Re: Further confirmation of Mark Jones
On Sat, 12 Jun 2004, Carrol Cox wrote: The material facts regarding oil depletion, global warming, mercury poisoning of the seas, have _never_ been a central issue except in the thought of those who cannot or who refuse to think politically. And thinking politically involves NOT What should the government(s) do? But How can those who recognize the 'facts' achieve political power to do something about it? How can 'we' achieve political power? Then the question becomes: In what way does knowledge of the future of oil contribute to achieving political power? And my answer to that question is, it does _not_. I suppose knowing about storm clouds for wars doesn't matter either, although I don't recall any Marxist who didn't care about that issue. Paul * Vol.21-Neoliberalism in Crisis, Accumulation, and Rosa Luxemburg's Legacy RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Zarembka/Soederberg, eds, Elsevier Science ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Chronicle of Higher Ed. article: SUNY Art Professor's Use of Bacteria Prompts a Federal Investigation and an Academic Chill
PATRIOT ACT on the move: You can now sign a letter of support at the Critical Art Ensemble Defense Fund page. http://www.caedefensefund.org/. Poster for the demonstration are also available. http://www.caedefensefund.org/demonstration.html An article in the Christian Science Monitor on this situation http://search.csmonitor.com/search_content/0607/dailyUpdate.html and Chronicle of Higher Ed at http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=91navlpqxhto7sw2b0afvm7hoxqnnei1 -Original Message- From: Paul Zarembka [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 12:03 PM Subject: Chronicle of Higher Ed. article: SUNY Art Professor's Use of Bacteria Prompts a Federal Investigation and an Academic Chill This is about Steven J. Kurtz, UB! Remember: protest is being planned at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15 outside the courthouse at 138 Delaware Ave. in Buffalo. This article, SUNY Art Professor's Use of Bacteria Prompts a Federal Investigation and an Academic Chill, is available online at this address: http://chronicle.com/temp/email.php?id=91navlpqxhto7sw2b0afvm7hoxqnnei1 This article will be available to non-subscribers of The Chronicle for up to five days after it is e-mailed. The article is always available to Chronicle subscribers at this address: http://chronicle.com/daily/2004/06/2004060803n.htm
Re: Mike Davis on Hubbert's Peak
On Tue, 1 Jun 2004, sartesian wrote: Anybody interested in knowing just how flexible and elastic the speculations about peaks really are would do well to read the original peakist himself, the petroleum Malthus, M. King Hubbert. Take a look at http://www.hubbertpeak.com/hubbert/nehring.pdf and you will read the King predicting a peak in the non-communist world's oil production in the early to mid 1980s, etc. etc. etc. Didn't exactly happen that way, now did it? Checking out the 1980 report you posted says: Enough is known about world oil supplies to make a few specific observations: (1) Assuming political stability in the major exporters, non-Communist world oil supply is likely to range between 45-60 MBD* in 1985 and 40-60 MBD in 2000 (compared to 52 MBD in 1979). The sizes of potential increases in Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Iraq and of the decrease in the United States account for a major portion of the variation in production possibilities (10 MBD or approximately 50% of the variation in the year 2000). --In fact, 2002 was about 63 MBD, after subtracting out USSR and China from: http://www.worldoil.com/INFOCENTER/STATISTICS_DETAIL.asp?Statfile=_worldoilproduction (2) As a group, the non-Communist industrialized countries will experience no significant increase in production. In fact, production in these countries may decrease by as much as 50% by the year 2000. 2002 OECD was 21.88 (ibid), but I can't immediately find 1980 (except U.S. at 10+). (3) In the short term, U.S. production may decline from its current level of 10.2 MBD to a level of 7.2-8.5 MBD in 1985. Production in the year 2000 may range between 4-7 MBD. The high estimate for the year 2000 (7 MBD) depends on both the annual addition of 1 billion barrels to proven reserves and the extensive use of enhanced recovery techniques. 8.06 MBD in 2002 for the U.S. (4) OPEC production during the next 20 years will not differ significantly from its current level of 31 MBD. Any increases in the production rate will be strongly dependent upon Arab OPEC producers. Except for Iran, only Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates have the reserves and Iraq the estimated potential to increase production rates. Substantial dependence on Arab OPEC (the Persian Gulf region) is likely to continue with its obvious implications for foreign policy. 28.57 in 2002 (ibid., while your report p. 45, predicted 27-37 for 2000) In sum, I don't understand the objection to this report of 1980. A new book is Dale Allen Pfeiffer's book The End of the Age of Oil and a major proponent of peak oil is http://www.fromthewilderness.com/ . Paul
Textbook recommendation for Environmental Economics?
Anyone have a recommendation? I'm teaching it first time this fall and prefer not having 'the market' and its wonders the reference point. Thanks, Paul * Vol.21-Neoliberalism in Crisis, Accumulation, and Rosa Luxemburg's Legacy RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Zarembka/Soederberg, eds, Elsevier Science ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
EARLY WARNING: Venezuela's radical opposition will ignore CNE decisions on recall referendum
See what may be the outlines of the U.S.-led coup in preparation: http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=21394 Attention in the article is upon the radical-right opposition, rather than upon the government's preparations, and gives a feel for what the government and the Venezuelan masses have to prepare for. I have no idea whether the recall petition will be ruled sufficient or insufficient, but I have read that Chavez himself welcomes a recall vote as he believes he would easily win such a vote. I also don't know anything about protections for the integrity of any such recall vote, but I'm quite sure the opposition will claim fraud if they lose the recall, just as they will claim fraud if the repair process does not lead to a recall vote. So, the described preparations are as relevant for now or as for mid-August. Paul Z. * Vol.21-Neoliberalism in Crisis, Accumulation, and Rosa Luxemburg's Legacy RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Zarembka/Soederberg, eds, Elsevier Science ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Re: Nick Berg and Ben Linder
I find the question of whether Berg was actually killed by beheading and by whom far more interesting than the NYT article about Berg's personality. See, for example, The Nicholas Berg execution: A working hypothesis and a resolution for the orange jumpsuit mystery http://www.brushtail.com.au/nick_berg_hypothesis.html Paul Z. * Vol.21-Neoliberalism in Crisis, Accumulation, and Rosa Luxemburg's Legacy RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Zarembka/Soederberg, eds, Elsevier Science ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
(just published) NEOLIBERALISM IN CRISIS, ACCUMULATION, AND ROSA LUXEMBURG'S LEGACY
NEOLIBERALISM IN CRISIS, ACCUMULATION, AND ROSA LUXEMBURG'S LEGACY Research in Political Economy, Volume 21, 2004, 298 pages Editors: Paul Zarembka, State University of New York at Buffalo, and Susanne Soederberg, University of Alberta This volume explores overlapping themes in radical political economy. The first section looks at the disciplinary role of capital under neoliberalism through an examination of official development policies of the US government and the World Bank, labour restructuring in Argentina, the tenuous nature of global finance, and cultural dimensions of bourgeois ideology. The second section examines, theoretically, accumulation of capital and finance and, empirically, the relation of values to prices. The third section focuses, both theoretically and biographically, on the legacy of one of the most important Marxists of all time: Rosa Luxemburg. Photos PART I. THE DISCIPLINARY ROLE OF CAPITAL UNDER NEOLIBERALISM Responding to Neoliberalism in Crisis: Discipline and Empowerment in the World Bank's New Development Agenda Marcus Taylor, University of Warwick American Imperialism and New Forms of Disciplining the 'Non-Integrating Gap' Susanne Soederberg, University of Alberta The Logic of Neoliberal Finance and Global Financial Fragility: Towards Another Great Depression? Anastasia Nesvetailova, University of Liverpool Disciplining Labor, Creating Poverty: Neoliberal Structural Reform and the Political Conflict in Argentina Viviana Patroni, York University Global High Culture in the Era of Neo-Liberalism: The Case of Documenta11 Karyn Ball, University of Alberta PART II. ACCUMULATION AND FINANCE Marx and the Theory of the Monetary Circuit Andrew B. Trigg, The Open University Hilferding's Banking Theory in the Light of Steuart and Smith Costas Lapavitsas, University of London Economic Crisis and Socialist Revolution: Henryk Grossman's Law of Accumulation, Its First Critics and His Responses Rick Kuhn, Australia National University Spurious Value-Price Correlations: Some Additional Evidence and Arguments Andrew Kliman, Pace University PART III. ROSA LUXEMBURG The Coherence of Luxemburg's Theories and Life Estrella Trincado Aznar, Complutense University of Madrid 'Like a Candle Burning at Both Ends': Rosa Luxemburg and the Critique of Political Economy Riccardo Bellofiore, University of Bergamo Publisher: Elsevier Science/JAI 655 6th Avenue New York, NY 10010-5107 Fax: (212)-633-3680 . . . Tel: (888)-437-4636 Or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or, click www.elsevier.com/wps/find/bookdescription.cws_home/BS_RPE/description#description * Vol.21-Neoliberalism in Crisis, Accumulation, and Rosa Luxemburg's Legacy RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Zarembka/Soederberg, eds, Elsevier Science ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
