Revisiting Karl Marx and his comments on Free Trade....

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"Jesus Christ is Free Trade, and Free Trade is Jesus Christ."
One can understand that all this hypocrisy was not calculated to make cheap bread attractive to the workers.Besides, how could the workingman understand the sudden philanthropy of the manufacturers, the very men still busy fighting against the Ten Hours' Bill, which was to reduce the working day of the mill hands from 12 hours to 10?

To give you an idea of the philanthropy of these manufacturers I would remind you, gentlemen, of the factory regulations in force in all the mills.

Every manufacturer has for his own private use a regular penal code in which fines are laid down for every voluntary or involuntary offence. For instance, the worker pays so much if he has the misfortune to sit down on a chair; if he whispers, or speaks, or laughs; if he arrives a few moments too late; if any part of the machine breaks, or he does not turn out work of the quality desired, etc., etc. The fines are always greater than the damage really done by the worker. And to give the worker every opportunity for incurring fines, the factory clock is set forward, and he is given bad raw material to make into good pieces of stuff. An overseer not sufficiently skillful in multiplying cases of infractions or rules is discharged.

You see, gentlemen, this private legislation is enacted for the especial purpose of creating such infractions, and infractions are manufactured for the purpose of making money. Thus the manufacturer uses every means of reducing the nominal wage, and of profiting even by accidents over which the worker has no control.
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<link> http://www.cooperativeindividualism.org/marx_freetrade.html

The free trade situation in America today seems to reflect these conditions from the lassez faire period of England over 160 years ago.

[whistle]

1. On a lighter note.....

Karl Marx, R.I.P.

When Karl Marx died, he was met by Saint Peter at the gates of heaven.

"Name?" asks Peter.

"Marx, Karl Marx." replies the famous thinker.

"Hmm," says Peter to himself, "why do I know that name?"

"I am Marx," Marx said, beaming with pride, "founder of socialism and the driving force behind the communist ideal called Marxism."

"I see," Peter said. "I'll have to check with God."

So Peter rushes off to confer with God. God hears the name Marx and immediately a look of disgust infects His face. "Marx?" God says, "He's nothing but a trouble maker. Tell him to go to hell."

So Peter happily signs the appropriate forms and Karl Marx is banished to Satan's domain.

Some time later, a free trade agreement is forged between Heaven and Hell. The deal is hailed by all to be a great economic leap forward that would revitalize both struggling economies. After all, Hell has plenty of heat to spare, while Heaven produces an excess of manna. But soon after the treaty, God realizes that Heaven is no longer receiving any products from Hell. So he sends Saint Peter down to investigate.

"Well?" asks Peter of Satan, "What's the hold up? We have an agreement!"

Satan shrugs his shoulders, exasperated. "It's that Marx fellow," Satan replied. "Ever since he got down here, all we've had are strikes and labour demands. Productivity has dropped to zero!"

"So?" Peter asks, "What would you have us do?"

"Take him back. Take Marx back to Heaven, and I guarantee productivity will sky rocket!"

So Peter agreed, on God's behalf, to accept Karl Marx back to Heaven.

Normality returned, for a while. But some time later Satan realizes that Hell has not received any orders from Heaven. In fact, very little communication at all has leaked from Up Above. So, concerned for the economic welfare of Hell, he makes a trip to Heaven.

"Peter! Peter, are you there?" Satan demands.

"Yes, what is it?" Peter answers.

"What's the hold up? What about the flow of trade?"

"Oh I'm sorry," Peter said, "We have decided to adopt an isolationist stance. We are a self-governing commune, that is now focussed on the needs of the proletariat. It is our opinion that this free trade agreement only benefits the bourgeois."

"What?!" Satan was furious. "I demand to speak to God!"

Comrade Peter raises one eyebrow: "Who?"