Is owning Stock wrong?

[bed_of_nails]

First a background:

My grandfather had accumulated a great deal of stock working for various companies as a proletariat. When I was born he gave a portion of these stocks to me which have grown and split several times, earning me money for college.

I also hold shares in several mutual funds where all of the profits are going to an account to pay for my college.

Now my moral dillemna (sp? My spelling is shit): Is it wrong for me to own these stocks? I partially see it as being very un-leftist to be making money off of the exploits of others, but at the same time I see it as Bourgeoising the Bourgeoisie. I am making money for my future and to ensure I can go to school off of the people who are exploiting workers.

I also see this as going to a very good use (helping pay for college).

Please offer your opinions on this.

[Amusing Scrotum]

It is an ethical and moral dilema, similar to that of whether it is alright to buy products made in sweatshops. On the one hand you have the exploitation of the worker, on the other, the fact the worker will lose their job if you don't buy their product.
Personally I have no problem with you using the money to go to College if there is no other way of you paying for your ecucation. It is not your fault thet under the current capatalist system, education is not free and a birthright of everyone.
If you can afford to go to College independently of these stocks, then I suggest you may wish to give the money to a cause you believe in. A Charity for instance which you believe in. I know not everyone here likes Charities, but, thats another debate.
This is only my opinion and others may disagree, however there is no right or wrong in issues like these. Only grey areas.

[Clarksist]

Think of it this way: its a gift to you, and you are making that money for education on the success of exploitation... not on the exploitation itself.

As for bank accounts and what-not, that's just "smart".

I would say there really doesn&#39;t seem to be a good reason to not use the money, unless college turns you non-leftist. <_<

[bed_of_nails]

I actually donate most of the money I accumulate in conventional or odd jobs to various charities. I can be found donating items to places that give or sell the items for nearly nothing.

I feel horrible for investing in something that exploits people, but at the same time Mutual Funds and the stock my grandfather gave me are great ways to make money for college.

[Hiero]

Well the whole system is one of expliotation and the stock market is a system that is losely based and no longer has a gold backing. So it is a false system of profit.

But what are your option? Sacrifice your education on morals?

[bed_of_nails]

Well I could probably make it through college working yet another shitty job at nights and being in debt up to my eyeballs for years to come from student loans. I just doubt I will get as much information absorbed doing that.

It is a moral argument I guess.

[wet blanket]

I suggest you take the money, get your education, and when it&#39;s all said and done, do something nice with the remaining cash.

edit: Try and stay away from charities. If the amount of assets you own after college is substantial, DO something with your wealth. Start a newspaper, get involved with and contribute to a cause.

[Led Zeppelin]

Yes it is wrong, sell the stocks and send me the money if you want to be considered a Communist.

[Clarksist]

I feel horrible for investing in something that exploits people, but at the same time Mutual Funds and the stock my grandfather gave me are great ways to make money for college.


Engels owned a factory&#33; Kropotkin started life out as a prince&#33;

When you&#39;ve been forced into the game, play ball.

[Black Dagger]

Kropotkin started life out as a prince&#33;

This is can be misleading. Pyotr Kropotkin was in fact the original prince of pop, not a prince of the Russian nobility. Though i can see how these can so easily be confused, i blame Michael Jackson and the clerical fascist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

[bed_of_nails]

^ :lol:

I doubt I make much money in whatever I go into, at at best I will qualify as quasi-bourgeoisie. :lol:

[Guest1]

When your union wins you a retirement fund, it is collectively invested in the stockmarket. When you have a bank account, the bank invests that money in the stock market and pays you interest because they have technically borrowed it. When you pay into unemployment insurance, the government invests it into the stock market to create more money to pay you when you are unemployed/retire. When you have a collective healthcare plan at your workplace, the same thing happens.

Use it for your education, just don&#39;t sit on your ass without a job and make your living off of playing with workers&#39; lives.

[MoscowFarewell]

Its a gift and you have to survive in a Capitalist system.


Or at leasts thats my idea on certain things I do.

Video games..