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About this quote

What does it mean?
Debs argues that competition today is unfair because labor cannot match organized capital.
In plain terms
Workers cannot truly compete with big companies today.
What can you take from it?
Economic competition is often unequal.

Where it applies

  • labor negotiations
  • economic analysis
  • protests

Putting it to work

  • supporting collective bargaining

Questions to consider

  • Is competition ever equal?
  • How do we fix imbalance?

Another view

It simplifies the complex nature of market competition.

More from Eugene V. Debs

  1. If it had not been for the discontent of a few fellows who had not been satisfied with their conditions, you would still be living in caves. Intelligent discon…

    Permalink to quote #37
  2. When we are in partnership and have stopped clutching each other's throats, when we have stopped enslaving each other, we will stand together, hands clasped, a…

    Permalink to quote #39
  3. The rights of one are as sacred as the rights of a million.

    Permalink to quote #36

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