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The Capitalist Class knows that what brings on the…

“The Capitalist Class knows that what brings on the increased supply is not immigration so much, but the improved and ever improving machinery, held as private property. For every immigrant by whom the labor market is overstocked, it is overstocked by ten workingmen in the country whom privately…” quote by Danie DeLeon
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““The Capitalist Class knows that what brings on the increased supply is not immigration so much, but the improved and ever improving machinery, held as private property. For every immigrant by whom the labor market is overstocked, it is overstocked by ten workingmen in the country whom privately owned machinery displaces. The Capitalist Class is full well aware that if this fact be known the conclusion would leap to sight ; to wit, that the solution oi" the Labor Problem is simply the public ownership of the machine. If fifty men, working ten hours a day, can, with improved machinery, produce as much as one hundred did before without such improved machinery, the publicly owned machine would not, as the privately owned machine does, throw out fifty men; it would throw out five of the former ten hours of work. It is clear as day to the Capitalist Class that it must raise dust over this fact so as to conceal it; and no better means to this end is offered than the fomenting of the plausible delusion that the evil lies in immigration. Anti-immigration laws are the fruit of these two purpose. Such laws kill two flies with one slap ; they draw attention away from the nerve that aches, and simultaneously they help to set the workers of the land in racial and creed hostility against the newcomers, who, of course, the Capitalist Class itself sees to shall not be lacking. Obviously, it is in the interest of the Working Class that this brace of fatal delusions be dispelled from their minds. What does the Labor Leader do? He helps nurse both delusions.””

Danie DeLeon

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The capitalist class blames immigration for job loss while technology displaces workers; public ownership of machines could reduce unemployment.

In simple terms: Capitalists claim immigration hurts jobs, but machines do.

Key Takeaway

Consider collective ownership of productive technology.

Themes

economics politics labor technology immigration class struggle

Mood

critical analytical skeptical

Type

Capitalist:1 Computers:0 Economics:1 Immigration law:1 Politics-observation:1 Private property:1 Working class:1 Immigrant Labor:1 Capitalist Class:1 Labor Problem:1 Displaces Capitalist:0

When to use this quote

  • political debate
  • labor organizing
  • policy making
  • public education
  • media analysis

Key Concepts

meansist critique public ownership false scapegoating

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does technology affect labor markets?
  • Can public ownership realistically replace private machines?
A Different Perspective

Public ownership still faces political resistance and coordination challenges.

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