Johnson Chapter 3

In chapter 3 of Privilege, Power, and Difference Allan Johnson puts forth that privilege stems from economic factors and more specifically Capitalism.

Johnson starts out defining how Capitalism works. The most important point made in the section is that workers will work for a lower wage then what they are entitled to because they do not have a choice in the matter. Capitalists profit off the difference between entitled wage and wages paid. At such time as workers become organized the Capitalists will move operations to other places where labor is not organized (pg 43). Johnson then moves on to how Capitalism determines class. He is quick to note that richest 10% of the population controls two-thirds of all wealth. Johnson departs from the hard statistics and starts giving some examples of how the tenants of Capitalism has affected privilege by pitting races against each other. The Capitalist used the racial tensions to keep wages artificially low. On page 49 we are introduced to the concept of a matrix of domination. One can gage ones own privilege by measuring where they stand against the archetype of the white, male, non-disabled, heterosexual. You can subtract 1 from 4 for every trait you are not. Johnson also notes that you can be privileged and without privilege at the same time.

Johnson once again makes some rock solid arguments as to how privilege exists in Capitalism and how it is determined. The matrix of domination is right on, however he covers himself by stating that it is not all encompassing. He makes a definable matrix that anyone can use to judge what potential privilege they are akin to. I do agree with him that the traits are not mutually exclusive and one negative blemish can have an overriding negative effect on the other potentially positive traits. Why does Johnson put so much emphasis on Capitalism as a driver of oppression? I am willing to seed the point that Capitalism is at times oppressive to the lower class, but by not comparing a different system such as Communism, he seems to suggest that oppression is present only in Capitalism. Just ask a farmer in post-revolution Russia if oppression was present under the Communist system. I would like to hear what Zinn has to say on this subject.

Johnson makes the same tired old arguments made by the anti-capitalists for years. He completely downplays the ability of an individual living in the US to work himself into a better life. He also fails to provide any alternative systems that would be better. I can only assume that he thinks that Communism or Fascism would be better for the general populous, and we all know how well they fared in comparison to Capitalism. The one truly great aspect present in our system of Capitalism that is absent in other systems is the potential for the individual to move up the class ladder. Capitalism is the force that has propelled humanity to the heights that it now enjoys. I will not dispute that it does take advantage of some, but in its current configuration it allows the individual to subsist on what they are generally capable of.