The Spark

the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist

“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx

Capitalism’s Throwaway People

Feb 9, 2009

In the space of a few weeks, three people froze to death in the greater Detroit area.

In Sumpter Township, a 67-year-old man was found frozen to death in his truck. He had been living in his truck because the heat, electricity and water had been shut off in his house.

In Bay City, a 93-year-old man froze to death in his home after the city-owned power company had restricted his electricity use because of an unpaid bill. Ice was found in the kitchen sink.

And in Detroit, a 56-year-old man was found frozen in ice in the basement of an abandoned warehouse owned by billionaire Matty Moroun.

In Detroit alone, it’s estimated that 19,000 people–two% of the population–are homeless. In this bitter winter, how many have just disappeared?

These are the casualties of a capitalist system that throws millions into poverty–while others sit on billions of dollars.