Suppose you went to to new place for a year, you do not have a penny in pocket, what is the first thing you would search for?
I guess hunger is the most basic problem we have to face everyday. However, you will go out to earn in order to meet your basic needs. You will prepare yourself for work, right? It might be a technology based area, might it be dependent on agriculture. Whatever it is, you will certainly notice that there are some people, or an executive committee (let’s say the government) who own the resources, right? You have to serve them for you own sake!
Now, will you ask yourself why you have to serve them? Why they pay you a small amount while have plenty?
In most of the cases, you will not. When you go to a school, you learn how to conform with the system. When teachers ask you what your aim in life is, they want to hear you dream to be a doctor or a pilot or whatever but never ever a revolutionist- the one who looks into the problems within a capitalist system. They teach you discipline, you learn there how to fulfil what society needs from you.
From educational institutions to charity organisations, no one ever questions a system, because they themselves are the parts of of system.
The way you sold your skills or labor, earned your food is the basic. The way you spend it, education, recreation or whatever you spent the rest of your money for is kind of optional and also related to your earning. The decisions you make depends on the amount of your wage. That’s why a class structure exists. The rich and the poor go to different schools, have different sources of recreation, the lives are quite unalike! The way you earn money, you profession, determines your place in a society and how you will be treated by people!
Now think about a society or a state, yeah, it also depends on its economy. This is why Karl Marx said that the base of a society is its economy. All the other things, from culture to built structure, depends on it. Therefore, he called it superstructure. Within a capitalist system, all other mechanisms are created just to protect the system. When you go to cinema you have to buy popcorn, you must buy your friend something on his birthday, you finish studying you have to run for a good salary, you work 9-5 o clock just to have a minimum salary, why do you never question who made these rules?
Humans are social beings, you are well taught that these rules are divine. The state, the system you are living within are god given. This concept is very important to be made as it will help the reproduction of the resources.
Okay, there is another thing, not necessarily the basic structures defemines everything. Superstrure has an effect on the economy too. It some sometimes brings changes in mode of production. Though the purpose remains the same always.
Well, this is all from me. I will not stop going to my university whatsoever!
samha's table 