When you put it this way, it's a very interesting question! - ThreadSky

jwmason.bsky.social • 18 hours ago

When you put it this way, it's a very interesting question!

Something I've been thinking about again this time through teaching labor law ... What a mystery who or what the "employer" that workers are bargaining/engaging with is. It isn't the firm itself; workers themselves are an essential part of the firm. It isn't clearly "owners" or clearly managers.

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jwmason.bsky.social•18 hours ago

Related to the question I sometimes ask in other contexts: who, in the actual world around us, is "the capitalist"? like here: https://jwmason.org/slackwire/what-is-the-stock-market-for/

reverer.bsky.social•17 hours ago

Thank you for sharing this blog post, I had not read it at the time. I agree with the analytical distinction that your conclusion reiterates, but it's difficult to argue with the point made by the commenter "A War to the Knife": Musk's definancializing/feudalizing move is a real tell.

jwmason.bsky.social•17 hours ago

Yes, the argument about Twitter specifically turns out to have been quite wrong in retrospect, I acknowledge that. But I still think it's valid and important in general. The Twitter purchase was not a typical capitalist transaction!

reverer.bsky.social•17 hours ago

I didn't even think you were wrong, merely arguing a parallel and correct point. Regarding Twitter not being a typical purchase, let's "yes, but" it and move forward dialectically:

reverer.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Might Musk's Twitter purchase, or similar moves (perhaps more subtle and less flashy), becoming more desirable for the ownership class (though not yet normal)? Would this dovetail with Melinda Cooper's (and Henwood's) writings on family firms and a growing split within capital?

reverer.bsky.social•16 hours ago

Perhaps post-neoliberalism (maybe an advance upon and not a clean break with what came before) will tend towards the death of the public corporation and the twin reign of private equity and family corpo-fiefs. Would certainly "fit" our burgeoning neo-fash political environment.

heatpumpsam.bsky.social•17 hours ago

Do you still agree with this point? "At this point, I suppose, I should denounce Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter. But honestly, I’m not convinced it will make much difference one way or another."

Should there be a stock market? I am not sure that there should be.

jwmason.bsky.social•14 hours ago

Nope. I was wrong about that one!

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