Karl Marx
The Civil War in France
Written: July 1870 - May 1871
Nowhere do “politicians” form a more separate, powerful section of the
nation than in North America. There, each of the two great parties which alternately succeed each
other in power is itself in turn controlled by people who make a business of politics, who
speculate on seats in the legislative assemblies of the Union as well as of the separate states, or
who make a living by carrying on agitation for their party and on its victory are rewarded with
positions.
Here we find here two great gangs of political speculators, who
alternately take possession of the state power and exploit it by the most corrupt means and for the
most corrupt ends – and the nation is powerless against these two great cartels of politicians, who
are ostensibly its servants, but in reality exploit and plunder it.
Karl Marx
The Civil War in France
Written: July 1870 - May 1871
Nowhere do “politicians” form a more separate, powerful section of the nation than in North America. There, each of the two great parties which alternately succeed each other in power is itself in turn controlled by people who make a business of politics, who speculate on seats in the legislative assemblies of the Union as well as of the separate states, or who make a living by carrying on agitation for their party and on its victory are rewarded with positions.
Here we find here two great gangs of political speculators, who alternately take possession of the state power and exploit it by the most corrupt means and for the most corrupt ends – and the nation is powerless against these two great cartels of politicians, who are ostensibly its servants, but in reality exploit and plunder it.