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This point was made eloquently in the movie, "Burn," when Marlon Brando compared
slavery and free markets with marriage and prostitution.
"C. J. Arthur" wrote:
> The real point is not the lack of freedom for the slave but the lack of
> freedom for the slave-owner. The capitalist has one crucial advantage. He
> can dismiss the worker; this together with refined wage/fine systems allows
> him to manipulate the workers so as to engage their interests with his own
> e.g. avioding waste. marx quotes an observer to the effect that he was
> astonished at the fact the slaves were allowed to abuse implements and
> animals in a way that would have led to instant dismissal on a capitalist
> farm. The implements had to be especially stong, heavy and inefficient, to
> prevent the slaves breaking them.
> In effect the slaves were little better than oxen.
--Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University michael@ecst.csuchico.edu Chico, CA 95929 530-898-5321 fax 530-898-5901
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