{"id":4164,"date":"2020-02-18T05:04:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-18T12:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/?p=4164"},"modified":"2020-04-03T14:00:34","modified_gmt":"2020-04-03T20:00:34","slug":"how-capitalism-creates-oppression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2020\/02\/18\/how-capitalism-creates-oppression\/","title":{"rendered":"How capitalism creates oppression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Capitalism is inherently oppressive. It\u2019s built on the concept of hierarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p>Capitalism is the private ownership of the means of production. It is designed so that only a small number of people own the means of production, and as such, also the products from that production, as well as the labour that created that production. It is impossible for there to be a business owner who owns the product and labour of the workers in that business without there being unequal distribution of power. For capitalism to succeed, the business owner must have more power than the business workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That power imbalance is what makes capitalism oppressive. It\u2019s what created slaves and slaveowners; it\u2019s what created billionaires and beggars; it\u2019s what created homeowners and homeless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Capitalism is what convinced Europeans that people of colour had less value than white people, what allowed them to rationalize slavery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Capitalism is what convinced Europeans that it was okay to take resources from other areas of the world and bring them back to their own. To take resources without paying for them, then using the low input costs to create massive profits after reselling their finished products at a premium retail price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Capitalism is what funds civil wars over tantalum and diamonds, coups and multi-nation wars over oil, and destruction of orangutan habitat over snack foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our world will never be free of oppression and inequality as long as capitalism is the dominant economic system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"580\" height=\"327\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EIhjDm9kGD4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Capitalism is inherently oppressive. It\u2019s built on the concept of hierarchy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[30],"tags":[73,72,81],"class_list":["post-4164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","tag-billionaires","tag-capitalism","tag-workers"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/boss-2206_1920.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4NkW7-15a","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4029,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2019\/12\/07\/my-response-to-nathan-neudorfs-pro-capitalist-rant\/","url_meta":{"origin":4164,"position":0},"title":"My response to Nathan Neudorf\u2019s pro-capitalist rant","author":"Kim Siever","date":"7 December 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"At the beginning of December, Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf went on a pro-capitalist rant in the Alberta legislature. This is my response.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/money-2180330_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/money-2180330_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/money-2180330_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/money-2180330_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/12\/money-2180330_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4209,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2020\/02\/28\/capitalism-didnt-build-the-modern-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":4164,"position":1},"title":"Capitalism didn\u2019t build the modern world","author":"Kim Siever","date":"28 February 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Socialism built the modern world, not capitalism.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/new-york-4854718_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C701&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/new-york-4854718_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C701&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/new-york-4854718_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C701&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/new-york-4854718_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C701&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/new-york-4854718_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C701&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3800,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2019\/09\/21\/for-capitalism-to-succeed-it-must-divide-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":4164,"position":2},"title":"For capitalism to succeed, it must divide us","author":"Kim Siever","date":"21 September 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Capitalism is at the root of all that divides us as a society. Capitalism depends on our being divided; division is built into capitalism. It\u2019s what helps it survive.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/broken-216728.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/broken-216728.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/broken-216728.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/broken-216728.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/09\/broken-216728.jpg?fit=1200%2C798&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4288,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2020\/03\/20\/capitalism-is-making-the-pandemic-worse\/","url_meta":{"origin":4164,"position":3},"title":"Capitalism is making the pandemic worse","author":"Kim Siever","date":"20 March 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"If there\u2019s one thing that\u2019s become clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, it\u2019s that neoliberal economic policies have failed our societies.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/doctor-1149149_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/doctor-1149149_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/doctor-1149149_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/doctor-1149149_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/02\/doctor-1149149_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3894,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2019\/10\/05\/capitalism-breeds-more-than-just-class-inequality\/","url_meta":{"origin":4164,"position":4},"title":"Capitalism breeds more than just class inequality","author":"Kim Siever","date":"5 October 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Inequality is inherent in capitalism. Of course, in capitalism, power is unevenly distributed, lying in the hands of the few individuals who manage to own businesses and amass capital. But that power inequity breeds inequity in other areas. Because so few people can amass capital in capitalism, people assume they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/house-1937037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/house-1937037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/house-1937037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/house-1937037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/10\/house-1937037_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3959,"url":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/2019\/11\/06\/capitalism-keeps-workers-poor\/","url_meta":{"origin":4164,"position":5},"title":"Capitalism keeps workers poor","author":"Kim Siever","date":"6 November 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Capitalism keeps the rich rich and the workers poor.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Politics&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/rust-3744596_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/rust-3744596_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/rust-3744596_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C767&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/rust-3744596_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C767&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/11\/rust-3744596_1920.jpg?fit=1200%2C767&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4164"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4383,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4164\/revisions\/4383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/siever.ca\/kim\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}