Herbert Irving Schiller Quotes
Capitalism cannot be reduced to one or a few features, but it does possess one relationship, central to its existence and operation, that constitutes the essence of inequality and ineradicable instability: the wage-labor-capital connection that dwells at the heart of the system.
Schiller, Herbert I. Living in the Number One Country: Reflections from a Critic of American Empire. Seven Stories Press, 2000.
Li was one of the leaders urging force to repress the demonstration. He was particularly offended by the Chinese students carrying the large “Statue of Liberty,” believing that this was an overt attempt to destabilize China. This was not known till the publication of the so-called “Tiananmen Square Papers” in 2001. The Chinese government claimed that these were forgeries.
At the time, it did seem impossible that labor and capital would ever have harmonious relations. But the notion that slavery would solve the problem is as preposterous as anything ever entered into the American political dialogue. But there were many in the South, and some in the North, who actually believed it. Even 150 years later, while labor and capital relations were much better than pre Civil War, they still could not be described as “harmonious” or “friendly”.
One of the contradictions of capitalism is that at many points in history capitalism has caused and/or contributed to great death and suffering. However, that same capitalism has led to the development of science, technology, agronomy, medicine and education which has saved and preserved millions of lives and raised the standard of living more than anything else.
