From everything we read in class, all I really know about Marxism is that it is not capitalism. Other than that there are no specifics to grasp onto and challenge. I thought we were finally getting somewhere with the manifesto but that turned out to be "only taken in historical context" and Marx himself said that it was not a blueprint for every situation.

Does Marxism mean eliminating private property? Probably. So nobody will own anything? Not necessarily. Will the press be state run? Maybe. Will it be state owned? Yes, maybe. So will the state own it and not run it? That sounds good. So who will run it? The people. Which people? Everybody. What does that mean? What kind of government will there be? One where the workers are in charge. In charge how? That depends. Will the worker-state be permanent? No. What will come after?

It seems to me, and I may be wrong, that Marxism is a rallying point for anyone who is anti-capitalist, and that the different Marxist groups may not even agree on anything else. As I'm looking at this midterm this is definitely my main hangup. So if anyone would care to respond to this question, I would be grateful.

What are the basic tenets about which Marxists all agree?

Side question: Do I own my own labor under Marxism, or is that appropriated by the state along with my property?