Repeatedly in preceding chapters I have written of two classes. Are there indeed two classes? _Get distinctly in mind the three following propositions stating the three largest facts of all concerning the present order of society_: =First Proposition=: In the present capitalist form society is divided into two classes, two industrial classes: the capitalist class and the working class. =Second Proposition=: Industrially, society is organized and managed for the _special_ benefit of _part_ of society—for one class, the capitalist class. =Third Proposition=: Each of these two classes has industrial interests _as a class_; these class interests conflict; and there is, therefore, as a part of and because of the _class_ form of society, a constant class conflict, a _class struggle_. Let me try to make these three propositions clear. Please note carefully the exact wording of the propositions to be explained. The explanation,—first proposition: Of course you wish to live and be comfortable. To live and be comfortable you must consume useful things. But before you can consume useful things they must be produced. And since this is true of all the members of society it is readily seen that the first task of society, the primary social function, is production. _Production, industry, is the foundation of society._ Now, in performing this industrial work, in doing this first thing, we use raw materials, mines, forests, fields, mills, factories, tools, machinery, railways, etc., etc.; and these things are called the MEANS OF PRODUCTION. We make use of these things, these means of production, in _applying our labor-power_—that is, in producing the things society wishes to consume. But:— One class privately own the coal mines and iron mines and buy labor-power; The other class work in the coal mines and iron mines and sell labor-power. One class privately own lumber forests and marble quarries, and buy labor-power; The other class work in the lumber forests and marble quarries, and sell labor-power. One class privately own cotton mills, steel mills, and flour mills, etc., and buy labor-power. The other class work in cotton mills, steel mills, and flour mills, etc., and sell labor-power. One class privately own railroads and buy labor-power; The other class work on railroads and sell labor-power. Or, to say it briefly, One class, the _capitalist_ class, privately OWN the chief material means of production—and BUY labor-power. The other class, the _working_ class, USE the chief material means of production—and SELL labor power. Surely you can see that there are two _industrial classes_. There are, under capitalism, not only two industrial classes, but also two social classes. Industrial classes become social classes. Johan Kaspar Bluntschli, one of Germany’s most eminent writers on political science, has this to say: