[A leaflet distributed to striking workers in California, 2005]
The richer get richer and the poor get poorer, what else!
Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining or demanding a better distribution of wealth. I wouldn't because I know it's not a problem of distribution or a malfunctioning of American society. For the richer to become richer is not a result of distribution it's the terms under which we work and live. Only if the richer become richer do we have work. Only if we, the Have Nots, can make those who already possess wealth richer can we make a living. Only if they find an interest and option in becoming richer are commodities produced. And only if we have made enough money can we buy the goods we have produced in privately owned factories. The amount we make will never free us from the fate of working for others.
All our livelihoods depend on a materialism of someone else taking an interest in exploiting our work. Our work serves no other purpose; there is no other economic purpose.
And this has some unpleasant effects.
The paycheck we receive enables the capitalist the owner who commands the work and it's results because he bought it to generate a surplus. Because of that, the nature of their economic end sees our wages as a limitation on their profit. A capitalist has only one way of making profit, by buying the work of others to make him richer; although the labor bought can do that, he notices and, if not, competition will let him know that cutting down on the wages of his workers and demanding higher results called higher efficiency will increase his profit. That is the mystery and first commandment of good management. You shall try to exploit your worker better than thy competitor.
If a capitalist disobeys this law, punishment is cruel he will go into bankruptcy. The risk a capitalist takes has to be given credit; if he fails, he will have our fate having to work for others, for money. And this risk cannot be paid enough, for we and also the capitalist know how damn shitty a life depending on good business can be.
Because if business is good, we will have produced enough wealth to make us useless through machinery, and if not, make us useless because we couldn't produce wealth at all.
For that alone, profit has to be as high as possible that's not sarcasm, it's reality.
Thank God for our union, they'll make sure our capitalist will stay in business.
Meaning: we all know the owners are not going to get 25% in one year, because under the fierce fight of the union to secure our work we will probably have to throw in some extras, hours and benefits the owners will be forced to accept our willingness to increase their profit, because what else is there for us than to work for the benefit of others. And we can be glad if we can continue to work for 10% less or so. After all, we need our employers so we can make them richer. Working for others you have to love it. Workers of all nations compete for the lowest salary: that is the God, the President and the Will of the Capitalist. There is no alternative to wage work, working for ourselves uh, what a cruel thought!