Jim Devine wrote:
Max B. Sawicky wrote:
One interesting Big Question this suggests ... is a) on the merits; and b) politically, it
is apt to junk the critique of "individualism" and focus on modern conservatism as
an ideology of corporatism. Obviously the facade of conservatism is the fantasy of
individualism, but the practice is quite different.<
There's a problem with terminology. "Conservatism" has had (at least)
two meanings since the 1950s, when William F. Buckley created a
shotgun marriage of "free market conservatism" (laissez-faire) and
traditionalist or Burkean conservatism (preserve tradition, family,
church, community, nation, and the distribution of wealth).[*] (And
then there's "corporatism," which could mean that the corporations
should rule -- or it could mean Mussolini-type fascism.)
To my mind, it's clearer to say that "laissez-faire" has _always_
suffered from a contradiction between its sometimes fine-sounding
theory (individualism, market libertarianism) and its abysmal practice
(pro-rich, pro-business, anti-democratic policies).
Anyway, I agree with Max's point.
[*] the shotgun that allowed this union was fear of (and loathing
toward) the USSR.
Market liberalism (i.e., laissez-faire) is in pure form an engine for
inequality
among other depredations and in this sense could be described as
pro-business,
pro-capital, anti-democratic.
As we know, really existing market liberalism is a sewer of subsidy for
diverse narrow
interests, as opposed to Capital. This is the point being made now by
Jamie Galbraith
and before him Dean Baker. It seems safe to say it was ever thus, and
inevitable.
But this is a reformist critique and opens the door to fantasies about
"real competition" (sic)
or the Democrats' dream of true meritocracy.
It seems to me to gloss over Marx and the deeper contradictions.
Perhaps we err in giving the system credit for being founded on
individualism and
free enterprise, both on the analytical merits and politically. The
Baker and Galbraith
assaults seem more potent politically than a critique of something -- a
market system --
that doesn't exist.
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