# Why was Marx wrong about capitalism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 1, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744 "2022-05-01T00:27:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/1 "2022-05-01T00:27:15Z")
In sum, Marx thought workers did not get paid enough under capitalism. He thought too much of the money went to owners. What he did not understand is that the capitalist must provide the best jobs and products possible in the world or go bankrupt against those who are able to provide better jobs and products. If you doubt it for a second try starting a business with sub standard jobs and products. This topic seems very important since Bernie Sanders is the rising star in the Democrat Party and Harris is VP set to inherit leadership of the party despite having voted to the left of Sanders while a US Senator. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/2 "2022-05-01T00:29:37Z")
1. I don’t think you’ve accurately summarized Marx’s theories. 2. The problem with Marx is not his critique of capitalism, which is okay, but his proposed solution, which is unworkable. 3. Harris _may_ be to the left of Sanders (I honestly don’t know) but she’s not a Marxist. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/3 "2022-05-01T00:37:03Z")
Who will buy products and services if workers don’t get decent pay? Capitalism is less of a system and more of a circle jerk. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/4 "2022-05-01T00:46:49Z")
> [@TedBaiamonte](#): > > What he did not understand is that the capitalist must provide the best jobs and products possible in the world or go bankrupt against those who are able to provide better jobs and products. If you doubt it for a second try starting a business with sub standard jobs and products. Spending five minutes looking around your local grocery or general store would put paid to that nonsense. > [@](#): > > Bernie Sanders is the rising star in the Democrat Party Also curious about what you mean by rising star and Democrat Party. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/5 "2022-05-01T00:50:42Z")
Better jobs does not enter into the Capitalist equation. Minimal pay (among other costs) to produce the goods and services which consumers will pay the maximum for is the equation. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/6 "2022-05-01T00:57:19Z")
What is this “Democrat Party” of which you speak? I’ve never heard of it, and last I checked Bernie Sanders was an independent. ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/7 "2022-05-01T00:58:28Z")
Under capitalism workers must get the highest pay possible. If they don’t the workers will leave to where they do get the best pay. If you doubt it for a second try starting business and offer sub standard pay. Similarly, the capitalist must offer the best products possible or his customers will go elsewhere. This is something that Marx did not understand and 120 million people wound up dead. ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/8 "2022-05-01T01:01:37Z")
An independent ,yes, but also an open socialist. He has no independent ideas just socialist ideas. I see I am the only Republican conservative libertarian here. Do they ban Republicans here? In 1980 he( Sanders) was an “elector” in the [Socialist Workers Party](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/02/bernie_sanders_radical_past_would_haunt_him_in_a_general_election.html) (founded by communists expelled from Russia for supporting Leon Trotsky). ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/9 "2022-05-01T01:01:52Z")
Workers getting substandard pay cannot afford to quit and relocate. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/10 "2022-05-01T01:02:32Z")
> [@TedBaiamonte](#): > > Under capitalism workers must get the highest pay possible. If they don’t the workers will leave to where they do get the best pay. If you doubt it for a second try starting business and offer sub standard pay. Similarly, the capitalist must offer the best products possible or his customers will go elsewhere. This is something that Marx did not understand and 120 million people wound up dead. That is simplistic. If you offer substandard pay, you will get substandard workers. If you produce a substandard product, then those who can only afford to buy your product will be your main customers. You can make a killing doing exactly that. That is capitalism. ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/11 "2022-05-01T01:03:31Z")
if not accurate about Marx please tell us the reason you think that. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/12 "2022-05-01T01:04:50Z")
there are millions lining up at the borders everyday!!! ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/13 "2022-05-01T01:09:46Z")
You overstate. RE: Kamala Harris: > **[Fact Check: Is Kamala Harris ‘more liberal than Bernie Sanders’?](https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/presidential-election/article246645198.html)** > > Claim: President Donald Trump said during Thursday’s debate that Kamala Harris is “more liberal than Bernie Sanders” and is eager to see government-run health care. RE: Bernie’s Socialist Workers Party: > **[PolitiFact - Fact-checking ties between Bernie Sanders, Socialist Workers...](https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/feb/25/facebook-posts/fact-checking-ties-between-bernie-sanders-socialis/)** > > Bernie Sanders is facing stepped-up attacks over his record of friendly words for authoritarian regimes as he gains supp RE: The border: > **[CBP Releases February 2022 Monthly Operational Update](https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-february-2022-monthly-operational-update)** > > Securing America's Borders ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/14 "2022-05-01T01:09:52Z")
why simplistic? You always want the best workers possible and to produce the best products possible. Capitalism is a race to the top. If you can produce a substandard product with substandard workers you must immediately think in terms of upgrading the workers and products before a competitor does and you go bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/15 "2022-05-01T01:10:23Z")
> [@TedBaiamonte](#): > > why simplistic? You always want the best workers possible and to produce the best products possible. Capitalism is a race to the top. Wrong. It is a race to the bank. ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/16 "2022-05-01T01:12:04Z")
his share of primary votes was highest ever and he was allowed to write the platform so he would instruct his voters to vote for Biden. Probably selected Harris too since she was even farther left than he was . ---
**Author:** ![TedBaiamonte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@TedBaiamonte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TedBaiamonte)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/17 "2022-05-01T01:14:14Z")
race to he bank??? Wrong! when you get an MBA they teach you to care about customers and workers. If one competitor does care and the other doesn’t guess with whom the workers and customers will want to do business? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/18 "2022-05-01T01:14:26Z")
> [@TedBaiamonte](#): > > If you can produce a substandard product with substandard workers you must immediately think in terms of upgrading the workers and products before a competitor does and you go bankrupt. I take it we are not speaking of Burger King. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/19 "2022-05-01T01:15:33Z")
Ted joined a day ago. Welcome, Comrade Ted! ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744/20 "2022-05-01T01:16:10Z")
> [@TedBaiamonte](#): > > race to he bank??? > Wrong! when you get an MBA they teach you to care about customers and workers. If one competitor does care and the other doesn’t guess with whom the workers and customers will want to do business? And that competitor is likely to price themselves out of their niche. Paying for better workers and a better product raises overhead, which will have to be passed along to consumers, some of which will not be able or willing to afford it. As was recommended to you earlier, walk around your local stores for a few minutes. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-marx-wrong-about-capitalism/963744.md?page=2)