Justification against Victims of Capitalism

The direct argument that the harms suffered under capitalist systems—poverty, alienation, exploitation—are necessary, deserved, or noble. It frames victims as willing participants in a fair game (“they chose that job”), as beneficiaries of growth (“a rising tide lifts all boats”), or as unfortunate but acceptable casualties of progress and efficiency.

Justification against Victims of Capitalism Example: A politician arguing against a living wage by stating, “Low wages are what give young people the hunger to climb the ladder. Struggle builds character.” This justification against victims of capitalism transmutes systemic economic coercion into a moral virtue, suggesting that being underpaid is a beneficial rite of passage rather than exploitation.

by Abzugal February 8, 2026

Justification against Victims of Late-Stage Capitalism

The explicit defense of the extreme, often absurd, harms endemic to the decaying phase of capitalism—such as rampant financialization, platform monopolies, climate collapse, and existential precarity—as not only necessary but as signs of a thriving, innovative system. It frames unprecedented levels of inequality, burnout, and societal dysfunction as the exciting, if turbulent, frontier of human progress, where victims are merely those who failed to adapt to a new, faster world they should be grateful for.

Justification against Victims of Late-Stage Capitalism Example: A tech billionaire arguing that the mental health crisis and loneliness epidemic fueled by social media algorithms are "the price of global connection and democratized information," and that those suffering from addiction or misinformation "need to develop better digital literacy." This justification reframes the systemic pathologies of attention economics as a grand, neutral evolution, blaming users for its human costs.

by Abzugal February 8, 2026