Reading Capital With Comrades #6: CLASS STRUGGLE (Ch. 10)
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Apr 26, 2021 Delve into the heart of class struggle as it drives capitalism and influences labor power's value. Explore the historical establishment of the 'normal working day' and how control over time is vital to this ongoing battle. The discussion touches on the state's duality in managing class conflicts and examines the profound impact of slavery and colonialism on capitalism's evolution. Historical labor resistance in early industrial England and the fight for regulated working hours highlight the fight for justice in the workforce.
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Class Struggle Over Working Time
- The struggle over surplus value is fundamentally a struggle over control of time within capitalism.
- Both workers and capitalists claim rights to working time, producing a conflict resolved only through class struggle and force.
State Limits Capital's Excesses
- Capital's greed creates the necessity for state intervention to limit work hours.
- Without limits, capital would exhaust labor power and destroy its own future workforce.
Childhood Is a Class Product
- Childhood and retirement ages are products of class struggle, shaped by capitalist interests.
- These social definitions hinge on labor value and the exploitation rate, not just biology.
