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submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by rugarc@lemmygrad.ml to c/asklemmygrad@lemmygrad.ml

hi! I was discussing with a few different people about how the american working class relates to the means of production in the context of imperialism

so my setup is that in the context of imperialism, production of people’s needs mainly happens outside of america, and it seems that americans’ primary source of wealth and well-being comes from those superprofits

so then americans as a whole seem to have power in maintaining this system, from protecting it via participating in the military, working in jobs that manage this imperial system (e.g. finance, defense, etc.), selecting the american candidates that pursue their favorite imperialist policies (i.e the policies that give them a larger share of the super profits). in turn, the domestic capitalists in america need the support of the americans, so they and the americans come to an agreement on how to divide the superprofits from the factories abroad among them

so, in the broader sense of imperialism, it seems to me that american capitalists and the group of average americans share ownership in the means of production. what are everyone's thoughts?

(I edited the post to make the context clearer, originally I had asked an abstract question about ownership that didn't get at the imperialism context)

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[-] opiumfree@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

one guy own material for product and the machine and the other stuff worker need to make product. this is bad. workers need to collectively own the material and the stuff.

in america, worker dont own means of production

guy who own all mean of production is bad. brainwash america people. america people dont even imagine they could own the means of production.

the scenario you described is social democracy. america so capitalist, there is not even social democracy.

worker in america cant negociate to get benefit. they dont have healthcare, if they have a booboo they dont have money for healthcare which is human right. they dont have secure housing, many american people have no home

furthermore, america built on slavery and racism. the USA technically still have slavery. they put drug in black community. black people get addicted. they send black worker to jail because he does drug. black worker now is in slavery. you dont means of production when you are slave, you are owned if you are slave.

this post was submitted on 29 Apr 2026
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