by whatname

Created on: September 03, 2009   Last Updated: September 05, 2009

Scattered Thoughts on Marx's Communist Manifesto

Are we, citizens of 'developed' and capitalist societies, ignorant or neglectful of the collective and underlying mindsets that we unconsciously live in and by? Or is ignorance about the limiting and confining character of these mindsets and ideologies not the real issue, with it being, instead, that we are too fearful or lazy to reject them, too afraid of rebelling against externally imposed ideas through the search of and harmonious relationship with each one of our own self-wills and personal freedom to choose what values to live by, how to treat others, and how to wisely invest our time and attention? Perhaps, that ideological 'supra-structure' that the working class believes to be true, favorable, desirable, and potentially redemptive, one that contains a combination of religious, ethical, political, and philosophical currents of thought, is, like Marx would suggest, nothing but bourgeoisie-promoted ideologies that are powerful and effective for the control of the masses, essential for the suppression of potential revolution, which could result in unwanted socio-economic and political restructuring of 'developed' societies, a restructuring that would involve the fall of capitalism, class divisions, and much social injustice, all of which are undesirable for those who benefit from the way society is currently (and unjustly) structured.

One of the most easily recognizable effects of capitalism is the partial loss of physical and mental freedom, of what makes humans be humans. If part or all of what being human is involves being able to willingly engage in authentic, passionate creativity and decision-making, then the capitalist system of production and consumption has stolen that away from the proletariat, those who do not own "means of production of their own, [and] are reduced to selling their labor power in order to live" (Marx citing Engels, 473). Their freedom to freely choose, create, and work has been taken away from those who are constantly transformed from potentially free individuals, to persons who must give most of their physical freedom, longings, and life-possibilities away in order to work for their superiors, so that they can make enough money to survive. They work many hours every day, oftentimes doing work that does not require the investment of their hearts, activities that they are not passionate about, but 'stuck with'. The sense of purposelessness and chronic feelings of tiredness and

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