General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Karl Marx: 10 great quotes on his birthday [View all]Zorra
(27,670 posts)and some who read them are marveling (like myself) at how accurate and how applicable they still are today.
That's a big one for me. I've learned a lot from the writings of Marx, and I've lived my life pretty much outside of the control of the 1% as much as possible, and part of the reason that I was able to do this was because Marx helped illuminate the overall condition of the world for me. I never bought into the system or the bullshit values of the system, and I am probably one of the happiest people on the planet largely because of this.
It's not Karl's fault that the majority of people are not literate enough to comprehend his ideas and put them into more effective actions than what his ideas have previously helped bring to fruition....at least up to this point.
That fault is the fault of the 1%. Controlling information, and keeping people illiterate or semi-literate, is one tool the 1% uses to prevent genuine democratic socialism from replacing capitalism.
The 1% began to actively dumb down America in earnest in the 1980's, pretty much beginning with efforts of Reagan and Bennett.
An illiterate, dumbed down population is easy to control. Sheep follow their leader, even to the slaughterhouse.
I am occupy, I'm not a "Marxist Communist", whatever the heck that really means.
But Marx was a very astute, intelligent, and insightful human being, and I have the greatest respect for his ideas, and I could be considered one of his successes.
So thanks, Karl, and happy birthday.