09.2008 14:33
It's like calling modern day America a democracy, the powers that be may say it is a democracy but the facts on the ground tell a different story.
Rudeboy