Snowden 2016

[Professor]

[The Dharma Bum]

The full product of a worker's labor is what we should expect because it is what they deserve.

It's no benefit to have the greater part of your productive capacity stolen and given to whomever supposedly "owns" the productive capacity of human society.

"Owner" is an arbitrary label given to an individual because they belong to a certain class. They didn't in any way actually create or develop the productive capacity of human society. Most "owners" don't even ever do any work, so the idea that an individual or group of individuals can own part of of civilization's productive capacity and enslave other humans in order to make it "profitable" is a ridiculous proposition

Humans working together for nearly 200,000 years is what has produced the civilization that exists and the productive capacity it wields. The produce of this productive capacity should be divided equitably, anything less is irresponsible and ignores the facts of human existence. In fact private property is the cause of the greater part of human misery that exists. It certainly is to blame for all modern famine and political instability that exists. To hold hostage and steal from the entire human race is probably one of the greatest crimes perpetrated by human beings. The "greatest crime ever committed" is a great way to think of the current world system.

[Professor]

But, none of that reflects reality.

It would be great if I brought home every penny of every dollar that I earned for my company. I've been on projects where my bill rate was $150/hour, and worked 80-100 hours per week. And, unlike a lawfirm or doctor, that rate didn't have to pay for ancillary staff or overhead (they were charged separately). I received roughly 2/3 of that money, and the remainder went to the owner of my company.

The problem is that this is the only company that is doing this type of work. If I want to make $100/hour, I have to be willing to bill $150 and not see the other $50. My only other option is to go somewhere else and make $75/hr.

Like I said, it'd be great if there was a company that did what we do and every employee was paid according to their earnings. But, that just doesn't happen. And, I'd rather spend my time working to own my own company like this, instead of working to change the way in which humans have lived for, well, ever.