memes

There is no plan. Capitalism is not a cohesive scheme deliberately engineered and steered by the bourgeoisie. It's an engine that was set into motion at one point and has been trucking on by itself ever since. It preserves itself by rewarding those who uphold it and punishing those who dissent.

Let's say Jeff Bezos got the Ebenezer Scrooge treatment tonight and woke up a changed man who genuinely cares about his workers. If he tried to improve labor conditions at Amazon and it cut into profits, Amazon shareholders would sue into oblivion and some board of directors would appoint a new guy who's willing to do whatever it takes to make number go up. Every politician who tries to change the system gets drowned out by corporate donors simply protecting their short-term interests and every corrupt politician who works to maintain it gets rewarded.

There's nobody at the steering wheel here. The bourgeoisie is along for the ride just like you and me, they just have nicer seats. Capitalism sustains itself through the immediate short-term incentives it creates. If you sell out, you can have a nice life right now. If you don't, someone else will.