What we don't know about 9-11
is nicely summarized at http://xymphora.blogspot.com/ under the June 21 date. (Didn't the space shuttle diasaster get a serious investigation begin in within 2 hours!?) Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Your Signature can be added to the WSPJ Statement
We Stand for Peace Justice at http://www.zmag.org/wspj/sign_statement_frm.cfm The statement itself is below and is intentionally internationally oriented for signatures who now are 57,000+ and include : And here are the initial signers who are, as well, collectively responsible for the future direction of the project: Ezequiel Adamovsky, Argentina, Vittorio Agnoletto, Italy, Christophe Aguiton, Italy, Michael Albert, USA, Tariq Ali, England, Bridget Anderson, England, Katherine Anger, England, Jessica Azulay, USA, David Bacon, USA, David Barsamian, USA, Phyllis Bennis, USA, Elena Blanco, Venezuela, Nadine Bloch, USA, Bill Blum, USA, Peter Bohmer, USA, Patrick Bond, South Africa, Jeremy Brecher, USA, Michael Bronski, USA, Dennis Brutis, South Africa, Paul Buhle, USA, Nicola Bullard, Thailand, Scott Burchill, Australia, Leslie Cagan, USA, Alex Callinicos, England, Daniel Chavez, Netherlands, Noam Chomsky, USA, Tim Costello, USA, David Cromwell, England, Will Doherty, USA, Brian Dominick, USA, David Edwards, England, Barbara Epstein, USA, Bill Fletcher, USA, Eduardo Galeano, Uruguay, Susan George, France, Ted Glick, USA, Gie Goris, Belgium, Andrej Grubacic, Serbia, Marta Harnecker, Chile, Betsy Hartman, USA, Tom Hayden, USA, Evan Henshaw-Plath, USA, Doug Henwood, USA, John Hepburn, Australia, Edward Herman, USA, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Pakistan, Sut Jhally, USA, Robert Jensen, USA, Boris Kagarlitsky, Russia, Jerry Kloby, USA, Sonali Kolhatkar, USA, Saul Landau, USA, Joanne Landy, USA, Rahul Mahajan, USA, Dawn Martinez, USA, Elizabeth, Martinez, USA, Antonio Martins, Brazil, Rania Masri, USA, Bob McChesney, USA, George Monbiot, England, Hector Mondragon, Colombia, Suren Moodliar, South Africa, Jonathan Neale, England, Adele Oliveri, Italy, Pablo Ortellado, Brazil, Cynthia Peters, USA, Justin Podur, Canada, Vijay Prashad, USA, Prabir Purkayastha, India, Milan Rai, England, Nikos Raptis, Greece, Michael Ratner, USA, Judy Rebick, Canada, Tanya Reinhart, Israel, Carola Reintjes, Spain, Arundhati Roy, India, Marta Russell, USA, Manuel Rozental, Colombia, Lydia Sargent, USA, Stephen Shalom, USA, Norman Solomon, USA, Roberto Savio, Italy, James Tracy, USA, America Vera-Zavala, Sweden, Hilary Wainwright, England, Peter Waterman, Holland, Robert Weissman, USA, Tom Wetzel, USA, Tim Wise, USA, Howard Zinn, USA, -- Forwarded message -- THE STATEMENT: I stand for peace and justice. I stand for democracy and autonomy. I dont think the U.S. or any other country should ignore the popular will and violate and weaken international law, seeking to bully and bribe votes in the Security Council. I stand for internationalism. I oppose any nation spreading an ever expanding network of military bases around the world and producing an arsenal unparalleled in the world. I stand for equity. I dont think the U.S. or any other country should seek empire. I dont think the U.S. ought to control Middle Eastern oil on behalf of U.S. corporations and as a wedge to gain political control over other countries. I stand for freedom. I oppose brutal regimes in Iraq and elsewhere but I also oppose the new doctrine of preventive war, which guarantees permanent and very dangerous conflict, and is the reason why the U.S. is now regarded as the major threat to peace in much of the world. I stand for a democratic foreign policy that supports popular opposition to imperialism, dictatorship, and political fundamentalism in all its forms. I stand for solidarity. I stand for and with all the poor and the excluded. Despite massive disinformation millions oppose unjust, illegal, immoral war, and I want to add my voice to theirs. I stand with moral leaders all over the world, with world labor, and with the huge majority of the populations of countries throughout the world. I stand for diversity. I stand for an end to racism directed against immigrants and people of color. I stand for an end to repression at home and abroad. I stand for peace. I stand against this war and against the conditions, mentalities, and institutions that breed and nurture war and injustice. I stand for sustainability. I stand against the destruction of forests, soil, water, environmental resources, and biodiversity on which all life depends. I stand for justice. I stand against economic, political, and cultural institutions that promote a rat race mentality, huge economic and power inequalities, corporate domination even unto sweatshop and slave labor, racism, and gender and sexual hierarchies. I stand for a policy that redirects the money used for war and military spending to provide healthcare, education, housing, and jobs. I stand for a world whose political, economic, and social institutions foster solidarity, promote equity, maximize participation, celebrate diversity, and encourage full democracy. I stand for peace and justice and, more, I pledge to work for peace and justice.
Moore: Fahrenheit 9-11 (next is Bush, Sr. and bin Ladens)
Oscar winner targets Bush and bin Laden Edward Helmore in New York Sunday March 30, 2003 The Observer Fresh from his Oscar ceremony tirade against a 'fictitious President' fighting a 'fictitious war', documentary-maker Michael Moore has said he is setting his sights on the alleged links between former President George Bush senior and the Saudi family of Osama bin Laden. Moore, whose exploration of US gun violence, Bowling for Columbine, is one of the most commercially successful documentaries ever, said his new film, tentatively titled Fahrenheit 911, will examine what has happened to the US since 11 September. The film will look at the alleged 'murky relationship' between Bush senior, controversial defence investment firm the Carlyle Group, and the bin Laden family. According to Moore, the former President had a business relationship with bin Laden's father, Mohammed, who left $300 million to his son. Although the bin Laden family has severed its ties with Osama, 'the senior Bush kept his ties with the bin Laden family up until two months after 11 September,' Moore claimed. Moore, who has carved himself a role as critic-in-chief of the US administration, said he has no regrets about turning his Oscar acceptance speech into an evisceration of Bush junior. 'If I had won the Oscar for a movie about birds or insects, I'd say something about them,' he said. 'But I made a movie about violence - and global violence - so I felt I had to say something about that. I just hope I generated a discussion about Bush and the war.' The choice of Moore's new subject - the relationship between the arms industry, the Bush administration and the war on terrorism - could hardly be better timed. Last week administration adviser Richard Perle resigned from the influential Defence Policy Review Board amid allegations of a conflict of interest between his roles as an influential hawk and as a paid adviser to defence and communications firms. Yesterday it was revealed that, in addition to acting as an adviser to communications company Global Crossing as it sought to overcome Defence Department opposition to its sale, Perle advised a major US satellite maker, Loral Space and Communications, as it faced government accusations that it improperly transferred rocket technology to China. Two weeks ago the New Yorker detailed a lunch that Perle had taken with Saudi arms dealer Adnan Kashoggi, at which he allegedly implied he would temper his criticism of the House of Saud in exchange for investment in a new security and defence investment firm with which he is involved. Perle denies the accusation. http://www.observer.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,925548,00.html *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Perle resigns over conflict of interest!
What's this?: The Guardian, March 28: ... Richard Perle, one of the key architects of the war on Iraq, has quit as chairman of a group which advises Donald Rumsfeld on policy issues. Perle, a former Pentagon appointee and one of the most high- profile proponents of the war, offered to resign in a letter to the US Defence Secretary. His departure follows criticism of his roles as a corporate adviser and Defence Department consultant. Perle said: As I cannot quickly or easily quell criticism of me based on errors of fact concerning my activities, the least I can do under these circumstances is to ask you to accept my resignation as chairman of the Defence Policy Board.
