The Problems with Capitalism

The Problems with Capitalism

What is wrong with capitalism? Capitalism is the control of many by very few greedy, property owning, men who own the labor of others. What is a child's life like in the 1840's. An interview with an average working-class child will remind in detail. It goes as follows:

What age are you?

--Fourteen.

What is your occupation?

--A blanket manufacturer.

Have you ever been employed in a factory? If so, at what age did you start?

--Yes, at age eight.

Will you state the hours of labor at the period when you first went to the factory, in ordinary times?

--From 6 in the morning to 8 at night.

How long was your break for lunch and rest?

--An hour at noon.

When trade was brisk what were your hours?

--From 5 in the morning to 9 in the evening.

How long was your break for dinner?

--An hour.

How far did you live from the mill?

--About two miles.

During those long hours of labor could you be punctual; how did you awake?

--I seldom did awake spontaneously; I was most generally awoke or lifted out of bed, sometimes asleep, by my parents.

Were you always in time?

--No.

What was the consequence if you had been too late?

--I was most commonly beaten.

Severely?

--Very severely, I thought.

In those mills is punishment towards the latter part of the day going on repeatedly?

--Yes, repeatedly.

So that you can hardly be in a mill without hearing constant crying?

--Never an hour, I believe.

At the time when you were beaten for not keeping up with your work, were you anxious to have done it if you possibly could?

--Yes; the dread of being beaten if we could not keep up with our work was a sufficient impulse to keep us to it if we could.

When you got home at night after this labor, did you feel much fatigued?

--Very much so.

Had you any time to be with your parents, and to receive instruction from them?

--No.

And if you had been too late you were under the apprehension of being cruelly beaten?

--I generally was beaten when I happened to be too late; and when I got up in the morning the apprehension of that was so great, that I used to run, and cry all the way as I went to the mill.

This child has no name and no face in the capitalist system. "It" is treated as an asset to be bought and exploited by the bourgeoisie.