How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph) or (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
For 'protection' against the serpent of their agonies, the workers have to put their heads together and, as a class, compel the passing of a law, an all-powerful social barrier by which they can be prevented from selling themselves and their families into slavery and death by voluntary contract with capital. (10.7.7)
The working class isn't powerless. Workers can take advantage of their size—they outnumber the large capitalists by the millions—by joining together and striking or putting pressure on the government to pass laws for the regulation of working conditions and the length of the working day. Of course, Marx would have them do more than that as well—he'd tell them to revolt and overthrow capitalism altogether.