Comments by "T J" (@TJ-hs1qm) on "Richard Wolff: Marxism and Communism | Lex Fridman Podcast #295" video.

  1. German here, I my school we studied the Surplus Theory or the Mehrwert-Theorie based on the Arbeitskraft. The Arbeitskraft is defined as the ability to do work. The worker offers Arbeitskraft on the market like any other commodity such as wood (bec that's all she has). The price of the Arbeitskraft is given by the effort it takes to create or pro-create the Arbeitskraft. How much does she need for food, shelter, education, to raise the new generation of workers determines the value of her Arbeitskraft. Like I said Arbeitskraft is treated as any other good (Ware) on the market. Given now that the value of the Arbeitskraft is negotiated absolutely fairly between her and the capitalist, how then does the capitalist generate any Mehrwert? That is the only sustainable mode for a capitalist, put X in, get X' out. The capitalist will let the worker work for 4h so the worker can cover her costs but the worker goes on for another 6h. The additional 6 h is where the Mehrwert is generated. According to Marx this is "Ausbeutung" (Exploitation). Exploitation doesn't need to look like a cobalt slave mine in DRC, the principle is what counts. 2 take a ways. You are not getting paid for your work your are getting paid to maintain your ability to perform that work. If you own stock but you still have to sell your Arbeitskraft then you are still a worker not a capitalist.
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