Mchael Moore
Michael Moore just made an unbelievably strong statement against the 'fictious' President Bush, leading the 'fictious' war, as he won the academic award for 'Bowling for Columbine'! Shame on you Mr. Bush! This will be talked about for years! Paul Zarembka
Michael Moore at the Academy Awards against Bush
Michael Moore just made an unbelievably strong statement against the 'fictious' election of President Bush, leading the 'fictious' war, as he won the academic award for 'Bowling for Columbine'! Shame on you, Mr. Bush! This will be talked about for years! Paul Zarembka *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Text of Acceptance Speech: Against Bush
BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE Michael Moore and Michael Donovan ACCEPTANCE SPEECH Whoa. On behalf of our producers Kathleen Glynn and Michael Donovan from Canada, I'd like to thank the Academy for this. I have invited my fellow documentary nominees on the stage with us, and we would like to ? they're here in solidarity with me because we like nonfiction. We like nonfiction and we live in fictitious times. We live in the time where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons. Whether it's the fictition of duct tape or fictition of orange alerts we are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you, Mr. Bush, shame on you. And any time you got the Pope and the Dixie Chicks against you, your time is up. Thank you very much. Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
American ground troops already in Turkey?
Yesterday I read one sentence that said that U.S. ground troops were illegally passing through Turkey. This morning a Canadian news broadcast I heard claimed the same, and also that a military coup in Turkey is possible. Any information on these reports from anyone on this list? Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
The countries in the anti-Iraq coalition
WASHINGTON (AP) - Following is a list of 30 countries the State Department says are members of a Coalition for the Immediate Disarmament of Iraq: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (post conflict), Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan. Paul Z. *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
535 members of Congress and ...
5. Of the 535 members of Congress, only one (Sen. Johnson of South Dakota) has an enlisted son or daughter in the armed forces!... [Michael Moore at www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15406 ] Paul Z. *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
The Presidential Press Conference [trying to make sense of it]
I really liked this article summarizing the experience of a reporter trying to make sense of that installed U.S. President George W. Bush: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/mar2003/bush-m08.shtml Thus, after surveying the serious reports of the responsible U.N. officials, and comparing them to Bush's remarks at his press conference, the concluding paragraph reads: Even those of us who, by dint of professional responsibility, are obliged to listen and read what the president says cannot help but feel that they have been somehow degraded by the experience. Despite the proverbial six degrees of separation, one is ashamed by the spectacle of ignorance, cynicism and sadism that is being televised from the White House. After all, Abraham Lincoln once lived in that building. Paul Zarembka *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Re: Re: It's not over in Turkey-the vote/military/politicalpersecution
Thanks, Ahmet. Two further questions: Is it correct that the vote is confidential from the Turkish people, but not the political leadership (which means that they know whom to pressure, but the people don't who would be pressured and who may cave in)? Second, I have Turkish students in one of my classes and I privately congratulated them. They were pleased, but one also said you will see, the vote will be reversed! Do you share this opinion as a likely outcome? I myself rather think it would be difficult to recall the same vote and not make it 100% obvious that pressure had been applied. Furthermore, I understand that any re-vote is unlikely before next week and, in the meantime, the U.S. cannot just sit and wait but must consider alternative strategies which may require implementation this week (e.g., redirecting the battle ships off Turkey through the Suez to the Arabian Gulf -- which takes time.) Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Tue, 4 Mar 2003 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Re. The confidentiality of the vote: Although the session was a closed one, but the vote itself was not confidential in that session. In fact, there is a news coverage that the leader of AKP, Erdogan, apparently requested the list of AKP members,who opposed to the resolution, from the speaker! Re: Turkish military-whether it was weakened: No. Because it did have opportunity to openly support the government's proposal a day before the voting through the National Security Council meeting and it chose not to. The military itself had its own worry vis-a-vis the possibility of the establishment of an independent Kurdish state in Iraq. This intention is always supported by the politicians and this parliament will pass anything needed to facilitate this shared policy. In fact, the military did not, does not need any parliamentary approval to penetrate Iraq to neutralize Kurds. As we all know, the Turkish forces are already in Iraq. Moreover, the military, as they see it, has this proud tradition of independence and, as they exercised it in the case of Cyprus intervention,in the last analysis, can act independently of the US. The recent negotiations with the US were evolving in such a way that the Turkish military was a bit irritated by the US requirement of the exclusive command, including the Turkish forces. Re: Political persecution: It should be expected to decline regarding certain type of activism, e.g. anti-war and anti-imperialist ones. The ones which are challenging the foundations of political structure through outside the mainsteram political channels will be treated much more harshly. Ahmet Tonak Re: Re: It's not over in Turkey by Paul Zarembka 03 March 2003 03:55 UTC Sabri, Was this vote confidential? I recall that the last one on base construction was confidential. Also, is the Turkish military being weakened now because of yesterday's victory, and could political persecution be expected to decline? Thanks, Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Re: Re: It's not over in Turkey
Sabri, Was this vote confidential? I recall that the last one on base construction was confidential. Also, is the Turkish military being weakened now because of yesterday's victory, and could political persecution be expected to decline? Thanks, Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Sun, 2 Mar 2003, Sabri Oncu wrote: Michael: The Turkish government says that it will try again. It is possible that they wil try again. But if they try it again, we will fuck them. I got the news about the Turkish vote from my father-in-law, who is one of the most apolitical persons you can imagine. Both of my in-laws were cheering after the result. If they let the US troops statition in Turkey, you will witness one of the biggest revolutions of our age. Especially after this victory, whether it is real or perceived. But don't they say: Perception is reality. They cannot do it. We will not let it happen. Best, Sabri PS: Did you see that picture, on the front page of New York Times today, of the deputy holding a No To War banner with a bitter smile on his face? That picture will hang on my wall as long as I am alive.
Re: Confronting the empire - Rosa Luxemburg
We need Rosa Luxemburg, now more than ever. Her *Accumulation of Capital* is now reprinted in a new (paper) edition with a fine 'Introduction' by Tadeusz Kowalik, Routledge Classics, 2003, 9.99 pounds, $14.95 U.S. On Sat, 1 Mar 2003, soula avramidis wrote: ...war is somehow the realisation of the military commodity. the more capital accumulation becomes centered on military spending the more natural it becomes to consume the bombs in wars. Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Re: Re: US already attacking Iraq's defences
Chris B. write: My guess is that the Blair side of the axis of righteousness, has already done contingency plans on the assumption that they will not get even a simple declaration of material breach through the security council. The hegemons will then declare their intention of taking the current military action further to maintain pressure on Iraq. They will look for opportunities to fly in specialist squads or parachute troops to secure key installations or protect populations from Saddam's troops. The problem with this interpretation is that the Bush administration would then be seen as staying within the boundaries of the U.N. Is this what it wants? Consider the possibility that the U.S. is 'playing' with the U.N. to finally show what is 'wrong' with working through the U.N. and thus to be able to disentangle itself from the U.N. for all future actions it desires. The extreme right here hates the U.N. If so, the Bush administration, following its 'complete' exposure of the U.N., would need to launch a full-scale attack and be done with the U.N. (Consider how 'exhausting' all these negotiations have been for the Bush administration; are they not saying what do we need this for?.) In the final analysis Blair is not going to call the shots (no pun). One somewhat related question: Blix said at the beginning that the U.N. inspectors are only there to inspect. How is his calling for destruction by the Iraqi regime of its longer range missles not going beyond inspection to policy? Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Re: Biernacki
I have read some of it. Very interesting, but what's your question, Michael? Paul --On Sunday, February 16, 2003 3:21 PM -0800 Michael Perelman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Has anybody else here read: Biernacki, Richard. 1995. The Fabrication of Labor? I am about 60% through now. He shows how different the British and German conceptions of labor were. He attributes this difference to the historical conditions in which wage labor arose. He suggests that many of Marx's key concepts were relatively commonplace in pre-marxian Germany.
