The American businessman is a genius in his kind. He is on the average remarkable, and from his ranks have come authentic individual geniuses in remarkable number. He has proved himself the master of the techniques of production. In the auxiliaries of production, in financing and distribution and sales, he is scarcely less astounding.

Within his own field, he is alert, inventive, keen, perceptive, quick to change and adapt. Confronted with a new process, a new machine, a new method, he drives quickly through cant to realities. And, in his field, he has a magnitude of vision which puts to shame the businessmen of other nations. Who else drives railroads two thousand miles into nowhere ; thinks of pipelines in thousands instead of dozens of miles ;  . . .{etc.)

All this is true. But the American businessman, alas, suffers also, and most grievously, from the hypertrophy of occupational function. Within his arena so accomplished a performer, he often proves an oaf when he ventures, or is forced, outside. His alertness, vision, quickness, invention are somehow transformed into their opposites. In art, philosophy, and in political or social affairs of any but the crudest sort, he is likely to be drearily prejudice, emptily pompous, narrowly unperceptive, hopelessly backward-looking, naively credulous. At his banquets, his conventions, his clubs, and in his family circle, he tirelessly repeats the most banal of ritualistic abstractions, without relevance, content, or style. It is as if his entire creative spirit were channeled into his special field, and for all else there remained only a paltry set of conditioned verbal reflexes. Ah, how infinitely wearisome a thing it is to listen to the after-dinner speech of �a leading businessman�!

. . .

In relation to the struggle against communism, the American businessman is too ignorant, too greedy, too reactionary and, in a certain sense, too cowardly. I am not, of course, qualifying individual businessmen by these adjectives ; I am referring rather to social or �class� characteristics of the businessman as a type. As individuals, businessmen are no more frequently ignorant or cowardly than individuals from any other social group. . . .

American businessmen seek, and often obtain, really enormous personal incomes for themselves, and colossal profits for the corporations which they own or manage. During these past few years, corporate profits in the hundreds of millions have not been extraordinary . . .  In the published lists of the salaries of corporation executives, we read the names of hundreds of men who are being paid from one hundred to more than five hundred thousand dollars by a single company. These figures tell only a part, and sometimes a relatively small part, of the story. Each of these men, and their wives and children, have other sources of income—from other companies, from bonds and stocks and mortgages, from expense accounts . . . and trust funds—that boost the total figure as much as several hundred per cent.

I am aware that the income tax takes a big slice of the personal incomes. That fact, however, seems to give less, rather than more, excuse for adding more hundreds of thousands in the upper brackets where only 15 per cent or so is left. Besides, there are ways—expense accounts, capital gains, farms worked at a loss, pensions, tax-exempt securities, streamlined gifts—for softening the edge of the income tax. I am aware also that most of the arguments of the labor leaders and their �labor economists� about corporate profits are the grossest demagogy (as if, in an economy like ours, wage-increases could �come out of profits� rather than be added to the cost base, as if in any case the spread of profits over the wages of all the workers would make in the long run any appreciable difference, other than to ensure an increased number of bankruptcies . . .). I also know that profits in the hundreds of millions can always be shown to be �very small� by altering the base to be used in calculating them : �total turnover� instead of invested capital ; reproduction cost instead of original cost ; profit per unit instead of total profit—the �business economists� are just as ingenious as the labor economists.

All these pseudo-economic rationalizations are beside today�s point. That point is that these monstrous incomes and profits have an antagonizing and demoralizing effect upon the workers, and the rest of the poorly or normally paid members of society, in this country and throughout the world. These income statistics are emotional explosives handed gratuitously to the communist propaganda machine.

Even where they do not lead to conscious communist tendencies, they promote that �alienation of the proletariat� which Marx rightly believed to be so essential a condition for the victory of communism.* . . .

J. Burnham, The coming defeat of communism
New York : John Day, 1949, 1950, pages 253 - 255.

    * It can be clearly shown that there still exist some mad Marxist fanatics round the globe — who would still try to tell one, or would pretend to believe, that some kind of �victory of communism� is possible, nay, desirable ; and that it is in the making.

Please note that the early Marxist-Leninists rather freely admitted that the introduction of their �system� (a number of loosely-connected fallacies more like it) would necessitate the destruction of the �old system�, usually called �capitalism� or �imperialism�.

One notes that there may be some truth in proclamations against either 'capitalism' or 'imperialism' ; those two terms, however, denote phenomena which could be widely different.

How many �capitalists� there may be in the USA 2006 ?

There may be a good number of people with sizable savings — does that make them ideologically �capitalist� ?

Probably no more than some 5-10% (or do a survey, the reader) of the persons in the USA who are in possession of some considerable amounts of money would consciously advocate anything like some particular ideology of �capitalism�.

The �imperialists� in the USA would almost certainly be fewer in number. There may have been some tendencies among some politicians or authors in the US which could be correctly described as �imperialistic� — but this has never been the majority of the authors, and rather the contrary.

Perosnally, I would bet with some assurance, that of the 200 and some million people in the US, no less than some 180,000,000 would refuse to proclaim anything specifically �imperialist�.

