| One of the basic characteristics of
capitalism is the private ownership of the major means of production—capital.
The ownership of large amounts of capital can bring{{U}} (41)
{{/U}}profits, as well as economic and political power. Some recent
theorists, {{U}}(42) {{/U}}have argued that our society has moved to a
new stage of{{U}} (43) {{/U}}that they call "postindustrial" society.
One important change in such society is that the ownership of{{U}} (44)
{{/U}}amounts of capital is no longer the only or even the most important{{U}}
(45) {{/U}}of profits and influence; knowledge as well as{{U}}
(46) {{/U}}capital brings profits and influence. There are many{{U}} (47) {{/U}}with the thesis above, not the least of{{U}} (48) {{/U}}is that wealthy capitalists can buy the experts and knowledge they need to keep their profits and influence, but this does not{{U}} (49) {{/U}}the importance of knowledge in an advanced industrial society, as the{{U}} (50) {{/U}}of some new industries indicates. {{U}}(51) {{/U}}, genetic engineering and the new computer technology have{{U}} (52) {{/U}}many new firms and made some scientists quite rich. In{{U}} (53) {{/U}}with criticism of the postindustrial society thesis, however, it must also be{{U}} (54) {{/U}}that those already in control of huge amounts of capital (i. e., major corporations) soon{{U}} (55) {{/U}}to take most profits in these industries based on new knowledge. Moving down from the level of wealth and power, we still find knowledge increasingly{{U}} (56) {{/U}}. Many new high-tech jobs are being created at the upper-skill, low-paying service{{U}} (57) {{/U}}. Something like a caste line is emerging centered around knowledge. Individuals who fall too far behind in the{{U}} (58) {{/U}}of knowledge at a young age will find it almost impossible to catch up later, no matter how hard they try. Illiteracy in English language has been a severe{{U}} (59) {{/U}}for many years in the United States, but we are also moving to the point when computer illiteracy will hinder many more people and{{U}} (60) {{/U}}them to a life of low-skill and low-paid labor. |