UN Security Council email addresses (fwd)
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 13:11:41 -0500 From: Mitchel Cohen [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: UN Security Council email addresses Dear Friends, With Blix's report to the UN due on Friday, France's UN office is BEGGING us to flood their offices and the other UN offices with emails to STOP the WAR. France needs to know that Americans are with them on this. The UN email addresses are below for the Security Council. Tell them your thoughts. STOP THE WAR, END THE SANCTIONS! - Mitchel Cohen Contact info for members of Security Council (Ambassador's name, email and fax): Ambassador M. Jean-Marc de LA Sabliere [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 207-9765 Ambassador Mr. Sergey Lavrov [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 628-0252 Ambassador Wang Yingfan chinamission [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 634-7626 Ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 745-9316 Ambassador Mr. Stefan Tafrov [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 472-9865 Ambassador Martin Belinga Eboutou [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 249-0533 Ambassador M. François Lonseny Fall [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 687-8248 Embajador Adolfo Aguilar ZÃ-nser [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 688-8862 Ambassador Dr. Mikhaâ?Til Wahbi [EMAIL PROTECTED] (212) 983-4439 Ambassador Dr. Ismael Gaspar Martins [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 861-9295 Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdés [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 832-0236 Ambassador Dr. Gunter Pleuger [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 940-0402 Ambassador Inocencio F. Arias [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 682-4460 Ambassador Munir Akram [EMAIL PROTECTED] 212) 744-7348
chinamission_
correction add _ to chinamission for addresses to SC. PZ *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
The Children of Iraq
Vulnerable but ignored: how catastrophe threatens the 12 million children of Iraq By Leonard Doyle Foreign Editor, The Independent 12 February 2003 They come from above, from the air, and will kill us and destroy us. I can explain to you that we fear this every day and every night. Shelma (Five years old) It is not Saddam Hussein and his henchmen, but Iraq's 12 million children who will be most vulnerable to the massive use of force that the US plans to unleash against their country in the coming months. With or without UN Security Council backing, the looming war on Iraq will have immediate and devastating consequences for the country's children, more vulnerable now than before the 1991 Gulf War. A team of international investigators including two of the world's foremost psychologists have conducted the first pre-conflict field research with children and concluded that Iraqi children are already suffering significant psychological harm from the threat of war. The team was welcomed into the homes of more than 100 Iraqi families where they found the overwhelming message to be one of fear and the thought of being killed. Many live in a news void, with little information concerning the heightened threat of war. I think every hour that something bad will happen to me said Hadeel, aged 13. Assem, five, and one of the youngest interviewed, said: They have guns and bombs and the air will be cold and hot and we will burn very much. But it is the fear expressed by the majority of the children that most shocked the team. In a breaking voice 13-year old Hind told them: I feel fear every day that we might all die, but where shall I go if I am left alone? When and if a massive bombardment and invasion comes, the investigators predict the consequences will be so dire that the plight of Iraqi children must be given more priority when Britain and the US consider the alternatives to war. Because there is only one month's supply of food in the country and the overwhelming majority depend on rations distributed by the Baghdad regime, the chaos of war could tip a population of malnourished children into starvation. And once American and British bombs start falling on President Saddam's power stations, the country's main water treatment plants will fail causing the rivers to become contaminated with sewage. Millions of Iraqis rely on river water to irrigate crops and prepare food. Drinking or even washing dishes in such contaminated water will make an already vulnerable population liable to deadly diseases ranging from E-coli to typhoid. Before 1990, Iraq's health care system was the pride of the Middle East and was described by the World Health Organisation as first class. The ensuing Gulf War and sanctions have crippled the healthcare system causing death rates of children under five to double over the past decade with 70 per cent of deaths caused by easily avoidable bowel diseases and respiratory infections. Despite grave concerns at the highest levels, UN agencies are unable to prepare for an emergency that has yet to happen without being accused of clearing the way for war. The World Food Programme is preparing to feed up to one million Iraqis for at least three months, but once the shooting starts it will have to pull out its expatriate staff. Iraq's civilian population of 22 million is particularly vulnerable. Some 16 million half of them children are totally dependent on monthly government-distributed food rations. The last 12 years of sanctions and corruption within the regime mean that few if any families have stockpiles of food to get them through a war of any length. The World Food Programme supplies basic foodstuffs, but deliveries are left to the Iraqi government and a bombing campaign that destroys bridges over the Euphrates and Tigris rivers will stop distribution in its tracks. The report of the international study team, published by the charity Warchild, warns that there will be a humanitarian disaster if war breaks out. Children, already weakened and vulnerable because of sanctions are at grave risk of starvation, disease, death and psychological trauma. The experts expect casualties among children to be in the thousands, probably in the tens of thousands, and possibly in the hundreds of thousands. The team concludes a new war would be catastrophic for Iraq's children.
ABC poll on the French-German proposal
is at http://www.abc.net.au/news/poll1/vote/ The Guardian for Feb. 10 says that the U.S. is furious with this proposal: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,892464,00.html Paul Z.
Re: Re: British dossier sham
There's a NYT article on it today at http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/08/international/europe/08BRIT.html and mentioned in another article. Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Sat, 8 Feb 2003, Chris Burford wrote: At 07/02/03 20:16 -0800, Tom wrote: amazing, with the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman trying to brush it off as processology. But I wonder how is the U.S. media playing it (or not)? Are they, as I would fear, putting it on a back page and hoping it will go away? Yes, I suspect that the US media will not feature it so much. What may be important is how the French use it. I would have thought this strengthens the French hand tactically to a very great extent. The French are now in a way the swing vote of the imperialist powers. They can be relied upon effectively to belittle the pretensions of the British and the isolate the US if it relies mainly on the Britain for cover. This could either mean more concessions for France in acquiescing in a Security Council Resolution, or it could delay the resolution. In turn that would put more pressure on Bush as to whether to go ahead without a resolution. And on Blair as to whether to stand aside until a majority could be won on the SC, because of the fury of his own party members. The good thing about this very public debate is that it focusses on the question of evidence. That is a question of jurisprudence, and highlights the lawfulness of a drastic decision taken in the name of the nations of the world. beyond reasonable doubt or in conformity with the latest post-modernist mood music? Here we see the issue of bodies of armed men, coming together with the issue of confused notions of justice, coming together with an ideological apparatus that informs and affects the process by which decisions are made. That is catalysed by the technological brilliance of the internet, which allows any student with left wing leanings to check evidence and sources. Processology indeed. This sounds ridiculous. A Google search immediately asks do you mean 'proctology' - [the study of the anus] But where Alistair Campbell has the last laugh, is that he does look at all this at a meta level, of the management of unfolding perceptions. It is what Edward Bernays did for monopoly capitalism, applied systematically to a centrist government able usually to command the agenda even when it appears to have everyone against it. It treats the process of plotting the ideological balance of forces as seriously if not more seriously than the process of plotting the material balance of armed forces. The key question Campbell should be asked at a press conference is:- what is the evidence for the damaging alteration in Al-Marashi's text from aiding opposition groups to supporting terrorist organisations . It is true that other allegations in the original text about the activities of Iraqi intelligence abroad are damaging for the peace movement, but this particular allegation is crucial in the current climate for justifying or not an attack on Iraq. Can anyone get a question asked in Parliament? Chris Burford London
Oprah's POLL ON THE WAR
at http://64.27.164.103/tows/pastshows/200302/tows_past_20030206_plug.jhtml Participation seems worthwhile. Paul Z. *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Ramsey Clark's site: Approach House members to Impeach Bush [fwd]
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2003 12:15:16 -0800 From: Richard Curtis [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Impeach Bush To Stop The War Greetings, Former Attorney General Ramsey Clark is spearheading an effort to avert the coming war with Iraq by urging the Congress to impeach the president and his highest officials for high crimes against the Constitution and people of the United States. He has a web site that details the basis for the charges as well as the legal basis for pursuing impeachment. The web site also solicites signatures which can be delivered to Congressional authorities. Bringing down Nixon started with small steps and eventually succeeded, this might also. Please give this some thought and check out: http://www.votetoimpeach.org/ (Sorry that I am unable to paste a link, you can copy and paste the web address into your web browser.) Richard
Congress Petitioning Bush to RESPECT U.N. (call your REP before1/28) (fwd)