The thesis here goes, roughly : the US are neither as capitalist nor as imperialist as the Communist propagandists would make their targeted audience (prospective victims) believe.

Yet, what is in the US, good or bad, right or wrong (no one would claim that everything is right) — all that be in the US (and some few other relatively free countries) would be simply destroyed by the Marxist ; the only thing he can really do.

WPT

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The Machiavellians, defenders of freedom / James Burnham. Publisher Washington, D.C. : Gateway Editions ; New York, N.Y. : Kampmann & Co. [distributor], 1987 printing, c1943. Description xx, 305 p. ; 21 cm. ISBN 0895267853 : Language English

Burnham, James, 1905- Title Suicide of the West : an essay on the meaning and destiny of liberalism / James Burnham. Publisher Chicago, Ill. : Regnery Books, c1985. Description 312 p. ; 23 cm. ISBN 0895265990 Language English Note Reprint. Originally published: 1964. Includes index. Note Includes bibliographical references.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Suicide of the West : an essay on the meaning and destiny of liberalism / James Burnham. Publisher New Rochelle, N. Y. : Arlington House, 1975. Description 320 p. ; 22 cm. ISBN 087000056X Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The managerial revolution; what is happening in the world. Publisher Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, [1972, c1941] Description 285 p. 22 cm. ISBN 0837156785 Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The Machiavellians, defenders of freedom [by] James Burnham. Publisher Chicago : Henry Regnery, [1970, c1943] Description x, 305 p. 18 cm. Series A Gateway edition,6079 Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The coming defeat of communism. Publisher New York : Greenwood Press, 1968 [c1950] Description viii, 278 p. 22 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987 Title The war we are in; the last decade and the next Publisher New Rochelle, N.Y., Arlington House [1967] Description 351 p. 24 cm Language English Note Collection of articles from the author's column The third world war in National review

The National Review 10th anniversary album [sound recording] Publisher New York, N.Y. : National Review, c1966 Description 1 sound disc : analog, 33 1/3 rpm ; 12 in Language English Note Title on container: The committee of sponsors presents National Review's 10th anniversary album "National Review #3"--Container "NR3 Limited Edition"--Container Format Music Sound recording

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The web of subversion; underground networks in the U. S. government. Publisher Boston : Western Islands, c1965. Description 214 p. Language English

Trotsky, Leon, 1879-1940. Title In defense of Marxism (against the petty-bourgeois opposition) [By] Leon Trotsky. [Translated by Max Eastman] Publisher New York : Merit Publishers, [1965] Description xxi, 211 p. 23 cm. Language English Note Introduction signed: Joseph Hansen, William F. Warde. Appendices (p. 187-211): 1. Science and style, by J. Burnham.--2. Letter of resignation of James Burnham from the Workers Party.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Suicide of the West; an essay on the meaning and destiny of liberalism. Publisher New York, John Day Co. [1964] Description 312 p. 22 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Does ADA run the New Frontier? / by James Burnham. Publisher New York, N.Y. : National Review, c1963. Description 18 p. : ill., ports. ; 22 cm. Language English Note Cover title. "Reprinted from National review"--p. [2] of cover.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987 Title The web of subversion : underground networks in the U.S. government / James Burnham Publisher [Belmomt, Mass. : American Opinion, 1961] Description 127 p. ; 23 cm Series American Opinion reprint series Language English Note First pub. in 1954 by John Day

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The managerial revolution. Publisher Bloomington, Indiana University Press [1960] Description 285 p. 20 cm. Series A Midland book, MB23 Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The web of subversion; underground networks in the U. S. government. Publisher New York, John Day [c1959] Description 248 p. 21 cm. Language English Note Includes bibliography.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Congress and the American tradition. Publisher Chicago, H. Regnery Co., 1959. Description 363 p. 24 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Rewolucja manadżerska / James Burnham ; z piętnastego wydania amerykańskiego oryginału przełożył J. Horzelski. Publisher Paryż : Instytut Literacki, 1958. Description 279 p. ; 22 cm. Series Biblioteka Kultury ;35 Note Translation of: The managerial revolution.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Revoli︠u︡t︠s︡ii︠a︡ direktorov / Dzhems Bernkhem ; perevod s angliĭskogo Evg. Shugaeva ; pechataetsi︠a︡ s razreshenii︠a︡ avtora. Publisher [Frankfurt am Main] : Posev, 1954. Description 159 p. ; 31 cm. Language Russian Note Romanized record. Translation of: The managerial revolution.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987 Title The web of subversion; underground networks in the U. S. Government Publisher New York, J. Day Co. [1954] Description 248 p. 21 cm Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title What Europe thinks of America Publisher New York, J. Day Co. [1953] Description 222 p. 21 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Bierny op�r czy wyzwolenie? : analiza cel�w amerykańskiej polityki zagranicznej / James Burnham. Publisher Paryż : Instytut Literacki, 1953. Description 205 p. ; 22 cm. Series Biblioteka Kultury ;4 Note Translation of: Containment or liberation?

