Capitalism In America Essay

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Recommended: Marx and Engels capitalism

Capitalism is doomed. Marx and Engels predicted its inevitable demise, describing the downfall of all countries with private ownership, particularly the United States. While communists praised the proletariat movements active there during their lifetimes, modern America still lacks centralized socialist sentiments in its political system and working class. Despite increasing income and wealth inequality between citizens, plus a decrease in economic mobility, the American electorate has never supported socialist third parties enough to matter. Marxist dogma suggests that times of economic downturn, when negative effects associated with capitalism are felt the most, lead to class consciousness’s that result in revolutionary socialist movements. …show more content…

Nonetheless, it doesn’t match socialist movements in other industrialized countries neither by caliber or timing, partly due to the history behind the country. Accompanied by the economic prosperity resulting from plentiful resources on the continent and this polity, early Americans had opportunities aplenty to embrace capitalism, focus on their wellbeing, and blame the troubles of the poor on their own misfortune (Lipset, Marks). Designed to combat ills of monarchical restrictions, the young United States conjured a government system ripe for resistance to socialist movements. From a political standpoint, the existence of barriers inherent to a winner-take-all duopoly system played a role in assisting the suppression of a comprehensive socialist faction from emerging. Successes for socialist third parties only happened at local levels, a consequence of this American brand of federalism (Foner). Also, consistent economic upswings allowed the middle and working class electorate to become more focused on cultural factors rather than economic ones. Contrary to Marxist ideology, as industrialized nations develop, voters rely less on class distinctions while casting their ballot. Post materialism now drives the American majority’s decision making (Inglehart). As demonstrated by Thomas Frank, the modern conservative party in

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