I am not at all sure Congress is worth our energy, given all those things all of us know (and I am not at all sure we could count on the U.N. Security Council), but my own uncertainty leads me to at least want this message to be considered, particulary given that: Of the 48 Members of Congress who have signed the letter so far, 9 actually voted for the Bush war resolution last fall. Paul -- Forwarded message -- From: Michael Shank [EMAIL PROTECTED] | To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Congress Petitioning Bush to RESPECT U.N. (call your REP before 1/28) Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2003 17:13:58 -0800 Momentum on Our Side Call Congress Now 1-800-839-5276 Before President Bush gives his State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 28th, we need you to call your Representative and urge them to sign on to the Brown-Kind Letter! - - - - - - - - As an effort to move our nation away from war, REP. SHERROD BROWN (D-OH) and RON KIND (D-WI) are circulating a sign-on letter in the House of Representatives that urges President Bush to commit to the procedure outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1441. The BROWN/KIND LETTER specifically urges the president to announce his commitment to 1441 in the upcoming State of the Union address on Tuesday. Of the 48 Members of Congress who have signed the letter so far, 9 actually voted for the Bush war resolution last fall. This letter reflects what could, with enough signatures, become a powerful position in Congress, uniting both those that voted for the president's resolution, and those who voted against. Members of Congress must sign the letter by close of business Thursday, January 23rd. The letter will be sent to the President on Friday, January 24. On January 27, Dr. Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector will deliver a report to the Security Council concerning inspection efforts in Iraq. The State of the Union address is currently scheduled for the following day. It is imperative that as many Representatives as possible sign this letter in order to ensure that its message is as powerful as possible. ACT NOW! Urge your Representative to sign the Brown-Kind Letter. Even if your Representative voted for the War Resolution last fall, call them. Let them know that the letter represents an emerging consensus among Reps who voted for and against the Bush war resolution. Mention names like Reps Wexler, Kind and Crowley as just some of the Members who voted for the Bush resolution and who also signed on to the letter. Call your Representative this week via the Capitol switchboard at: 1-202-225-3121 or toll-free at 1-800-839-5276! Time is running out, so please call now! See below for the full text of the letter and list of signers. Find your Member of Congress at: www.congress.org Signers of the Brown-Kind Letter * indicates Rep. voted for Bush War Resolution List of signers: Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI)* Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL)* Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) Additional Signers (as of 4 PM EST, January 21, 2003): Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT) Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) Rep. Ted Strickland (D-OH) Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY) Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY)* Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA) Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) Rep. F. Allen Boyd (D-FL)* Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)* Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) Rep. James Moran (D-VA) Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) Rep. S. Tubbs Jones (D-OH) Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA) Rep. David Price (D-NC) Rep. William Clay (D-MO) Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA)* Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL) Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL) Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)* Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) Rep. John Olver (D-MA) Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA) Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY) Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) Rep. Michael McNulty (D-NY)* Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)* Text of the Brown-Kind Letter to President Bush Dear Mr. President, On November 8, 2002, the United Nations Security Council unanimously endorsed a resolution designed to force Iraq to give up any weapons of mass destruction. We believe the U.S. should make every attempt to achieve Iraq's disarmament through diplomatic means and with the full support of our allies, in accordance with the process articulated in UN Security Council resolution 1441. The UN resolution calls for a tough new weapons inspection regime; it requires the government of Iraq to provide inspectors with immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, and unrestricted access, and requires that
Vote now in ABC poll on war (fwd)
ABC poll: Do you believe there is a case for war against Iraq? http://www.abc.net.au/news/poll1/vote/http://www.abc.net.au/news/poll1/vote/ Present vote stands at : Yes = 18% No = 82% Add your vote now! *** Masters of War by Bob Dylan Come you masters of war You that build all the guns You that build the death planes You that build the big bombs You that hide behind walls You that hide behind desks I just want you to know I can see through your masks You that never done nothin' But build to destroy You play with my world Like it's your little toy You put a gun in my hand And you hide from my eyes And you turn and run farther When the fast bullets fly Like Judas of old You lie and deceive A world war can be won You want me to believe But I see through your eyes And I see through your brain Like I see through the water That runs down my drain You fasten the triggers For the others to fire Then you set back and watch When the death count gets higher You hide in your mansion As young people's blood Flows out of their bodies And is buried in the mud You've thrown the worst fear That can ever be hurled Fear to bring children Into the world For threatening my baby Unborn and unnamed You ain't worth the blood That runs in your veins How much do I know To talk out of turn You might say that I'm young You might say I'm unlearned But there's one thing I know Though I'm younger than you Even Jesus would never Forgive what you do Let me ask you one question Is your money that good Will it buy you forgiveness Do you think that it could I think you will find When your death takes its toll All the money you made Will never buy back your soul And I hope that you die And your death'll come soon I will follow your casket In the pale afternoon And I'll watch while you're lowered Down to your deathbed And I'll stand o'er your grave 'Til I'm sure that you're dead
ABC voting on war
Results of the voting so far: This week's question is Do you believe there is a case for war against Iraq? Yes 14% No 86% 9977 votes counted Vote at http://www.abc.net.au/news/poll1/vote/ *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Re: suggestions for a syllabus of course on the MiddleEast
I'd suggest the first two chapters of *Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Elsevier Science, 2002. namely, The Deep Politics of September 11: Political Economy of Concrete Evil David MacGregor, King's College, University of Western Ontario U.S. Wars in the Light of the International Drug Trade Peter Dale Scott, University of California at Berkeley Both have a focus on Afghanistan, but with larger connections and implications. Paul *** RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Wed, 8 Jan 2003 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: After a long pause (10 years or so) I realized that I should offer an INTRODUCTORY (i.e. no prior knowledge about the region and a very introductory exposure to economics) course on the political economy of the middle east with a sufficient emphasis on the historical processes and current problems, including 9-11, Iraq, terrorism, oil, etc. I would appreciate any suggestion regarding syllabus, books, articles, and web resources. I am also planning to design a simple web site so that others with similar interests might utilize. Thanks in advance. Ahmet Tonak [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: Venezuela: PDVSA Restructuring Tax Revolt
It gets tiring to read that a lockout is labeled a strike! Paul *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Wed, 8 Jan 2003, Yoshie Furuhashi wrote: * January 8, 2003 Venezuela to Tighten Control Over Oil Co. By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 10:47 a.m. ET CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez, battling a strike that has paralyzed the world's fifth-biggest oil exporter, will restructure the state oil company to tighten government control and eliminate dissent, the energy minister said. In a nationally televised speech, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said the Caracas headquarters of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. would be mostly dismantled. The company's administration would be moved to two centers of operation in eastern and western Venezuela. Ramirez didn't say how many of the 7,000 workers at the headquarters will lose their jobs, but most are currently on strike. The government says it will fire strikers -- some 35,000 are off the job -- and already has dismissed high-ranking executives. Ramirez, who told reporters last week of the plan to split the company, said a new board ``with a more strategic vision'' will soon be appointed. The company will focus more on production of crude, gas and refining, he said. Chavez long has said he wanted to restructure the company, which he has called a ``state within a state'' run by privileged executives. Chavez wants to increase government revenues from the company. ``We need a PDVSA much more efficient ... and not as an oil enclave, but a company at the service of the nation,'' Ramirez said. Bureaucracy in Caracas increases operating costs by $1 billion a year, he added The strike has been most effective in Venezuela's oil industry, which provides half of government income and 80 percent of export revenue. Venezuela is a top supplier of crude to the United States, and the strike has helped send international oil prices above $30. Company activity is seen as gradually picking up but is still well below normal. Crude output is estimated at around 400,000 barrels per day, compared to the pre-strike level of 3 million barrels a day. Exports, normally 2.5 million barrels a day, are at 500,000 barrels a day Chavez has named company managers Felix Rodriguez and Luis Marin to run operations in the east and west Tens of thousands of people marched on the offices of the federal tax agency to support a tax boycott. The government may have to cut the $25 billion 2003 budget by up to 10 percent, Finance Minister Tobias Nobrega said. Taxes were supposed to pay for a third of the budget. Oil exports were supposed to pay for half. