I’m convinced they actually know all about what Marx et al actually wrote,
From my experience with capitalists, they know or at least immediately get most of it. The bourgeoisie are the only class in the Western world that still has a widespread class consciousness.
Problem here is that recognizing their class interests means steamrolling over our class interests.
they have surely read some leftist theory
Most haven't, or have just skimmed through a major work or two. Their insight into how capitalism works comes from a lifetime of having had a bird eye's view on the system. They're not deliberately misunderstanding these concepts, they're just viewing them from their side of the equation and are always willing to bullshit other people about how things actually work, because they intuitively realize they need our false consciousness for their gain.
From my experience with capitalists, they know or at least immediately get most of it. The bourgeoisie are the only class in the Western world that still has a widespread class consciousness.
Problem here is that recognizing their class interests means steamrolling over our class interests.
Most haven't, or have just skimmed through a major work or two. Their insight into how capitalism works comes from a lifetime of having had a bird eye's view on the system. They're not deliberately misunderstanding these concepts, they're just viewing them from their side of the equation and are always willing to bullshit other people about how things actually work, because they intuitively realize they need our false consciousness for their gain.