CB
Your right on. No arguments here.
Just finished reading Thompson's book Making of the English Working Class
(origins of English working class consciousness from late 18th c. Jacobinism
to the Reform movements of 1831-32). It describes the critical period when
mechanisation and the reorganization of labour transformed the medieval
petty bourgeoisie (artisans, shop owners, and so on) along with what little
remained of the poorer peasants into proletarians. There are many parallels
with the modern transition between nation based capitalist production and
global capitalism; the importance of religion based solidarity for unity of
the oppressed groups, the development of republicanist radicalism (the
Jacobins in this case) associated with revolutionary developments, and so
on. It was a pretty wild period; lots of state suppression, lots of
rebellions (some quite violent), and lots of switching around of positions
both on the top and on the bottom (you can decide who belongs to which).
I agree with you that P C Roberts is hardly sympathetic to Marxian
radicalism, but he certainly does sense the oncoming crisis. We shouldn't
need him to tell us where we are going, but his statements are interesting
because its an indication that certain conflicts within the ruling classes
have reached a point where at least some partisans regard it necessary to
expose the debates to the public. Brook's recent commentary on the Bush
administration is also relevant here.
Victor
- Original Message -
From: Charles Brown [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: 'Forum for the discussion of theoretical issues raised by Karl Marx
andthe thinkers he inspired' marxism-thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 23:52
Subject: [Marxism-Thaxis] Paul Craig Roberts sees Marxism revivalVictor
victor :
Mr. Roberts should read some of this Marxist stuff.
In a developed state such as is the US (at least in theory in light of
recent events) the rate of profit is in a steady decline, first, by
replacement of productive labour by more developed, efficient? means of
production, and, second, by the rising costs of development in general.
The
decline in the sources of variable surplus value that characterises
developed industrial states forces them to look for new sources of the
kind
of surplus value that brings profits. Cheap, well-trained Indian,
Chinese,
Malayan labour is just what is needed to resuscitate the rate of profit
for
serious capital enterprise.
Globalisation is exactly this process of transferring production from
expensive developed countries to cheap developing countries. Need I
add
that Marx told you so?
Victor
Victor,
Your analysis sounds good to me, but Roberts is also saying, in his own
way,
that Marx told you so . But unlike u , Roberts is a rightwing ,
anti-Marxist, which makes it kind of noteworthy, no ?
Note the note at the beginning:
[Pretty remarkable column for a guy who was Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury under Reagan.]
In the legal evidence, we call this a (sort of) declaration against
instance. When someone makes a statement that is against their own
interests, it is an indication of high veracity. Why would they lie about
something against their own interest, and in this case against his
ideological interest ?
Charles
- Original Message -
From: Charles Brown cbrown at michiganlegal.org
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
To: 'Forum for the discussion of theoretical issues raised by Karl Marx
andthe thinkers he inspired' marxism-thaxis at lists.econ.utah.edu
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
Sent: Friday, September 09, 2005 13:56
Subject: [Marxism-Thaxis] Paul Craig Roberts sees Marxism revival
This is a forward from PEN-L
CB
^
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* Subject: Paul Craig Roberts sees Marxism revival
* From: Carl Remick carlremick at xxx
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* Date: Thu, 8 Sep 2005 11:40:56 +
[Pretty remarkable column for a guy who was Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury under Reagan.]
The Vicious Downward Cycle of the American Economy:
Resurrecting Karl Marx
By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Libertarians and free trade economists don't realize it, but they are
pulling Marx out of his grave
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