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YC always seemed like a plan to reorganize corporations. In Capitalism Hits the Fan lecture http://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/comments/f35gs/capitalism_hit

by Detrus 16y ago

YC always seemed like a plan to reorganize corporations. In Capitalism Hits the Fan lecture http://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/comments/f35gs/capitalism_hits_the_fan_professor_richard_wolff/ http://www.reddit.com/r/Documentaries/comments/f35gs/capital... the professor concludes that startups are really communism, because the workers own the "means of production" and directly benefit from the profits made. So capitalism doesn't deserve credit for much of our technological progress. Startups are also the only solution he knows for fixing what's wrong with the US economy. Bailouts, tax-breaks, regulation and deregulation won't help. The conclusion in his lecture sounds funny and simplistic but 500 startup incubators agrees with his basic premise.

klbarry 16y ago
I don't mean to derail the thread, and the content of this news is great. But to respond to your post, that's only true in the loosest, vaguest sense of the word communism. First of all, it's only true in digital start-ups, because once you make the product you can copy it for free forever. In any other start-up you're still paying someone to do the other work. In every start-up you're also counting on the idea of "property rights", or the right to keep the money you earn, the right to your software, etc. You're still looking to make a profit that's more than the work you actually did, or else you wouldn't be working. In communism, you would be thanked for your contribution and still make as much as a doctor, at most, because that would be "fair". I could go on...
- Detrus 16y ago
  I think he uses the word communism to show a contrast with our current form of capitalism. In the current system established corporations keep increasing their profits while keeping the workers' wages flat since 1970. Because of computers, outsourcing, there is a surplus of workers, who generate increasing profits for the corporations. Much of the profits go to a small board of directors, who in turn use them to undermine government that was expected to look out for the workers. Startups are a holy grail because they share profits with more workers, supposedly. I'm just summarizing his emotionally charged lecture here, I don't fully agree with his premise, but it's an interesting perspective.
rgrieselhuber 16y ago
I don't have the expertise to debate the definition of communism, etc. but I was personally inspired to become an entrepreneur after reading Marx. It explained much of the frustration I had previously experienced as an employee.

by Detrus 16y ago

klbarry 16y ago

I don't mean to derail the thread, and the content of this news is great. But to respond to your post, that's only true in the loosest, vaguest sense of the word communism. First of all, it's only true in digital start-ups, because once you make the product you can copy it for free forever. In any other start-up you're still paying someone to do the other work. In every start-up you're also counting on the idea of "property rights", or the right to keep the money you earn, the right to your software, etc. You're still looking to make a profit that's more than the work you actually did, or else you wouldn't be working. In communism, you would be thanked for your contribution and still make as much as a doctor, at most, because that would be "fair". I could go on...

Detrus 16y ago
I think he uses the word communism to show a contrast with our current form of capitalism. In the current system established corporations keep increasing their profits while keeping the workers' wages flat since 1970. Because of computers, outsourcing, there is a surplus of workers, who generate increasing profits for the corporations. Much of the profits go to a small board of directors, who in turn use them to undermine government that was expected to look out for the workers. Startups are a holy grail because they share profits with more workers, supposedly. I'm just summarizing his emotionally charged lecture here, I don't fully agree with his premise, but it's an interesting perspective.

rgrieselhuber 16y ago

I don't have the expertise to debate the definition of communism, etc. but I was personally inspired to become an entrepreneur after reading Marx. It explained much of the frustration I had previously experienced as an employee.