This cartoon was an attempt during the Cold War to defend Capitalism against Anti-capitalististic individuals like Marx. Although it’s supposed to defend Captialism, it also points out many of the points Marx is uncomfortable with regarding Capitalism.
Marx would have immediately noticed that the main character, Freddie Fudsie creates a surplus of supply and because of this he no longer has need for the extra product as he already has enough soap to satisfy his personal needs. This soap can then be sold for profit. The labor time it takes to make this product and its use to others creates its value, which after time and trade becomes a fairly universal price in relation to other products. Money becomes the middle-man for trade and its value is established in relation to a dollar making trade easier.
Since Freddie is able to speed up his production time, he is also able to speed up the speed in which he makes his product, making it possible to create more product and gain more profit. He is also able to expand his business into new areas. Doing this also has an effect on the relationship Freddie has with his product. He and his workers become emotionally divorced from the product their making. Labor time decreases and the value decreases, but the amount of production compensates for this as society still places additional value on his product for its quality and its brand.
The video states that the profit motive is the driving force behind the American industry and that this is beneficial to future generations of Americans. However it is interesting to notice that Freddie’ original goal is to create more time to enjoy his life. Instead he becomes corrupted by greed. The future generations, too have no time for enjoyment, as they perpetuate the market that individuals such as Freddie have created, robbing their lives of free time as they become slaves to their profit and the market.
Marx Karl. “Commodities.” Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Ed. Vincent B. Leitch. W.W. Norton & Company: New York, 2010. 663-671. Print.
Animation Station. “Going Places” (1948). March 29, 2011. Web.
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