From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!cmcl2!edler
Newsgroups: net.politics
Title: Re: redistribution of wealth
Article-I.D.: cmcl2.22980
Posted: Mon Dec  6 22:15:47 1982
Received: Tue Dec  7 06:25:40 1982


I am not exactly an expert on economics, but I do know
a few things about Marxism.

Marx said that the working class is alienated because
their surplus value is stolen from them by the capitalists.
Their surplus value is (roughly) the difference between the
value of the products of their labors and the value of their pay.
Note that the surplus value is expropriated for the private
benefit of the employer.  It seems clear to me that
if, on the other hand, the working class itself controlled the
state and owned the means of production, they would not be
alienated by having part of their surplus value go to the state,
because that is for the social good.  Furthermore, they
would have a good deal to say about the kind of policies
used to spend that surplus wealth.
There is a big difference between taxation for the public
good and profit taking for the wealthy.

I don't think people are inherently greedy or selfish.
Some would like us all to believe it though.

	Jan Edler		cmcl2!edler	(nyu)
				pyuxll!jse	(btl piscataway)