162
Paystub from a US coal miner in 1942. Ends up owing his employer $1.84 ($35.76 in 2023) at the end of the pay period.
(lemmygrad.ml)
What do we call this? Early stage capitalism? What the Western world is on track to return to? Forshadow capitalism?
This is when miners were paid in company currency and lived in company houses and shopped at a company store.
capitalism has only existed for a few centuries
You're totally right, I should've articulated that the culture/practice of putting capital above all else, started a long time ago, replacing the practice of lauding goods and the production of goods.