LETTER: Bum steer
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr J. Peter Morris
Sir: More than a simple hobo's song, Halleluja, I'm a Bum, title of Brian Behan's new play (Diary, 27 April), has in it a summary of Marx's theory of value even more concise than the old Clause IV. It says:
Whenever I get all the money I earn
The boss will be broke and to work he must turn
It states the fundamentalist's fallacy that value (whatever that is) is created solely by labour, and the capitalist steals part of it. It was a song of the Industrial Workers of the World - the Wobblies - who were a kind of socialist in Nnorth America just before the First World War.
They travelled as hoboes to spread their word, but an uncle of mine, who had been a member, angrily rejected the assertion that IWW stood for I Won't Work: whoever aspired to lead his fellow workers had first to win their respect for his skill. Indeed, the song is a protest at not being allowed to work and not about the kind of shiftless individual who seems to be the hero of Mr Behan's new play.
Yours etc,
J. PETER MORRIS
London, SW1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments