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I thought that Michael K replied to Jim C with well-argued points and without
rancor. Jim C answered in the same way. These are complex issues, and passions
run deep. So perhaps Louis should reconsider giving Jim C the boot. Jim's
position would surely not be one alien to Greek radicals, and some would surely
agree with him. I might argue that his definition of class position is too pat
and somewhat formulaic. But on the other hand, as Michael Lebowitz argues in
his new book, The Socialist Imperative: From Gotha to Now, and he has
consistently argued for years, as we participate in production, we produce not
only goods and services but ourselves as well. So, and especially because the
class position we are in has a great deal to do with that of our parents, it
seems self-evident that whatever their intentions and character, those who come
from highly educated professional families with high incomes are likely to
follow in their parents' footsteps. They may be sympathetic to working p
eople and radical in their writing and thinking, but this doesn't always
translate into knowing what it is like to be a working person without such
advantages, to really feel it. They also may well have an entire set of
unexamined notions and emotions that buttress modes of being that take for
granted what they have materially and make it seem crazy that they should ever
have to give these things up. All of this can condition politics, even behind
the back, so to speak, of such persons.
Anyway, I often go off the deep end berating people, at least in my head, for
not seeing that their life circumstances, including parental income, education,
and employment, as well as their own income, education, and employment, shape
what they believe and the political actions they are willing to take. But there
is I think always some truth in what I say or think about this.
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