Marks and Mill

Standing in line at the polls, waiting to vote...

Mill: I've been looking around this line, and I've got to tell you, I don't think everyone here should be voting. The sad fact is that these people don't look very educated. Some of them are just listening to music. I see mechanics, Wal-mart workers, and very few of them are reading. With such a lousy education system in the United States, I just don't see how they can make an informed decision about what's best for them selfs and our country. Maybe we should require that everyone that votes has a college degree.

Marx: I can't believe that you think that education is the only thing that makes these people valuable in society. The work of each of these people is equally valuable. Unfortunately, they do live in a capitalist society, where money and commodities are the base of their existence. If you truly believe that they should not have the right to vote, you're just giving me a really good example of how in a capitalist society, there is a big divide between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

Mill: No, education is not a divider. It is a leveler. It brings everyone to the same level. If everyone has had the same education, then we can productively criticize each other to produce a better society.

Marx: So, everyone in line here should have a college education, huh? Next you'll tell me that everyone here should be happy.

Mill: Yes, isn't that the ultimate goal for society? By being good and expressing our truth, then we could all live in a society where there are no limitations.

Marx: I'm not sure I understand your idea of happiness. Since these people live in a capitalist society, I'm afraid that their concept of happiness is linked to their economic status. Come to think of it, they might even vote based on the pocket books --not concerned about the good of the country, but solely about their economic gain well-being.