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Venezuela-Strike.html * * January 7, 2003 Venezuela Strikers in Tax Revolt, Chavez Defiant By REUTERS Filed at 9:03 p.m. ET CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Foes of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, marching in their thousands in Caracas, tore up income-tax forms on Tuesday as they added a tax revolt to a five-week-old strike crippling the nation's crucial oil exports. But the leftist former paratrooper, who survived a coup in April, vowed to resist what he called their ``economic war'' to oust him as president of the world's No. 5 oil exporter. Waving national flags and blowing whistles, the anti-Chavez demonstrators marched to government tax offices in east Caracas on the 37th day of an opposition strike aimed at forcing the populist leader to resign and call early elections. The grueling shutdown has strangled Venezuela's oil output and shipments, jolting world oil markets and bleeding government coffers of millions of dollars a day of oil income. ``We are not going to pay taxes until this government goes,'' 52-year-old housewife Belkis Soto told Reuters as she took part in the march. Many protesters, who include middle class professionals, housewives and students, waved tax declaration forms, which they ripped up outside the tax offices. The opposition, which has accompanied the strike with almost daily street protests, has called on individuals and firms to stop paying taxes, whether income or sales taxes. But Chavez, who led a coup attempt in 1992 and was elected president six years later, is refusing to quit. ``We are in a situation of economic and political war because that is what the opposition wanted. ... Let's give them war then,'' he told reporters in west Caracas. Earlier, speaking at a school, he warned his striking opponents their refusal to pay taxes was against the law. ``They've tried to break the oil industry ... now they're
Venezuelan Lockout
The story forwarded up to Pen-l referred to the strike in V. (then turned to events in the oil sector). Most businesses out of operation were by lockout and shop owners in malls even experienced viligantes enforcing closures. In any case, the retail lockout has greatly subsided. Strike has always referred to a working class action. Lockout is a capitalist class action. The latter sometimes relabel a lockout as a strike to try to place their opposite class in the blame. In this case the relabeling is to fool the international press sitting in their hotel rooms copying stories from each other. (Polish Solidarity at least had genuine working class support back in 1980-81 and the media cannot be criticized then for its reports of strikes.). Regarding the oil sector, yes, there are distinct issues there, including corrupt union bosses who make Jimmy Hoffa look like a working class hero. Were I to post a Venezuelan story from, say, the Guardian, I would place [lockout] after strike or post a story from a more reliable source, like www.narconews.com. I've been recently told by a Venezuelan that www.vheadline.com is good but don't have enough of my own experience with it. One can even try the V. Embassy news in D.C., which of course has its own bias. As I am typing this, I just listened to the BBC referring to the general strike in Venezuela. It's not funny anymore. Paul P.S. Perhaps resistance to the oil executive struggle will be seen as an aid to anti-war movement insofar as the Bush admin. thinks it needs to delay attacking Iraq until it can rely on V. oil for its B-52 and pampered U.S. SUV drivers! *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Guardian: Weapons teams discover nothing
If the inspectors do find weapons of mass destruction, it is proven that Iraq needs to be bombed. If the inspectors do not find weapons of mass destruction, it is proven that Iraq is even more clever and needs to be bombed twice over. Paul Z. *** Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists, Vol. 20 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Paul Zarembka, editor, Elsevier Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka -- Forwarded message -- To see this story with its related links on the Guardian Unlimited site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk Weapons teams discover nothing Brian Whitaker Tuesday December 31 2002 The Guardian UN inspection teams in Iraq have found zilch so far, but have had little help from intelligence agencies to guide them in their hunt for illicit weapons, one of the inspectors said yesterday. If our goal is to catch them with their pants down, we are definitely losing, the inspector told an American newspaper. We haven't found an iota of concealed material yet. The inspector's comments - given to the Los Angeles Times - give the first direct insight into the Unmovic teams' lack of progress. Unmovic is saying nothing officially until it presents its report to the security council on January 27. By being silent we may create the illusion that we did uncover something, the inspector told the paper. But I must say that if we were to publish a report now, we would have zilch to put in it. Unmovic's chemical experts have found no trace of the tonnes of chemical agents that Iraq is suspected of possessing, according to the inspector. Biologists have taken air samples to check for spores, but any biological agents were probably buried or disposed of long ago. On the nuclear side, Unmovic found that the installations used to enrich uranium were practically undisturbed since being sealed by the previous inspectors. The only breaches of UN resolutions, the inspector said, might come from Iraq's handling of aluminium tubes which were allegedly part of a centrifuge to enrich uranium. The Iraqis say they were intended for air-to-ground missiles but were later adapted for anti-aircraft use. Altering the tubes and buying replacements without informing the UN would be a breach of resolutions on dual use goods. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited
SAYING NO TO POWER
I'm sending in my $23 for his book: -- Forwarded message -- Date: Fri, 13 Dec 2002 23:28:30 -0800 From: William Mandel [EMAIL PROTECTED] William Mandel wrote: Howard Zinn wrote the introduction to my SAYING NO TO POWER. He closes: As always in the history of the United States, its greatness rested not on its wealth and power, but in the courage of those people who continued to insist that the principles of the Declaration of Independence be fulfilled -- the equal right of all people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In that long struggle, the ideas and actions of people like Bill Mandel have played an important part. His life story is not only dramatic, but instructive and inspiring. Prof. Carlos Munoz, Jr., Emeritus, UC Berkeley, was, as a high school student, leader of the Brown Power rebellion in Los Angeles in the '60s. He writes of my book: Bill Mandel's inspirational autobiography is not only about his life and his participation in struggles for social justice and human rights, but is also an important chapter in the history of the Left in the United States. As such, it should be required reading in college U.S. history courses. Robert Allen is Senior Editor of THE BLACK SCHOLAR and, like Zinn, author of bestsellers. he writes of my book: I had planned only to skim...but I found myself drawn into it so much that I read just about all of it. Bill Mandel is well-known for his courageous defiance of HUAC witch-hunters. but his autobiography also reveals his decades-long commitment to anti-racist struggles, such as his defense of Angelo Herndon, Paul Robeson, the Martinsville Seven, Dr. W.E.B. DuBois, and Black political prisoners including Mumia Abu-Jamal. Pete Seeger writes: Bill Mandel gives a good example to us all. Stay involved. Don't give up. Will we make mistakes? Of course. Grin and learn. Lawrence Ferlinghetti, among the most widely published of American poets, writes: It's an honor to contribute. Anyone concerned with the history of radical thought and action in the USA during the 20th century must read William Mandel's trenchant study of what really went on in this century, the scene behind the scenes, and the power plays of the powerful to keep themselves in power. Bravo! Matthew Lasar, historian of KPFA, over which I broadcast for 37 years, writes: a wise and irresistibly human memoir. Quite seriously, not a single day goes by without my receiving e-mails from complete strangers approving my own posts on such totally contemporary matters as how to beat the threat to civil liberties of the Bush, Ashcroft, Cheney government, how to achieve the liberation of Mumia Abu-Jamal, how to head off war with Iraq. My posts deliberately use long quotes from my book, because my experience in dealing with the witch-hunters of the 1950s and 1960s, in the civil rights movement, and with the Cold Warriors during the Cuba Missile Crisis and similar events. One would think that such a book would be flying off the shelves. It hasn't. Because of my own experience as a scholar, I haven't the slightest doubt that, half a century from now, it will be an established and recognized source on our times. But that wasn't my purpose in writing it. I want it to be of service in dealing with the issues of today. It is not aimed at cloistered academics but at the people who are active right now, and need to know how similar civic battles were fought and won in the most recent past. I've spent three years doing my best to make it known. You need it. But I've had it with this. YOu want to spend a few bucks of your season-of-giving money in a way that will help you and those to whom you send presents for the rest of your lives? Get my book. With this, I sign off this effort. William Mandel My autobiography, SAYING NO TO POWER (Introduction by Howard Zinn), is a history of how the American people fought to defend and expand its rights since the 1920s, employing the form of the life story of one who was involved in most serious movements: student, labor, peace with the USSR, civil rights South and North, 37 years on Pacifica Radio, civil liberties (you may hear/see my testimony before the witch-hunters (used in six films thus far) on my website, http://www.billmandel.net , and the feminist movement, although I am male. My activities began in 1927. I am 85. My 5 previous books were all used in higher education. I have taught at six universities, including Stanford and UC Berkeley. The book is available through all normal sources. For an autographed copy, send me $23 at 4466 View Pl.,#106, Oakland, CA. 94611
Kissinger Quits as Chairman of 9/11 Panel (fwd)
