Ask Lemmygrad

I think considering the immiseration of people at the time and the utter lack of social mobility/class rigidity it would be a lot harder and far more difficult to convince people of "lumpen" character towards class consciousness even if they are educated. People made a significant living exploiting people especially in America if you take a look at the medicine industry at the time of Marx & Engel's writing. Engel describes the working class in England; putting myself in the shoes of a prole at that time, why would I not want to consider crime especially if it puts food on my table compared to a life of slaving away for pennies in a warehouse or mill somewhere where I'd be exposed to socialist thought? Further more, people had far different ideals on morality and criminal nature then. In general, the kind of life you lived and occupation you had very, very much so determined the circle around you. People weren't as alienated yet.

Things to think about in that regard, these are the first thoughts in my mind when I read the post.