The first line is Marx, but the rest is Adam Smith. Book 1, Chapter 6 of Wealth of Nations.
As soon as the land of any country has all become private property, the landlords, like all other men, love to reap where they never sowed, and demand a rent even for its natural produce. The wood of the forest, the grass of the field, and all the natural fruits of the earth, which, when land was in common, cost the labourer only the trouble of gathering them, come, even to him, to have an additional price fixed upon them. He must then pay for the licence to gather them; and must give up to the landlord a portion of what his labour either collects or produces. This portion, or, what comes to the same thing, the price of this portion, constitutes the rent of land, and in the price of the greater part of commodities makes a third component part.
The first line is Marx, but the rest is Adam Smith. Book 1, Chapter 6 of Wealth of Nations.
And, the concept of Land Lord as described by Adam Smith doesn’t really exist anymore
Are you dense? It still applies. People who rent while working 9-5 jobs earn no capital while the land lords reap what they don’t work for.
Ay? They reap the rent…