Yeah, I fall in that category, and even though I own a tiny fraction of various companies, I don’t control the means of production. I sell my labor. The fact that I get paid more for it doesn’t change that, and to those that do control the means of production, I am just as disposable. That’s why I have to save and invest; to give myself a way to support my family when that happens.
Maybe bougie petites? The stock market is way more accessible now compared to Marx’s time and by tying retirement to it (401Ks and similar) it really forces a lot of people to invest in the idea of capitalism.
There’s other classifications or sub-classifications particularly with regards to how much someone may benefit from capitalism and therefore where their interests might lie, but ultimately I think the bourgeoisie vs the proletariat is about how much influence they have over how society works.
Here’s another infographic which tries to cover that angle, no comment on how successful/ accurate it may be. Personally I think it divides people too much. (Source: Reddit, latestagecapitalism)
Yes they are proletariat. In fact, there are a few billionaires that also fall into this group (I believe LeBron James). If you have to sell your labor, you are being exploited and a prole.
Billionaires that were labor originally still had to sell their labor at that time. I suspect some there may be some theory that argues that said billionaires are no longer working class when they cease working and are no longer dependent on their labor, but I am not sure how that’d differ from someone using their labor to get lucky in the stock market and retire early.
Pretty sure as soon as you don’t have to sell your labor anymore to live a somewhat decent live*, you’re not working class anymore, independent of how that happens. Working class background or something.
* That’s a bit subjective of course, but at billionaires levels it’s pretty clear
So upper middle class professionals who live in fancy houses making 200k with lots of investments are just proletariat in this classification?
I feel like they have kinda different interests.
They may think they do due to years of brainwashing and propaganda. But labor is labor at the end of the day.
Yeah, I fall in that category, and even though I own a tiny fraction of various companies, I don’t control the means of production. I sell my labor. The fact that I get paid more for it doesn’t change that, and to those that do control the means of production, I am just as disposable. That’s why I have to save and invest; to give myself a way to support my family when that happens.
Maybe bougie petites? The stock market is way more accessible now compared to Marx’s time and by tying retirement to it (401Ks and similar) it really forces a lot of people to invest in the idea of capitalism.
The term is labor aristocracy
Honestly: yes.
There’s other classifications or sub-classifications particularly with regards to how much someone may benefit from capitalism and therefore where their interests might lie, but ultimately I think the bourgeoisie vs the proletariat is about how much influence they have over how society works.
Here’s another infographic which tries to cover that angle, no comment on how successful/ accurate it may be. Personally I think it divides people too much. (Source: Reddit, latestagecapitalism)
doctors, lawyers, tech bros, small business owners, drop shippers, celebrities: they are also petite-bourgeois.
They are labor aristocracy
Yes they are proletariat. In fact, there are a few billionaires that also fall into this group (I believe LeBron James). If you have to sell your labor, you are being exploited and a prole.
How do billionaires “have to” sell their labor?
In reality: they don’t.
In their minds: they fear losing that paycheck just like everyone else.
Billionaires that were labor originally still had to sell their labor at that time. I suspect some there may be some theory that argues that said billionaires are no longer working class when they cease working and are no longer dependent on their labor, but I am not sure how that’d differ from someone using their labor to get lucky in the stock market and retire early.
Pretty sure as soon as you don’t have to sell your labor anymore to live a somewhat decent live*, you’re not working class anymore, independent of how that happens. Working class background or something.
* That’s a bit subjective of course, but at billionaires levels it’s pretty clear
That also makes them no longer working class.
There is a big difference between a retiree and someone that never had to work.
Which part makes them no longer working class?
Not having to work for a living.
If you are a beggar you aren’t working class either, but obviously there are important distinctions.