Since there seems to be confusion over what the working class is and isn't, the working class is defined by a CMC mode of circulation - selling the commodity of labor for money so they can buy commodities to survive. We have a video on this below... 
Here's the video! Now, let's talk about the petty bourgeoisie...
In less developed capitalism, such as what existed in Marx's day, it was a bit easier to distinguish the petty bourgeoisie (basically small business owners and wealthy professionals who at least nominally benefitted from capitalism) from the working class...
But in the current highly developed system of capotalism it's gotten more complicated, as this chart shows...
Source: newleftreview.org/issues/i98/art…
Source: newleftreview.org/issues/i98/art…
Small employers have class character more in line with capitalists, engaging in MCM circulation, investing money for commodities (labor/materials) which they sell for MORE money.
That they often also have to work, + the fact that big capital threatens them, is contradictory.
That they often also have to work, + the fact that big capital threatens them, is contradictory.
Semi-autonomous workers like freelancers and gig economy workers may "own their own means of production" (a laptop and software, a car, etc) but essentially engage in CMC circulation. Varying degrees of contradiction but overall working class character.
Then, we have managers and highly paid workers - people who either work specifically as class traitors to enforce the will of capitalists, or people who work (CMC) yet benefit greatly from capitalism, so they side with capital - basically high level managers, execs, rich workers.
These workers basically have the class character of petty bourgeoisie, due to false consciousness. They tend to believe they're secure and that capitalism is on their side. Eventually they'll be discarded (by automation, shifts in industries and markets, etc), but the're unaware.
Long story short, the proletariat is defined by relationship to means of production and mode of circulation, but capitalism has developed various contradictory positions as well as false consciousness which blurs some lines.
Ultimately ending capitalism will benefit everyone in the long run except the most wealthy, but false consciousness deceives many into a false sense of security and class betrayal.
Here's another thread related to this subject on the problems people have with class - REVISIONISM and DOGMATISM:
https://twitter.com/LunaOi_VN/status/1459653952669052932
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
