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Re: Racism and ancient history
Robert Snower (rs222@worldnet.att.net)
Sun, 19 Jan 1997 16:51:53 GMT
vivacuba@ix.netcom.com(Dr. Doug) wrote:
>>>I think this is a very interesting thread and look forward to reading
>more,
>>
>>>Dean
>>
>>Dr. Doug sees racism as the tool of capitalism to exploit labor
>>because he is a socialist. But I don't think history supports him. I
>>can't think of any of the egregious examples in history of racial
>>prejudice fitting his paradigm.
>>
>>Best wishes. rs
>>
>I have recently backed off from equating all racism in the history of
>the world with only capitalism, but I do believe very strongly that 1)
>racism, (as well as sexism,) has always played an essentially economic
>role in every instance in which it is found, ie. benefits the ruling
>class economically, and is as such an institution, and 2) is absolutely
>essential in capitalist economies, for the purpose of keeping the
>producers of wealth disunited and weakened. Therefore all liberal
>attempts to eliminate racism in our modern society are doomed to
>failure. In fact, racism is gaining among some sectors, not going
>away.
When you say "the producers of wealth" you are talking only about the
workers. But in fact the bosses and entrpreneurs are quite the equal
of the "labor" in the production of wealth.
Racism does not help the capitalist, nor does it help capitalist
economies. It is very detrimental to both. You have a simplistic
notion in your head that low wages helps capitalism. They don't,
because lower wages mean lower purchasing power, means poor business.
The capitalist wants *cost-efficient* labor: the most skill at the
lowest price. Racism destroys the ability of the employer to find the
best people at the lowest cost because it conceals individual merit
behind the screens of color and sex.
Best wishes. rs
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