: Little children have an inherent sense of "fairness;" it's fascinating to watch them sort things out among each other. I think if you asked a child (or the grown-up version), if one man works harder than another, shouldn't he be given more reward, the child/adult would say yes. Do you disagree with this and if so, why?I'd like to step in here for a moment and take a look at the first phase / higher phase distinction.
As Marxists know, the first phase of communism is the principle 'from each according to their ability, to each according to their work.'
Or as MDG says: ' I think if you asked a child (or the grown-up version), if one man works harder than another, shouldn't he be given more reward, the child/adult would say yes.'
This principle, I believe, has as its greatest weakness the problem that the organic composition of capital (ratio of fixed & constant [raw materials and machinery] and variable [labor]) ITSELF determines productivity.
Simply put, the exertions of the worker (even the 'hardest working' one) will still be greatly affected by the equipment he / she uses---which means that investment will have MUCH to do with how much work the worker does.
To 'pay' this worker what he / she produces is but to 'pay' this worker for having the good (or bad) fortune of working WITH this, that, or the other raw materials and equipment (which, let us not forget, originates with the dead labor of others).
More details here.
So we see, MDG, what may initially appear obvious to a child is, in fact, more complicated than what meets the eye.
Another reason theory is NECESSARY to the struggle.