Kissinger Quits as Chairman of 9/11 Panel December 13, 2002 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger stepped down Friday as chairman of a panel investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, citing controversy over potential conflicts of interest with his business clients. ``It is clear that, although specific potential conflicts can be resolved in this manner, the controversy would quickly move to the consulting firm I have built and own,'' Kissinger wrote in a letter to President Bush, who appointed him. ``I have, therefore, concluded that I cannot accept the responsibility you proposed.'' The decision was another blow for the fledging panel. Its original vice chairman, former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine, resigned from the commission Wednesday, partly because of pressures to quit his law firm. No replacement for Kissinger was announced, but Bush was expected to fill the position soon. Kissinger's resignation came one day after he tried to assure victims' relatives that his business interests would not conflict with his duties as chairman. A leader of a relatives' group, Kristen Breitweiser of September 11th Advocates, said the Kissinger and Mitchell resignations ``reaffirms my belief that the commission needs to be pure, transparent and purely independent.'' Stephen Push of Families of Sept. 11, said Kissinger's resignation gives Bush ``a second chance to appoint someone who will be a thorough and competent investigator.'' Kissinger said he had told White House lawyers he was willing to remove the appearance of conflict of interests by submitting ``all relevant financial information'' to the White House and to an independent review. Kissinger called White House chief of staff Andrew Card and told him he was willing to disclose his client list, but feared that would not be enough, and that critics would demand that he liquidate his firm, a senior White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Kissinger said he could not liquidate Kissinger Associates, his international consulting firm, without delaying the commission's work. A spokeswoman for Kissinger said he had no comment beyond his letter to Bush. White House aides said the resignation was Kissinger's idea. Bush issued a written statement saying he accepted Kissinger's resignation with regret and that ``his chairmanship would have provided the insights and analysis the government needs to understand the methods of our enemies and the nature of the threats we face.'' The commission will investigate events surrounding the attacks, examining issues including aviation security, immigration and U.S. diplomacy. It will build on a congressional inquiry, completed this week, into intelligence failures. Senators said all commission members must submit financial disclosures that would reveal potential conflicts. That view was supported by reports issued by Congress' research arm, the Congressional Research Service. But the White House contended Kissinger, as Bush's sole appointee, should not have had to submit a report because the law does not require presidential appointees to submit disclosures if they are not drawing salaries. There have been other disputes surrounding the commission which begins its work early next month. Negotiations creating the commission were bogged down by disputes over its makeup and rules, with lawmakers and the White House accusing each other of trying to manipulate it for political purposes. Some family members of victims and a number of congressional Democrats have questioned whether the administration wants an honest evaluation of the attacks, with its report due to come out less than six months before the 2004 presidential election. Victims' relatives have criticized the appointment of former Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., who they say is too close to the airline industry. They are pushing for the appointment of independent-minded former Sen. Warren Rudman, R-N.H., for one of the five Republican slots. Five Democrats have already been appointed, including former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., who will be the panel's vice chairman. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Kissinger-Commission.html?ex=1040839751ei=1en=9c94431ad7007b51 HOW TO ADVERTISE - For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company * Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Published: Confronting 9-11, Ideologies of Race, and Eminent Economists (R.P.E., Vol. 20)
CONFRONTING 9-11, IDEOLOGIES OF RACE, AND EMINENT ECONOMISTS Research in Political Economy, Volume 20 Paul Zarembka, editor JAI/Elsevier Science, Inc. Confronting 9-11, the first chapter draws upon a Hegelian-Marxist concept of concrete evil, connecting malevolence to ruling elites, while additionally addressing sub-surface political forces. It is followed by 'deep political' analysis of drugs, in addition to oil, as controlling factors of U. S. wars. Both chapters focus around Afghanistan. Commonalties of race ideologies in capitalist contexts are next examined by connecting them to capitalist societies' goals and strategies. Haiti and South Africa are case studies. Estimates for U.S. value and surplus value are undertaken and related to GDP. Implications are drawn for the distribution of value, use value and social labor. The model permits simulation and sensitivity analysis, with links provided to a careful implementation. Four chapters deal critically with writings of major economists. The first shows that Keynes, while rejecting invisible hand mechanisms, assigned to the educated bourgeoisie the role of overcoming the pathologies of capitalism. The second investigates evidence of plagiarism in Keynes, showing that he appropriated Gesell's insights into the nature of money and interest but in a manner to help preserve capitalism. Moving to overcome limited attention by Marxists to Ricardo's comparative advantage theory, the next chapter assesses the work of Shaikh and Hudson, concluding consistent with the overriding role of exploitation in production. The final chapter compares Bentham's panopticon (an institution of confinement, surveillance and extraction of labor) to Hayek's market order conceptualization, and shows that both are disciplinary regimes. TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword PART I. 9-11 AND DEEP POLITICS The Deep Politics of September 11: Political Economy of Concrete Evil, by David MacGregor, King's College, University of Western Ontario US Wars in the Light of the International Drug Trade, by Peter Dale Scott, University of California, Berkeley PART II. IDEOLOGIES OF RACE Ideologies of Race and Racism, by Babacar Camara, Miami University, Middletown PART III. UTILIZING SURPLUS VALUE EMPIRICALLY Estimating Gross Domestic Product with Surplus Value, by Victor Kasper, Jr., Buffalo State College PART IV. CRITIQUES OF KEYNES' GENERAL THEORY, OF RICARDO'S TRADE THEORY, AND OF THE MARKET Collective and Individual Rationality: Maynard Keynes's Methodology Standpoint and Policy Prescription, by Andy Denis, City University, London On the Art of Innuendo: J. M. Keynes's Plagiarism of Silvio Gesell's Monetary Economics, by Guido Giacomo Preparata, University of Washington, Tacoma A Political Economy Critique of the Ricardian Comparative Advantage Theory, by Turan Subasat, University of Bath The Market as Disciplinary Order: A Comparative Analysis of Hayek and Bentham, by Massimo De Angelis, University of East London 313 pages, ORDERING INFORMATION IS ON THE WEBSITE. * Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
R.P.E., Vol.19, just published: Marx's *Capital* and Capitalism; Markets in a Socislist Alternative
R E S E A R C H I N P O L I T I C A L E C O N O M Y Volume 19 (2001) MARX'S *CAPITAL* AND CAPITALISM; MARKETS IN A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE Paul Zarembka, Editor The political economist N. Sieber wrote a book in 1871 in part summarizing Marx's value theory compared to Ricardo's, and Marx himself favorably commented on the interpretation, thus representing a unique appreciation. Here, for the first time, Sieber's Russian text on Marx is translated, joined with an introductory article by James D. White and an article by David Smith on Sieber's understanding of value theory. Alfredo Saad-Filho develops implications of introducing a more refined discussion of the composition of capital into Zarembka's work on accumulation of capital in the previous issue. The tendency of the profit rate under two alternative criteria for technical choice is analyzed by Cheol-soo Park. Often introduced into a 'socialist' practise, the regulation of social relations by markets is criticized by Martyn Konings as being antithetical to socialism. Ideology provides our representations of the world we live in and Thierry Suchere connects the symbolic dimension to economic activity. Close links between Wittgenstein's philosophy and Sraffa's political economy as both embodying bourgeois ideology are developed by Jorgen Sandemose. Finally, the Stalinist ideological formation as a key component of Soviet history is developed from a Marxist perspective by Charles Bettelheim. I. SIEBER'S READING OF *CAPITAL, VOLUME 1*; MARX ON SIEBER Nikolai Sieber and Karl Marx James D. White Marx's Theory of Value and Money Nikolai I. Sieber (1871), translated by Rakhiya Mananova and James D. White, from *David Ricardo's Theory of Value and Capital in Connection with the Latest Contributions and Interpretations* The Spectral Reality of Value: Sieber, Marx, and Commodity Fetishism David Smith II. POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CAPITALISM AND OF A SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE Capital Accumulation and the Composition of Capital Alfredo Saad-Filho Criteria of Technical Choice and Evolution of Technical Change Cheol-soo Park On the Political Economy of Socialism: Against the Regulation of Social Relations by Markets Martijn Konings III. IDEOLOGY Alienation, Ideology and Fetishism Thierry Suchere The World as a Game in Sraffa and Wittgenstein: A Case Study in Modern Bourgeois Ideology Jorgen Sandemose Stalinist Ideological Formation: Absolute General Secretary and the Proletarian Fetish Charles Bettelheim, translated by A.D. Bhogle Sponsor's Preface by Ranganayakamma About 300 pp. ORDERING: Elsevier Press 655 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10010-5107 Fax: (212)-633-3680 . . . Tel: (888)-437-4636 Or E-mail Elsevier: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or Web site: www.elsevier.com/inca/tree/?key=B1RPE *** Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
VALUE, PRICE, AND PROFIT (Abridged) -- free Web access
RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, Volume 18 (2000), Chapter 1 For free student or other use of this Marx article, go to: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka/Marx.htm by permission of Elsevier, Inc., publisher. VALUE, PRICE, AND PROFIT (Abridged): An Introduction to the Theory of Capitalism By Karl Marx (1865) Edited by his daughter Eleanor Marx Aveling, abridged by Paul Zarembka Marx's 1865 lectures offer an easily accessible summary of his theory, in English original. However, one weakness preventing common usage (including classroom use) is the dialogue in the first twenty pages with one John Weston. This abridged version stays with the exact words used by Marx, while eliminating almost all reference to the dialogue with Weston. The currency of that time in its division into three units is also decimalized into its modern form. The result is more readable and modern, yet completely faithful to Marx's presentation. *** Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
VALUE, CAPITALIST DYNAMICS AND MONEY, Vol.18, R.P.E., now published
