Was thinking about the distinctions of this and wondering…
Would it be accurate to say that the petite bourgeoisie are on the same ladder as the bourgeoisie? Or to put it in more English terms, would it to be accurate to say that small business owners are on the same ladder as Jeff Bezos? Just on a much lower rung?
Versus, in this analogy, the proletariat (or working class), are not on the ladder at all.
The idea being that the small business owner is in a less organized stage of development toward the same thing as the conglomerate (if this is happening under capitalist rule). Whereas the working class cannot organically develop in that direction (I suppose a few could through stocks, but that seems like on the level of winning the lottery).
Want to make sure I have my metaphors straight.
Almost all small business owners benefit far more, and are far more closely related to, the proletariat. Which is why the capitalists try so hard to skew the lines to make them side with them against the workers. Workers fighting against massive monopolistic conglomerates? “Look. LOOK. These greedy workers want to steal your mom and pop business.”
And damned if it doesn’t work
Every
Single
Time