Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

There is a vast divide between those who do the work and those who profit off work done by others. While obvious, it has been this way for so long that it seems natural or inevitable, neither of which is true. To clarify and begin again: we live in one of two ways, either we work for a living or we make others work for us. Some people may not see this as a problem, some may not agree with my description, and some may say that there is no viable alternative. I hope to demonstrate to these people what I mean and disabuse them of any illusions.

The problem inherent in this system is the differentiation between these two groups. Why are there two groups, why should there exist this inequality? When did one group become one way and the other not? Who decided which people belonged in each group? I say it is a problem because every differentiation between people is artificial. Throughout history every time one group has claimed supremacy over or distinction from another, it has been for self-advancement either great or small. I want to address the aspect of these groups, which is another problem with the system. This is not the difference between "types of work", but between work and ownership. Many are made to toil so the few can leisure, or at least be immune to working. The origin is force-subtle or gross-it is one person or group claiming and enforcing the right to get others to do what they want. This has taken different forms: outright physical intimidation and brutality, spiritual claims either about the nature of life (and thus behaviour while alive) or the right to rule, and-our concern here-economic force. The question then becomes: is a system with these attributes one which is desirable or moral?