Carrol,
I recognize that you have been for reduced hours.
People approach Pen-l from two perspectives: the politics of a policy and how
it might come into use, and the analytics behind a policy and whether the
policy make sense.
(There is a third perspective, to dismiss policy ideas from the stance of a
hipster or a cynic. These people damage the List.)
On the politics and organizing I know almost nothing, though I often work
closely with and for organizers. Impressive people. You, Carrol work from the
political side and I usually nod assent to your remarks.
I've been thinking about energy in general for many decades and about global
warming for more than a decade. So I leave the "how" to others and simply keep
pushing the idea. I believe it is useful to offer a "solution" so people,
looking for the best thing to do may discover it.
I reviewed Kathi Weeks book "The Problem With Work". (Forthcoming in RRPE.) A
fine book but not easy reading. She ends the book with a powerful chapter
subtitled "Utopian Demands and the Temporalities of Hope." Here is a passage,
found on page 176.
> "One of these more fractional forms, the “utopian demand” – – as I use the
> phrase – – is a political demand that takes the form not of a narrowly
> pragmatic reform but of a more substantial transformation of the present
> configuration of social relations; it is a demand that raises eyebrows, one
> for which we probably would not expect immediate success. These are demands
> it would be difficult – though not impossible – to realize in the present
> institutional and ideological context; to be considered feasible, a number of
> shifts in the terrain of political discourse must be effected. In this sense,
> utopian demand prefigures – again in fragmentary form – a different world,
> the world in which the program or policy that the demand promotes would be
> considered as a matter of course both practical and reasonable. It is not,
> however, just the status of the program or policy that is at stake; as the
> proponents of wages for housework recognized, the political practice of
> demanding is of crucial importance as well.”
Now I have theoretical support for repeating screeds for reducing working hours.
Gene
On Nov 21, 2014, at 2:49 PM, Carrol Cox <[email protected]> wrote:
> Everyone assumes that there is "time" for their particular "solution" to
> take effect. What is your date at which the deaths of six plus millions will
> occur?
>
> I am all for reduced hours -- but merely being for something does not bring
> it into existence.
>
> All the "solutions" mentioned in this thread require a radical shift in
> political power. The election of a "green" Congress & President and the
> overthrow of capitalism are equally improbable in the next few decades.
>
> Statements about the end of humanity merely freeze _all_ action.
>
> Carrol
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Eugene Coyle
> Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 3:58 PM
> To: Pen-l Pen-L
> Subject: Re: [Pen-l] [Marxism] NYRB review of Naomi Klein
>
> Carrol,
>
> Yours is an astonishing statement. If "the predicted global warming
> is a given ... " then run-away climate change is a given.
> J. E. Lovelock, a distinguished UK scientist has predicted that humanity
> will be reduced to a few breeding pairs. If he's right, and not being
> unduly optimistic, it is time to step up the struggle.
> Not sure what you, personally, would put in the box for immediate
> ends. Carbon tax? Regulations? But the best thing to include for
> immediate ends AND the destruction of capitalism at the same time is
> reducing working time.
>
> Gene
>
> On Nov 21, 2014, at 12:11 PM, Carrol Cox <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> The predicted global warming is a given; we are not going to stop it, with
>> either revolution or reform.
>>
>> But Shane is being silly when he asserts that this is The End. The damage
>> will be huge, but it will not destroy humanity.
>>
>> We have room to struggle, both for immediate ends and for the destruction
> of
>> capitalism.
>>
>> It is also highly probable that the 1% take global warming for granted;
> they
>> just assume they can handle it & to hell with the rest of us.
>>
>> A high wall around Manhattan will keep out the rising waters.
>>
>> Carrol
>>
>>
>>
>>
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