Mara Acosta- Pr. 1
In the Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx highlights many issues he found apparent at that time. A major topic in his manifesto is the division between the proletariat and bourgeoisie classes, specifically their status and beliefs. In his political pamphlet, a deep division is displayed through the interaction between the proletariat and bourgeoisie, and today, a similar division is existing between the two major political parties in the United States, the Democrats and Republicans. This current day division is more dangerous than that between the proletariats and bourgeoise classes.
In the 1800s, the proletariat and bourgeoisie were the two prominent classes. On one hand, the proletariat were considered to be the working class; that is, this class included the workers, who did not own the means of production. Then secondly, we have the other class, the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie were the wealthy class, who owned most, if not all means of production[i]. They would be considered to be the modern-day version of the capitalist class. Shifting to today’s comparison, Democrats and Republicans have formed somewhat of an invisible barrier between each other based on beliefs versus classes. Republicans tend to be right-leaning and conservative. This means that one in this party may believe in free markets, free enterprise, and traditional Christian values[ii]. A Democrat believes in a more regulated market, equal opportunity, and that the government should have a significant role in citizens’ lives.
Many similarities can be drawn between the relationship between the proletariat and bourgeoisie, and the Democrats and Republicans. First, both groups are very divided. The bourgeoisie came about from a feudal society. This resulted in class antagonisms, which society increasingly split into the two rival classes.[iii] The industrial middle class were replaced by millionaires, the bourgeoisie. Through their progress in society, the bourgeoisie gained political power, which was exclusive to them. This created intense self-interest in the relations between men and women. For the proletariat, this meant that as long as they found work, they lived. Where did this work come from? It came from the bourgeoisie. But why is this? This can be answered with a simple statement: they could only find work if their labor increased capital of the bourgeoisie. They were the labor, and the bourgeoise were the capital. These two classes displayed the deep division that succors in an economic and political nightmare. Little did Marx know, a similar division would result in the United States years later. In the current political split in the U.S., Republicans and Democrats have never been as divided as they are now. A majority of conversations between the two parties tends to end in personal digs and insults thrown at one another. Why is this? Haven’t the two parties learned what happens when two groups are divided by their own self-interests? Apparently, they have not learned. Fundamentally, the two sides seem to not be able to agree. Economically, both have different ideas of what is best role of the government. They cannot agree on basic economics, where government should and shouldn’t be involved, and even human rights.[iv] Republicans are primarily pro-life, while Democrats are pro-choice. Generally, Republicans are in favor of the border wall, while Democrats are famously against it. Each party uses each other’s name as an insult; for example, a Republican saying that there is nothing worse than being a Democrat. Keeping this similarity in mind, the proletariat and bourgeoise’s situation raises the question: will a similar struggle occur in the United States?
Ring, Jared Robert. Digital image. The Tragedy Of American Politics: The Two-Party System. March 26, 2016. Accessed April 28, 2019. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-tragedy-of-american-politics.
The dangers presented in the Communist Manifesto between the two classes is alarming. One class, the bourgeoise, was constantly exploiting the other class, the proletariat. Shifting to today, the divide presents dangers that could severely hurt the United States. What are those dangers? First, there is the belief that “partisan identification is now a bigger wedge between Americans than race, gender, religion or level of education,”[v]. Race used to divide Americans, which hurt millions of people. In today’s environment, political affiliation presents a larger divide, and one can only imagine the destructiveness it may cause to our government and society. With the 2016 presidential election, whom one voted for had never been so personal as it had been previously; it now widely believed that which party you follow more widely reflects your character. Opposing party members are mad and angry with each other. They cannot fathom how each side believes what they do, and how they support those in their political party. Some are even afraid of each other. This may be because of the sparked violence due to disagreements. The intolerance of the opposing political party is as high as ever. These dangers are parallel to what Karl Marx presented in his Communist Manifesto. If the current track of the political parties continues as is, the citizens of the United States could easily become as divided as the Manifesto described.
The partisan
divide of America is related to the bourgeoisie and proletariat relationship.
While not as extreme, the citizens of the United States should take caution of its
divided political parties. The instable relationship of the bourgeoisie and
proletariat is very comparable to the current state of the Democrat and Republican
parties.
[i] Rubin, Jennifer. “Ten Things Republicans Believe.” The Washington Post. February 25, 2013. Accessed April 17, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/topic/bourgeoisie
[ii] Ryan, Alan. “Bourgeoisie.” Encyclopædia Britannica. March 15, 2019. Accessed April 19, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2013/02/25/ten-things-republicans-believe/
[iii] Marx, Karl, 1818-1883. The Communist Manifesto. London ; Chicago, Ill. :Pluto Press, 1996.
[iv] Taylor, Jessica. “Republicans And Democrats Don’t Agree, Or Like Each Other – And It’s Worse Than Ever.” NPR. October 05, 2017. Accessed April 28, 2019. https://www.npr.org/2017/10/05/555685136/republicans-and-democrats-dont-agree-dont-like-each-other-and-its-worst-than-eve.
[v] Peters, Jeremy W. “In a Divided Era, One Thing Seems to Unite: Political Anger.” The New York Times. August 17, 2018. Accessed April 28, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/us/politics/political-fights.html.
Bear Market 