No Subject
Would someone refresh my memory as to how to temporarily suspend PEN-L mail. I'm leaving for a few days. I have the info here someplace but can't locate it. HELP! (Thanks) Brian Eggleston [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: GE Appearances -- NOT
I don't have any particular interest in the question of GE Appearances; however, there are several problems in the following discussion with respect to the concept of the value of labour-power. In Message Tue, 19 Apr 1994 08:01:15 -0700, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: On Tue, 19 Apr 1994 06:39:39 -0700 Allin Cottrell said: A small point in response to one aspect of Jim D's latest posting. There is no contradiction in Marx's saying that the price of commodities other than labor-power gravitate towards their "prices of production" while the price of labor-power gravitates towards its value (though there may be other problems with this formulation). The point is that labor-power, since it is not produced under capitalistic conditions, via a process that participates in the formation of a general rate of profit, *doesn't have* a "price of production" in Marx's sense. That's what I thought. But workers purchase commodities to facilitate the process of reproducing labor-power. If these commodities don't sell at value, then labor- power shouldn't sell at value either, no? in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine One implicit suggestion above is that if the prices/prices of production/values of the commodities which form the wage basket of the worker increase (decrease), so also must the value (etc) of labour-power. That is fair enough if we hold to the assumption (maintained as a working assumption in Capital in order to clarify the nature of capital) that the standard of necessity, that wage basket, is given and constant--- i.e., that the worker is paid in vouchers to purchase that given set of commodities. Once we relax that assumption, as we must (and as Marx intended in his projected book on wage-labour),however, the proposition no longer holds. Eg., if prices/prices of production/values of commodities rise, then the money-wage the worker receives declines in real value; it commands a smaller portion of the output of society's labour. Conversely, if they fall, the immediate effect is that the real wage of the worker rises; she is able to increase the size and composition of that wage basket. It is essential to recognise the implications of that critical assumption that Marx made in Capital. Once we relax that assumption, we acknowledge that the only thing that determines the standard of necessity, that wage basket, --- just like the workday (in length and intensity)--- is class struggle. These are questions explored in my Beyond Capital (Macmillan/St.Martins, 1992). The question of whether the price of labour-power gravitates to its value was also raised there. With apologies to the large number of penners who have purchased the book ;-), I'll take the liberty of offering a short and relevant quote from it (in a last-ditch attempt to fend off the remainder tables): "This response of levels of consumption to increases or decreases in real wages underlies what is 'peculiar' about labour-power as a commodity--- the 'historical or social element' it contains. The peculiarity is that *the value of labour-power has a tendency to adjust to its price---rather than the reverse*."(92) cheers, mike mike lebowitz, econ dept, simon fraser university burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6 (currently enjoying the clams on Lasqueti Island-- (604) 333-8810)
Re: GE Appearances -- NOT
Mike, You're right, of course. But so was I, in context, i.e., within the context of Marx's "transformation problem" discussion (which assumed that the value of labor power was fixed and given). By the way, BEYOND CAPITAL is an excellent book. Perhaps reading it should be a prerequisite for participating in pen-l. :-) in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine BITNET: jndf@lmuacadINTERNET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles, CA 90045-2699 USA 310/338-2948 (off); 310/202-6546 (hm); FAX: 310/338-1950 if bitnet address fails, try [EMAIL PROTECTED]
San Francisco Fed
Today's Wall Street Journal quoted Robert Parry, the long- term President of the SF Federal Reserve Bank as saying "Slack in labor and product markets has all but evaporated." This in a state where the unemployment rate is substantially higher than the high national rate. This remark is the Fed's justification for attempting to slow down the economy. Does Doug Henwood think things would improve if we got rid of people like Parry (a voting member of the Open Market Committtee) and replaced him with someone who could see the unemployed? I do. Gene Coyle
Nica u.a. (fwd)
Forwarded message: Date: Wed, 20 Apr 94 20:11 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christian Task Force on Central America BC) To: shniad Subject: Nica u.a. April 20, 1994 - URGENT ACTION - NICARAGUA - URGENT ACTION - NICARAGUA- Trade Union Leader Attacked Dear Friends, The Commission for the Defence of Human Rights in Central America (CODEHUCA) has been informed by the Nicaraguan Centre for Human Rights (CENIDH) of a physical attack against ROBERTO GONZALEZ GAITAN. Gonzalez Gaitan is Secretary General of the Federation of Transport Workers and a member of the national executive of the Trade Union Confederation of the Sandinista Workers' Central, C.S.T., in Nicaragua. On April 13 at 8:30 p.m. Gonzalez Gaitan left a meeting of his union and proceeded to his home in Colonia Miguel Bonille. While passing the south side of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua he was shot at several times. He lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree. One of the gun shots hit the left side of the vehicle. Mr. Gonzalez suffered a concussion and lesions and was transported to hospital where he remained for five days. Doctors ordered him to rest for 30 additional days. BACKGROUND INFORMATION. Several transport strikes have occurred in Nicaragua throughout 1993 and 1994 during which Nicaraguan security forces took repressive actions against leaders and members of the transport sector. This latest attack happened in a tense moment as the government signed its "Support Plan to Facilitate Adjustment". This attack also took place at a time when Javier Velazquez, "The Tiger", accused Gonzalez Gaitan of inciting people to take up arms. Velazquez has been identified as probably being responsible for the death of Comandante Saul Alvarez during the first national transportation strike in September 1993. At the same time, Comandante Fernando Caldera, Director General of the National Police, told reporters that Gonzalez Gaitan is "a dangerous subject and a cause of instability." As of this date those responsible for this attack have not been identified or captured. The police are being very secretive about their investigation; therefore CENIDH will carry out its own investigation. Given that Gonzalez Gaitan is the leader of one of the organizations that has been most active and firm in defense of its economic rights, CENIDH and CODEHUCA fear that other attacks could take place against the popular movement which is constantly confronting the government's economic measures. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please write to President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro to express concern about the attack on Roberto Gonzalez Gaitan, requesting that she quickly and thoroughly investigate this attack so that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Please also send messages to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressing concern about the attack and requesting that the Canadian government express its concern to the Nicaraguan government and request an investigation so that those responsible are brought to justice. Please send copies to Bob Mills, M.P. and Svend Robinson, M.P., the foreign affairs critics of the Reform Party and NDP respectively. (Eastern Canada covers the Bloc Qubecois.) ADDRESSES Presidenta de la Republica de Nicaragua, FAX: 011-505-2-627911 Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Casa de Gobierno Apartado 2398 Managua, Nicaragua Honourable Andr Ouellet,FAX: 1 613-996-3443 Minister of External Affairs House of Commons, Ottawa Ontario, K1A 0A6 Svend Robinson, M.P. (NDP) FAX: 1 613-992-5501 Bob Mills, M.P. (Reform Party) FAX: 1 613-995-6831 (House of Commons, Ottawa Ontario, K1A 0A6). No postage is necessary when writing to the House of Commons. Thank you for your support.
Re: Instructions for Changing Your Pen-l Status
I had better luck writing [EMAIL PROTECTED] --Alan Isaac On Wed, 20 Apr 1994 18:24:28 -0700 Michael Perelman said: Brian asked how to change his pen-l status. Anyone who wants to know what they can do on pen-l can send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Leave subject and your name blank. You only need to write: help the instructions will be sent to you -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 916-898-5321 916-898-6141 messages E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
