Marx and Attitude

Grandpa was listening to the news one night and heard of another attempt to enact some socialist program and you could just see the veins in his forehead begin to throb in disgust. Turning the radio off he just looked at me and smiled as he began one of his enlightening little lessons of life.

“ Boy, your grandpappy has nothing but contempt for Socialism but he will admit that Marx was a genius when it comes to understanding society. Socialism and Marx have been inseparable terms. The one factor that sets Marx above every other sociologist is the fact he presented a theory for society based upon his previous expertise and knowledge of the effects of his field of expertise on society. And from this separated society into two classes by which he saw one class exploiting the other class for their own benefit. The big problem of seeing a society in terms of classes is that the classes are fixed and of a permanent nature and each individual becomes a member of that class as fixed.

But, boy, a man can learn much from Marx even if the feelings he inspires are feelings of contempt for his vision of society. Attitude is one aspect that one can use Marx as a basis of learning.

Learn the ways of a businessman and you will know success.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will only know failure.
Learn the ways of a businessman and you will know independence.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will only know dependency.
Learn the ways of a businessman and you will be in command.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will be in submission.
Learn the ways of a businessman and you will seek the freedom to take risks.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will seek the freedom from risks.
Learn the ways of a businessman and you will be known as thinking for yourself.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will allow others to do your thinking for you.

Learn the ways of a businessman and you will see government as a ruler, the people ruled.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will see government as a servant, the people it serves.
Learn the ways of a businessman and you will see taxes in terms of incentives to wealth.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will see taxes in terms of redistribution of wealth.

Learn the ways of a businessman and you will envy the poor in respect of their wealth.
Learn the ways of the worker and you will envy the rich in greed of their wealth.
Learn the ways of a businessman and you will know no master and be the master of your own destiny.
Learn the ways of a worker and you will know no slave but be enslaved to the destiny given you.”

With these words said he stood up and stretched out his arms and bid me a good night leaving me to remain and ponder over his seemingly contradictive thoughts of wisdom. How can you admire a man yet be contemptuous of his views?