In essence, history of the Manifesto mirrors that of the modern workers’ movement. Presently, it is without a doubt the most prevalent and international production of all communist works, a platform recognized by a large number of workers from Siberia to America which remains applicable today, after 150 years. The influence of The Communist Manifesto has been exceptional. This little book has been translated into major languages and has remained a motivation for generations of social democrats. It has gone into average working class’ cognizance in a way that very few other political literatures have managed to. It is frequently the first and maybe the only piece of Marx and Engels writing that workers read. It additionally has a sensational and abstract quality which makes it one of the best pieces of political literatures. Its effective arguments and provision of a total picture still dominate most present day communist political literature. Though many people would not like to acknowledge the applicability of the ideologies put forth by Marx in this writing, the reality is that even after a century, these ideas, ideologies and theories are relevant in today’s American and there application is as visible as one would want it to be. This discussion makes an argument that Marx’s ideas and ideologies are applicable in America today. To prove this, the discussion will look into the various aspects of American life from laws, regulations and programs that possibly draw their basis from Marx ideas. Also, this discussion will look into the issues of how Marx’s ideas such as the oppressor versus oppressed have been incorporated into Americas social life.
Application of Marxism in American today
Despite the fact that Marx called for the use of any means possible, particularly including violent revolution to achieve communist totalitarianism, he recommended ten political objectives for developed nations, for example, the United States. The question is just how the United States which is traditionally a fortress of private property, a free markets and freedom, walked the Marxist road towards the accomplishment of these communist points.[1] From his Communist Manifesto, Marx made 10 important points or rather, recommendations that seem to be well applied in today’s America even though many people live in oblivion regarding these issues. I would like to call them the 10 plank of The Communist Manifesto.
First, Marx pointed out to the abolition of land as a private property and the utilization of all land rents for public purpose.[2] In U.S., courts have interpreted the fourteenth Amendment(1868) to provide government with more extensive "eminent domain" power than the founders original intention under the title, "eminent domain" " and different land use regulations, zoning regulations by the Bureau of Land Management property taxes, in addition to the "environmental" excuses which has seen private persons property rights exceptionally watered down and private property on vehicles, Landis, and different structures seized on a daily basis using the "forfeiture " of the RICO acts and the purported War on Drugs. This is essentially a Marxist concept.
Secondly, Marx proposed a heavy progressive income tax. In the United States, sixteenth Amendment (1913) to which many scholars argue was never appropriately ratified, and other different State income taxes, set up this significant Marxist upheaval many decades ago. In reality, these taxes keep on draining the life force out of American economy and incredibly decrease the accrual of the much required capital for future growth, employment generation, salary increments, and business starts.
Thirdly, Marx proposed an abolition of all rights of inheritance. This is in essence another Marxian assault on property rights (private). In America, is comes as Federal and State taxes and inheritance taxes that have annulled or significantly weakened the right of owners of private property in deciding on the distribution and disposition of their properties or estates upon death. Rather, civil servants get their covetous hands actively involved in private property of citizens. As indirect as it is, this is a Marxists idea of private property right denial.[3]
Fourth, Marx proposed an annexation of the property of all rebels and emigrants. Here in America it is known as tax liens, government seizures, "forfeiture" Public "law" of 1986; Executive order 11490, section 1205. This gives privately owned land to U.S. Department of Urban Development; incarceration of "terrorists" and the individuals who write or criticizes the "administration" the IRS appropriation of property in absence of the due process.[4]
Fifth, the centralization of credit under the state, through a national bank with state capital and total monopoly was another Marx’s proposal which is applied in the U.S. today. The U.S. Federal Reserve Act (1913) created what we have today as the Federal Reserve System and is certainly an example of a "national bank" as Marx’s idea. This bank controls interest rates, manipulates it politically and has total monopoly on legal counterfeiting in America.[5] This is precisely Marx’s top priority and totally satisfies the fifth plank, another crucial communist target. However, majority of Americans gullibly trust that the United States is a long way from a socialist or Marxist country.
