Assuming you engage in wage labor (despite it being antithetical to all of our beliefs) and your employer offers you a greater portion of the fruits of your labor via a matched savings account, is it wrong to accept it? I think it's not wrong at all, and workers should accept and make the most of their 401k.

Bruenig's video is a framework for understanding personal finance from a leftist perspective, or the "personal welfare state" as he calls it. These are things the state should handle, but instead has created a mess of rules we have to decipher.

[–] mayo_cider@hexbear.net 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Assuming you engage in wage labor (despite it being antithetical to all of our beliefs)

I do, and it's not antithetical to my beliefs, it's the only acceptable form of wealth accumulation offered to me right now

is it wrong to accept that?

Yes, it's called solidarity

Bruenig's video is a framework for understanding personal finance from a leftist perspective

It would work better if they actually had a leftist perspective

[–] PauliExcluded@hexbear.net 25 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Most employers offer a match on 401(k) contributions. For example, you contribute $500 per paycheck and the employer contributes $250. By turning down this money, you are literally letting the company you work for keep extra money that would otherwise go to you. Fuck companies. Accept the match, so they can’t keep that extra money. You worked for it.

I’m a Marxist and want the downfall of capitalism. However, I’m investing in total market index funds in case capitalism remains the dominant economic system for the rest of my life, because I don’t want to be a wage slave when I’m tired, old woman.

[–] mayo_cider@hexbear.net 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

You are free to do whatever you want, and you are not a bad leftist if you invest

But if you claim that you are not going against the most basic principles of socialism while investing is just sad

[–] PauliExcluded@hexbear.net 19 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The most basic principles of socialism like checks notes letting your employer keep extra value from you by turning down extra money and having to work as a wage slave when you’re 80.

[–] mayo_cider@hexbear.net 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It's not extra money, it's a portion off the money they stole from you

[–] AdlachGyfiawn@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 3 months ago

I don't see how this contradicts the point.

[–] space_comrade@hexbear.net 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

But if you claim that you are not going against the most basic principles of socialism while investing is just sad

A whole lot of things in our lives go against basic principles of socialism, not sure how this is that much different.

[–] mayo_cider@hexbear.net 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The difference is between capitulating on principles and capitulating for survival

[–] sub_ubi@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Thanks for explaining. I won't be joining you in the boycott of retirement accounts, but I understand your issue of profiting from other's work.

[–] mayo_cider@hexbear.net 4 points 3 months ago

I'm not boycotting retirement accounts, I have one myself, I just wanted to try to explain my ideology

Thanks for a good faith reading of my comment