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Containment or liberation? An inquiry into the aims of United States foreign policy. Publisher New York, J. Day [1953] Description 256 p. 21 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The case against Adlai Stevenson / James Burnham. Publisher New York, N.Y. : American Mercury, [1952?] Description [9] p. ; 20 cm. Language English Note Cover title. "A reprint."

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Gri︠a︡dushchee porazhenie kommunizma / Dzhems Bernkhėm ; avtorizovannyĭ perevod Evg. Shugaeva. Publisher [Frankfurt am Main] : "Posev", 1951. Description 172 p. ; 21 cm. Language Russian Note Romanized record. Translation of: The coming defeat of communism.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987 Title La inevitable derrota del comunismo. [Traduccion de Carlos V. Frias] Publisher Buenos Aires, Emece Editores [1950] Description 330 p Language Spanish Note Translation of: The coming defeat of communism

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Pour vaincre l'imperialisme sovietique. Traduit de l'anglais par Helene Claireau. Publisher Paris : Calmann-Levy, [1950] Description 352 p. Series Liberte de l'esprit Language French Note Translation of: The coming defeat of communism.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The coming defeat of communism. Publisher New York, J. Day [1950] Description viii, 278 p. 21 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Die Revolution der Manager. Publisher Wien : Österreichschen Gewerkschaftsbundes, 1949. Description 279 p. 21 cm. Language German

Malraux, André, 1901-1976. Title The case for De Gaulle; a dialogue between André Malraux and James Burnham. Publisher New York : Random House, [1948] Description 87 p. 19 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The struggle for the world [by] James Burnham. Publisher New York : The John Day Company, Inc., [1947] Description vi p., 1 L., 248 p. 21 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title L'ère des organisateurs Publisher Paris : Calmann-Lévy, [1947] Description xxiv, 261 p. 19 cm. Language French

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The Machiavellians, defenders of freedom / James Burnham. Publisher Chicago : Henry Regnery, 1963, c1943, 1970 printing. Description x, 305 p. ; 17 cm. Series A Gateway edition Language English Note Preface to Gateway edition 1963.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The Machiavellians, defenders of freedom [by] James Burnham. Publisher New York, The John Day company, inc. [1943] Description viii, 270 p. 21 cm. Language English Contents Dante: politics as wish.--Machiavelli: the science of power.--Mosca: the theory of the ruling class.--Sorel: a note on myth and violence.--Michels: the limits of democracy.--Pareto: the nature of social action.--Politics and truth.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987 Title The Machiavellians, defenders of freedom, by James Burnham Publisher London, Putnam [1943] Description v, 202 p. 23 cm Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The managerial revolution : or, what is happening in the world now. Publisher London : Putnam, [1942, c1941] Description 271 p. ; 22 cm. Language English Note First published in England 1942.

Trotsky, Leon, 1879-1940. Title In defence of Marxism (against the petty-bourgeois opposition). Publisher New York, Pioneer publishers [1942] Description xxi p., 1 l., 211 p. 23 cm. Language English Note At head of title: Leon Trotsky. Appendix: I. Science and style, by James Brunham. II. Letter of resignation of James Burnham from the Workers party.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The managerial revolution: what is happening in the world Publisher New York, The John Day company, inc. [c1941] Description 4 p.l., 3-285 p. 21 cm. Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title How to fight war : isolation, collective security, relentless class struggle? / by James Burnham. Publisher [New York, N.Y.?] : Socialist Workers Party and Young Peoples Socialist League (4th Internationalists), 1938. Description 15 p. ; 21 cm. Language English Note Cover title. "March, 1938"--Colophon.

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title The People's front: the new betrayal, by James Burnham. Publisher New York, Pioneer publishers [c1937] Description 64 p. 20 cm. Language English Subject Front populaire.

Why did they confess? A study of the Radek-Pi︠a︡takov trial. Publisher New York, Pioneer Publishers [1937] Description 31 p. 21 cm. Language English Note "This pamphlet has been translated from the March, 1937 issue of Nouvelles d'U.R.S.S., an information bulletin published by the 'Que faire?' group in France"--cf. Introd. Introd. signed: James Burnham. No. 9 of a collection with binder's title: Pamphlets on the Moscow trials. Note Bibliography: p. 30. Subject Radek, Karl, 1885-1939. Pi︠a︡takov, G. L. (Georgiĭ Leonidovich), 1890-1937,

Burnham, James, 1905-1987 Title Introduction to philosophical analysis, by James Burnham and Philip Wheelwright Publisher New York, Holt [c1932] Description v, 462 p. 22 cm Language English

Burnham, James, 1905-1987. Title Let the people vote on war! / By James Burnham. Publisher New York : Pioneer Publishers, [193-?] Description 14 p. ; 22 cm. Language English Note "Published ... for the Socialist Workers Party and the Young Peoples Socialist League (Fourth International)"

The Symposium. Publisher [Concord, N.H.] The Symposium press. Description 4 v. 24 cm. Language English Note "A critical review." Editors: Jan. 1930- James Burnham, P.E. Wheelwright. Format Journal