Prison Radio
Mumia Abu-Jamal

The primaries have ended, and America’s general election begins anew — and voila! — a billionaire is pitted against a millionaire!

The Trump-Clinton battle (what I’ve earlier termed ‘The Nasty vs The crafty’) is a contest between cousins, for no matter who wins, as that old gambling adage goes, ‘the house never loses’.

What house?

The House of Capital.

In the classic text, The Communist Manifesto (1885), Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels begin their work with a startling insight: “….. [T]he State,” they argue, “is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie.”

Looking at society from the tail end of the 19th century, both men saw the political class as but instruments of the ruling class — the capitalists.

What would they make of Donald J. Trump – billionaire politician?

Or of Hillary Clinton — a multi-millionaire?

They would both be scratching their heads in wonder.

The bourgeoisie? A fancy, French word for the wealthy, capitalist class.

They used to buy their politicians — or at least, rent them.

No longer.

Now they’ve cut out the middle-men.

They take power — in their own name.

And if you think a billionaire — or even millionaires — really care about working — or even poor– people — well– lemme just say I’ve got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you — cheap.

This is an election in which no matter who wins — capital takes the prize.