Capitalism as a form of society must be destroyed. Is it meant that we shall destroy the means of production—the mills, mines, forests, railroads and such things? Certainly not. The means of production are material, mechanical things. They are not a form of society. What then? Are we to “destroy society”? Are we to turn society upside down, inside out and “other end to,”—suddenly—“some dark night,” so to speak? Not at all. Here is what we must do:—Rapidly, just as rapidly as possible we must destroy the present class-labor form of society called capitalism,—and to do this we must _strike at and strike out_ the foundation of the capitalist _form_ of society. But what is the foundation of this capitalist _class_-labor form of society? As already pointed out, the foundation of capitalism is the institution of _private_ property _in the means of production_. The capitalists, the employers, the ruling class, stand legally between the means of production and the users of the means of production; thus a _legal obstruction_ is raised between the workers and the things they work with in getting a living. The capitalist class legally _control the conditions under which the workers may use the means of production_. The capitalist class are in a legalized _parasitic relation_ or connection _to the means of production_. This _relation_ is the key-stone in the arch of capitalism; this relation is the prime element in the present form of society. This parasitic relation enables the capitalists to rule, rob and ruin the working class all the time everywhere. This relation must be destroyed; this despotic, parasitic relation must be cut. The capitalist class must be legally pared off, legally pushed off, legally shorn from, the chief material means of production—as PRIVATE owners. Yes, this robbery, this organized, legalized robbery called capitalism—must be destroyed. “The vast individual and corporate fortunes, the vast combinations of capital, which have marked the development of our industrial system, create _new conditions and necessitate a change_ from the old attitude of the state and nation _toward property_.”[319] The case, the circumstances, require _unflinching social surgery_. You believe in surgery, don’t you. Of course you do. Surgery is recognized the world over as a rational and necessary means of saving life, the life of the individual. Well, _extend the application of the principle and practice of surgery to society_—to the _social_ body.[320]