Post #2843586

2026-03-14 07:57 UTC

@clarity@xoxo.zone Are you saying the converse IS true, though? That people with capital that generates returns are intrinsic enemies of "the working class"? Meaning that someone who had the good fortune to have some spare money, and the good sense to invest it wisely, the the second good fortune to have those investments pay dividends, should be the enemy of the working class? Or that if a member of the working class finds themselves in the fortunate position to have some spare cash lying around, they'd better not dare invest it into anything that's going to pay dividends, or they will automatically find themselves being the enemy of those they once called friends? 🤔

Replies (2)

@drajt@fosstodon.org 2026-03-14 08:24

@GrahamDowns@mastodon.africa @clarity@xoxo.zone in some countries a significant proportion of shares are held by pension funds, made up of the pensions of millions of normal working people. In effect people own the companies that employ them. The problem is that pension funds never vote against the board so a tiny number of robber barons can milk the system without even owning most of it. In civilised countries no one goes bankrupt because of illness, because of socialised health care.

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@NaClKnight@c.im 2026-03-14 19:43

@GrahamDowns@mastodon.africa I think you've just described the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petite_bourgeoisie A small business owner literally owns the means of production. However, they're also operating at the whims of bigger companies who may deign to put them out of business at any moment, sometimes unintentionally. A mechanic who owns a small house and then inherits his mother's house after she dies may now become a landlord. But in both of those situations, do they have more in common with pure wage owners? Or with higher level capitalists? Who are they voting for? What policies are they advocating for? Whose interests do they fight for? Who do they want to protect? Answer that and you answer your question about the "enemy of the working class" If owning some petty stocks was enough to reliably get you out of the working class they wouldn't let us do it. If inheriting a home was a reliable counter to living paycheck to paycheck we'd talk about it. @clarity@xoxo.zone, correct me if I'm taking this in a different direction than desired.

Open ##2843588