You’re describing the extremes on a spectrum, but you only go to one of the extremes, which exposes your bias.
And it’s a false dichotomy to begin with, since shifting more care work towards society doesn’t equate to a path toward totalitarianism. You’re conflating socialism with totalitarianism. Understandable, but misguided.
Frankly, your whole premise is based on a capitalist narrative that keeps workers in their place because individual care work is so inefficient—it drains energy that could otherwise be channeled into organizing worker councils to balance out the power now disproportionately held by banks, IT corporations, political parties, and the military-industrial complex.
I’m aware that I may come across as an arrogant prick in this comment. I wish I had more time to craft a friendlier response with more sources and explanation, but I simply don’t. I need to work to feed my children and their mother, but anyway, here’s a reading list for anyone who’s interested:
"Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" by Mark Fisher - Fisher discusses how capitalism has permeated every aspect of life, including care work, and critiques the idea that alternatives like socialism lead to totalitarianism.
"Workers of the World: Essays Toward a New History of the Working Class" by Philip A. H. G. D. Van der Linden - This collection explores the historical context of labor movements and the importance of organizing against disproportionate power structures.
"The Care Crisis: What’s Wrong with Care and How to Fix It" by the Institute of Public Policy Research - This report outlines the societal implications of care work and its impact on worker organization.
"Wages for Housework" by Silvia Federici - Federici argues for the recognition and compensation of domestic labor, linking it to broader struggles against capitalist exploitation.
The whole point is scaling "care work" is almost oxymoronic. Care is only quality care when there are a small number of carers per those being cared for. To make it "efficient" is to turn children, the addicted, the disabled, and the elderly into cattle.
> "Wages for Housework" by Silvia Federici - Federici argues for the recognition and compensation of domestic labor, linking it to broader struggles against capitalist exploitation.
This reveals one of the poorly hid secrets of progressive ideology. Progressives LOVE Capitalism and want to spread it to encompass every human interaction. Caring for your own home, your own children, anything someone might do for a friend or a loved one MUST be turned into a financial transaction with an explicit contract.
> This reveals one of the poorly hid secrets of progressive ideology. Progressives LOVE Capitalism and want to spread it to encompass every human interaction
this is one of the fascinating consequences of "capitalist realism". often people who attempt to criticize the system end up describing a form of capitalism that they would prefer to participate in. picturing a world that isn't the one you know is really difficult. questioning everything is a painful and slow process.
I didn’t advocate for "scaling" care work in any way. The point is that care work needs adequate support and funding—not efficiency measures to turn it into a production line. Right now, schools and childcare services are chronically underfunded, with too few teachers and caregivers for the number of children needing attention. Meanwhile, parents with limited support systems work full-time just to make ends meet, only to watch a large portion of their income go straight to childcare costs.
The conservative approach you’re defending offloads all responsibility to the individual and the nuclear family, which means that in reality, women often end up trapped in unpaid care roles, increasingly dependent on their spouses' income. That’s not freedom, nor does it offer any dignity or choice; it’s a conservative agenda dressed up as “individual responsibility,” which only entrenches inequality and dependence within families.
And let’s address this twisted notion that anyone who wants state-funded support for care services somehow thinks of people as "cattle." It's laughable—except it’s also insulting. So, to put it bluntly: go fuck yourself for even suggesting that. Care, when adequately supported and dignified, recognizes people’s humanity rather than ignoring it.
As for the accusation that progressives want to monetize and commodify every human relationship, look at who benefits from the status quo. Conservatives would rather sacrifice people’s well-being to "traditional values," while keeping corporate interests safe from any pressure to reinvest in the society they profit from. I don’t see any corporate executives or capitalists hesitating to send their own kids off to private schools and exclusive care, expecting other people’s children to manage with nothing.
So let’s be clear: asking for social investments in care isn’t “capitalist.” It’s about making sure people aren’t left to fend for themselves, and about affording everyone—children, the elderly, those with disabilities, and the rest of us—a dignified life. And if that offends the conservative agenda, then good.
And it’s a false dichotomy to begin with, since shifting more care work towards society doesn’t equate to a path toward totalitarianism. You’re conflating socialism with totalitarianism. Understandable, but misguided.
Frankly, your whole premise is based on a capitalist narrative that keeps workers in their place because individual care work is so inefficient—it drains energy that could otherwise be channeled into organizing worker councils to balance out the power now disproportionately held by banks, IT corporations, political parties, and the military-industrial complex.
I’m aware that I may come across as an arrogant prick in this comment. I wish I had more time to craft a friendlier response with more sources and explanation, but I simply don’t. I need to work to feed my children and their mother, but anyway, here’s a reading list for anyone who’s interested:
"Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative?" by Mark Fisher - Fisher discusses how capitalism has permeated every aspect of life, including care work, and critiques the idea that alternatives like socialism lead to totalitarianism.
"Workers of the World: Essays Toward a New History of the Working Class" by Philip A. H. G. D. Van der Linden - This collection explores the historical context of labor movements and the importance of organizing against disproportionate power structures.
"The Care Crisis: What’s Wrong with Care and How to Fix It" by the Institute of Public Policy Research - This report outlines the societal implications of care work and its impact on worker organization.
"Wages for Housework" by Silvia Federici - Federici argues for the recognition and compensation of domestic labor, linking it to broader struggles against capitalist exploitation.