Reading about pirates in honor of May Day.
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Without romanticizing them too much, it's fair to say that the Atlantic piracy of the early 18th century functioned as a (criminal) revolt against capitalist exploitation. Conditions on merchant and Navy vessels were miserable and exploitative; mortality was high. Pirate ships were manned almost entirely by defectors from the ships deployed by capital. They elected their captains, counterbalanced their authority by electing quartermasters, and made major decisions by democratic method. Rather than wage labor, they shared profits according to expertise and experience. A portion was kept in a common fund to compensate crew members for injury.
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