Sixth, another important point Marx noted was the centralization of all means of transportation and communication in states hands.[6] In America, transportation and communication are regulated and controlled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which was established through the enactment of 1934 Communications Act and the Department of Transportation and Interstate Commerce Commission of 1887, Executive orders 10999 and 11490, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and also different state regulations and bureaucracies. Also, the federal postal monopoly, CONRAIL, AMTRAK are direct socialist initiatives. Rather than a private free-market enterprise in these critical businesses, in America, these sectors are semi-cartelized through the administration's regulatory-industrial complex.
Seventh, Marx pointed out to expansion of industrial units and factors of production that is state owned; bringing of waste lands into cultivation, and soil improvement according to a common plan.[7]
Even though the U.S. doesn’t have huge collective farms, it has a substantial level of government participation in agriculture through land-use regulations, land allotments and price support subsidies. Business is controlled through various corporate regulations such as U.S. Department of Agriculture, Desert Entry Act, the Department of Commerce and Labor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, IRS, National Park Service, Bureau of Mines and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Eighth, Marx proposed a system of equal duty of every citizen to work through the creation of industrial armies, particularly in agribusiness.[8] The America version of this idea is the Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration. The debt and inflation which have been triggered by the communal bank led to the necessity for a two “income" family. The 19th amendment, Woman in the workplace (1920's), Civil Rights Act of 1964, , Executive order 11000, Federal Public Works Program, Equal Rights Amendment, organized Socialist Unions, Civil Rights Act (1964) and affirmative action implies that women ought to do the same work that men are doing including the military. This has made women subject to the military draft which explains the recent move to create a legislation to compel women to enroll in the military.
Ninth, Marx also proposed an amalgamation of agriculture with the manufacturing sector, the progressive eradication of difference between country and town through a relatively equitable distribution of population across the nation.[9] American version of this Marxists idea is the Super Corporate Farms, Title 17 zoning, Planning Reorganization Act (1949), Public "law" 89-136 and the Executive orders 11647 and 11731.
Lastly, Marx proposed free education for every child in government schools. This is basically the abolition of child labor in factory in its present-day form. Marx’s also proposed a mixture of education with industrial production.[10] This is very much evident today especially by looking at the “No Child Left Behind” initiative. Americans are taxed to support public schools that train and prepare the young people to work for a collective or rather communal debt system. American version is the Outcome Based "Education,” Department of Education, and the NEA.
Oppressor v. oppressed
Marx’s ideologies and ideas clearly depict the present American scene of the oppressor versus the oppressed, feminists versus patriarchy and the class struggles.
Marx states:
“Political power, properly so called, is merely the organized power of one class oppressing another”
This is an oppression that according to Marx will prompt to the fall of Capitalism. In essence, capitalism will cause its own self-destruction.[11] Strains will emerge between Capitalists and a growing working class as a result of socialization of labor, since as the number of workers rise, team spirit will develop. As the polarization of elite and the production labor forces rises, they will exceed industrialist relations prompting to a full-scale uprising and resistance leading to the takeover of the whole capitalist system. Marx specifies the propensity for fetishisms to grow, an endless craving for more products that have no essential need or value. In a case where society turns out to be so reliant on benefits that they disregard human wellbeing and suffering the laborers essentially turn into an accessory of industrial machines instead of a valued input sources. He stated that, “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles”
Marx additionally anticipated Capitalism's definitive decline will be a consequence of its system of self-regulating market.[12]
Starting with an economic boom, manipulating demand for resources, labor, bringing about a rise in prices and decreased profits and as the investment diminishes, a crash happens prompting to wage declines; job loss and bankruptcies. An economy fails as borrowing plunges while at the same time interest rates are falling. This drives survivors to purchase up stock from bankrupt investors at little cost. The outcome is very fewer Capitalists with expanded assets from the ‘loot.’ Following many cycles, this prompts to the destruction and disappearance of Capitalism and communism taking over.
Conversely, Marx’s prophecies of this Communism takeover have not materialized on the planet today. Capitalism not only blossomed but also thrived after the end of WW2. In American the fantasy appeared be a reality. There was exponential growth and stock markets flourished. Obviously this was trailed by the beginning of the energy crisis of 1970's, then stagflation and the system almost collapsed. The rising unemployment and an ever growing inequality saw workers losing confidence.
