Categories
Antiwork

We are not all a team, and we are not in this together

Economists like Milton Friedman pushed back against the Marxist narrative that the working class (labor) and the owner class (capital) were two groups at odds with one another. These economists argue that we are all capitalists, some hold financial capital, some hold natural capital, some hold social capital, and some hold labor capital. In their view, there's no reason for people to come together and form unions or cooperatives because we are all in competition with one another. And they're right. In this system, global capitalism, we are all in competition. Therefore, it is foolish to agree to be a part of any company's “team.” We are not a team, we are not a family, we are individual market participants, each pursuing their own self interest. For them to ask you to be a team player is a violation of free market competition principles. You are a free agent, you…


Economists like Milton Friedman pushed back against the Marxist narrative that the working class (labor) and the owner class (capital) were two groups at odds with one another. These economists argue that we are all capitalists, some hold financial capital, some hold natural capital, some hold social capital, and some hold labor capital. In their view, there's no reason for people to come together and form unions or cooperatives because we are all in competition with one another.

And they're right. In this system, global capitalism, we are all in competition. Therefore, it is foolish to agree to be a part of any company's “team.” We are not a team, we are not a family, we are individual market participants, each pursuing their own self interest. For them to ask you to be a team player is a violation of free market competition principles. You are a free agent, you are there to do the work for which you are paid and nothing else. You do not owe them special considerations or allowances. They are not your friends, they are your opponents.

Be ruthless and loyal to no employer. Take every advantage you possibly can. Don't give an inch.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.