What is apparent is that Communism has gained support in America where many Americans between 18 ears and 30 years of age have a more ideal supposition of communism than free enterprise. All these get Americans in agreement with Marxism.[13]Marx’s forecasts about the self-regulating mechanism of market bringing about the breakdown of Capitalism has already discussed above are highly applicable in the case of the 2007-2008 financial crisis. Marx invested his time analyzing world’s first investment bank, Credit Mobilizer.[14] Marx was surprised that this bank was permitted to borrow almost 10 times its real capital and could be able to buy shares in foreign infrastructures and industries. The falling stock prices and resulting struggles reimbursing the unpaid loans is common.
The technology, housing and stock market bubbles can demonstrate Marx concept of fictitious capital and to the fetishisms referred to by Marx, all is illustrated by the manufacturing of new devices such as MacBook or the most recent fashion and they all show the inevitable insatiability and desire from the society.[15] Thus, Marx theories on Capitalism destruction still hold some significance today. Marx elucidations of social strains that emerge as a result of class struggle are especially pertinent. In relation to Marx theories, the violent protests in America today are caused by inflexible social structures and the growing unity among workers.
Class differences and struggles are a major point Marx makes. An examination of class divisions and struggles is particularly essential in building up a comprehension of the idea of private enterprise. For Marx, classes are characterized and organized by (I) who claims or has property and factors for production and who carries out the work in the process of production, (ii) the social connections involved with labor and work, and (iii) who produces and who controls the surplus human social labor can deliver.[16] These financial factors more completely administer social connections in private enterprise than they did in societies of earlier days. While societies of earlier days had different strata or groupings which considered as classes, they might have been elites or strata that were not construct exclusively with respect to economic components for instance military elite, knights, or priesthood.
Marx ideology is adapted well with feminists v. patriarchy in today’s America. Gender inequality of women and men might be viewed as secondary in significance to class oppression and inequality, and logical inconsistencies related with reproduction and gender takes a secondary part in elucidating social change. Women are still struggling to get equality with men and have regularly had to take a secondary position to the struggles of the working class. In the meantime, work shapes awareness, and women's work shapes her status and mental self-concept.
Today, women are a social class in itself, struggling to attain equality. In the course of the most recent thirty years, Marxist feminists have tried to merge the Marxian classical interpretation that class disparity is established in the control of material forces by few individuals, with a comprehension of the foundations of women's subjugation and an examination of feminist protest.[17] Feminists’ takes note of the fact that this might be a troubled marriage of feminism and Marxism; however this approach has had an imperative effect on late sociological theorization.
Conclusion
From the discussion above, there is no doubt that the ideologies and concepts that Marx put forth in The Communist Manifesto are relatively relevant today. From the various controls and bureaucracies seen above, America has in essence walked down the Marxist read even though many would rather not admit it. While some ideas of Marx such as the collapse of capitalism have not materialized, others are a reality in America. from the various structural and legal aspects of American life that conform to Marxists ideas to the class struggles, not to mention the position of women in American society, there is more of Marxist systems to American life that anticipated.
Bibliography
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and John Edward Toews. The Communist manifesto: with related documents. 2018.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, and Gareth Stedman Jones. The Communist manifesto. London: Penguin Books, 2002.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, Friedrich Engels, and Paul M. Sweezy. The Communist Manifesto. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1964.
Marx, Karl, Friedrich Engels, Jeffrey C. Isaac, and Steven Lukes. The Communist Manifesto. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012.
[1] Karl Marx et al., The Communist Manifesto (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012), 240.
[2] Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and John Edward Toews, The Communist manifesto: with related documents (2018), 184.
[3] Karl Marx et al., The Communist Manifesto (New York: Monthly Review Press, 1964). 113
[4] Ibid., 184
[5] Ibid., 240
[6] Ibid., 184
[7] Ibid., 240
[8] Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Gareth Stedman Jones, The Communist manifesto (London: Penguin Books, 2002), 304.
[9] Ibid., 240
[10] Ibid., 304
[11] Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and John Edward Toews, The Communist manifesto: with related documents (2018), 184.
[12] Ibid., 184
[13] Ibid.,304
[14] Karl Marx et al., The Communist Manifesto (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012), 240.
[15] Ibid.,184
[16] Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and John Edward Toews, The Communist manifesto: with related documents (2018), 184.
[17] Ibid.,240