R E S E A R C H I N P O L I T I C A L E C O N O M Y Volume 18 (2000): VALUE, CAPITALIST DYNAMICS AND MONEY "This volume begins with an introduction to Marx's theory of capitalism in his own words, with his examples modernized from use of shillings and pence as subdivisions of the Pound. Well-known 1901 work on the theory of crises in capitalism by Michael Tugan-Baranowsky is translated into English for the first time, with a Preface placing it in context. The political activism and theoretical work of Henryk Grossman through 1926 is summarized in some detail, and a rarely-known brief article of his from 1919 included. "Ambiguity in Marx's definition of accumulation of capital and the differing directions Lenin and Luxemburg took with it are next analyzed, with a more precise definition offered. Debate, begun in the last volume, over the valuation of means of production and its effect on the possibility of a falling tendency of the profit rate is taken a step forward as contrasting positions are developed. "Finally, credit money as an advanced form of money is analyzed and the post-Keynesian analysis of it, originating from Kaldor, subject to critique. Several theories of inflation theory are reviewed, with focus on the agencies causing inflation. A rediscovery of Marxian inflation theory is proposed." NOTE: Marx's "Value, Price and Profit (Abridged)" is also on RPE Web site. *** Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka C O N T E N T S PART I. INTRODUCTION TO THE THEORY OF CAPITALISM Value, Price, and Profit (Abridged): An Introduction to the Theory of Capitalism by Karl Marx (1865), edited by his daughter Eleanor Marx Aveling, abridged and Preface by Paul Zarembka, SUNY at Buffalo PART II. TUGAN-BARANOWSKY, GROSSMAN, AND CAPITALIST CRISES Studies on the Theory and the History of Business Crises in England, Part I: Theory and History of Crises by Michael von Tugan-Baranowsky (1901), translated and Preface by Alejandro Ramos-Martinez Chapter 1: The Fundamental Causes of Crises in the Capitalist Economy Chapter 7: Marx's Theory of Crises Henryk Grossman as Marxist Activist and Theorist: On the 50th Anniversary of his Death by Rick Kuhn, Australian National University The Theory of Economic Crises by Henryk Grossman (1919), Preface by Rick Kuhn, Australian National University PART III. CONCEPTUALIZING ACCUMULATION AND THE PROFIT RATE Accumulation of Capital, Its Definition: A Century after Lenin and Luxemburg by Paul Zarembka, SUNY at Buffalo, with Appendix: Marginal Notes on Luxemburg's "The Accumulation of Capital" by Vladimir Lenin (1913), translated by James Lawler and annotated by Paul Zarembka Two Concepts of Value, Two Rates of Profit, Two Laws of Motion by Alan Freeman, University of Greenwich, and Andrew Kliman, Pace Univ., with Appendix: On the Constancy of the MELT Two of Everything: A Response, by David Laibman, Brooklyn College Response to Freeman and Kliman, by Duncan K. Foley, New School for Social Research Rejoinder, by Alan Freeman, University of Greenwich, and Andrew Kliman, Pace University Numerology, Temporalism, and Profit Rate Trends by David Laibman, Brooklyn College PART IV. THEORY OF MONEY AND INFLATION The Supply of Credit Money and Capital Accumulation: A Critical View of Post-Keynesian Analysis by Costas Lapavitsas and Alfredo Saad-Filho, University of London Inflation Theory: A Literature Review and New Research Agenda by Alfredo Saad-Filho, University of London 362 Pages --- ORDERING --- JAI/Elsevier Press 655 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10010-5107 Attn: Anne McDermott; or E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fax: (212)-633-3679 . . . Tel: (212)-633-3655 OR Elsevier Press at http://www.elsevier.com/inca/tree/?key=B1RPE
Great, new, simple introduction to Marx
For years I have been looking for a basic introduction to Marx which would work in the classroom. I think I have found it in "From Capitalism to Equality" by Charles Andrews, just published earlier this month. The web page for the book is www.LaborRepublic.org while the table of contents is at www.LaborRepublic.org/LRtoc.htm . At least for the month of September the price cannot be beaten at $20.95 for hardback (plus $3.90 for shipping)! The writing style is simple and clearly Marxist, the major issues covered, and the substance connected to the lives of ordinary people reading the book in 2000. Furthermore, it introduces the idea of a Labor Republic as a contrast to our capitalism, but leaves a lot open for discussion of what such a republic would actually look like. Probably all of us would have certain questions about emphases in the book (e.g., I like its deemphasis on using any falling tendency of a rate of profit to predict, but would rather prefer some discussion of unproductive labor and have hesitations about "accumulation"). Such is expected. I did not know of Charles Andrews, before reading his book. He is an activist in San Francisco. Paul Zarembka ***** Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Value, Price, and Profit (Abridged) by K. Marx: Now available for student/scholar use
An abridged version of "Value, Price, and Profit", by Karl Marx is now at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka/Marx.htm with the publisher's permission and includes a new Preface. The abstract reads: "Marx's 1865 lectures offer an easily accessible summary of his theory, addressed to an English-speaking audience. However, one weakness preventing common usage (including classroom use) is its dialogue in the first twenty pages with one John Weston. This abridged version stays with the exact words used by Marx, while eliminating almost all reference to the dialogue with Weston. The currency of that time in its division into three units is also decimalized into its modern form. The result is more readable and modern, yet completely faithful to Marx's presentation." Paul Zarembka *** Paul Zarembka, editor, RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:8893] Re: Althusser
On 07/04/99 at 10:00 PM, Progressive Economics [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: Paul: I think that a distinction should be made between objective in the sense of the observer/theorist being honest and fair, and an "objective" explanation of human society. Surely the first is what is meant by the objectivity of science. And the second is what is being criticised in Althusser. I believe that any human science must take account of the dialectic between the objective and the subjective in humans. Rod Hay [EMAIL PROTECTED] The History of Economic Thought Archives http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/index.html Batoche Books http://members.tripod.com/rodhay/batochebooks.html http://www.abebooks.com/home/BATOCHEBOOKS/ Rod, Althusser, with his interest in Freud and Lacan, was interested in objective analysis of the subjective in humans. Regarding "objective", I think that is a tough question as one gets into basic epistemological questions of what it is to produce knowledge. However, I had never thought of the objectivity of science as being "honest and fair", but rather as truth (itself a difficult concept) independent of the specific observer. Paul **** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at * http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:8844] Re: Althusser
On 07/03/99 at 10:00 PM, Progressive Economics [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: Every time I hear of Althusser, I have a hard time getting past the fact that he murdered his wife. What do list members think of this? It's just like William Burroughs. I like some of his writings, but what kind of a person just abandons his son, after shooting his wife playing his William Tell game but using a gun he knew fired low. Sometimes I wonder if it is so hard to be smart and a fine artist but be at least a decent person at the same time. michael yates If he "murdered" his wife, how come he was placed in a psychiatric institution not a jail?: French justice is pleased to be help out a Marxist, or the medical record was so overwhelming (then you have misused "murder"), or what is your explanation? Actually, I think your reaction illustrates Althusser's point of the importance of separating objective thought (which is what "science" is) from subjective reaction. Also, aren't we supposed to be MORE understanding of human suffering? Manic depressives have often been highly creative human beings. Paul Z. *** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:8082] CALL: To ACADEMICS for MUMIA, Join CD Action
- The following message is forwarded to you by Paul Zarembka [EMAIL PROTECTED] - On 06/17/99 at 07:36 PM, "Taylor, Professor Mark" [EMAIL PROTECTED] said: From: "Taylor, Professor Mark" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: FW: CALL: TO ACADEMICS FOR MUMIA ,JOIN CD ACTION Date: Thu, 17 Jun 1999 19:36:17 -0400 Importance: high A SPECIAL CALL TO ACADEMICS FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL (AMAJ) * CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE IN PHILADELPHIA (JULY 3) * Dear Colleagues: On Saturday, 3 July at 12 noon, a multitude of persons aligned with various civil rights, religious and activist groups will engage in AN ACT OF NONVIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AT THE LIBERTY BELL, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.) This act of civil disobedience is an effort to disrupt a legal system that is primed to execute Mumia Abu-Jamal. This letter is AN INVITATION TO YOU as an academic and under the auspices of Academics for Mumia Abu-Jamal (AMAJ) to join that ACT OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE through either your participation in the act itself or your presence in a vigil of support. We are acting with, and in full cooperation with, the International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal. THROUGH OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS IN AMAJ, WE HAVE WORKED WITH MANY OF YOU IN SUPPORT OF ABU-JAMAL, and in opposition to our country's accelerated efforts to implement the death penalty, to build more and more prisons, and to tolerate unacceptable levels of police brutality on our city s streets. *THE WORK OF AMAJ has included numerous academic conferences, press conferences and demonstrations for justice. It has included the use of Abu-Jamal's written work in our courses and lectures, his spoken and video-recorded words in our classrooms and the use of his political insights in our academic presentations and papers. Suffice it to say that there has been, for at least the past five years, consistent and vocal support from the academic community in the effort to save the life of a man who speaks for all of us, whether we find ourselves on death row or not. Given this consistent effort, you must be well aware that the PROBABILITY OF ABU-JAMAL`S EXECUTION LOOMS LARGE. The mighty wheels of our legal system will again pick up speed in the early fall when it is expected that a decision on Abu-Jamal's case on Sixth Amendment grounds will be handed down from the Supreme Court. It should come as no surprise that a favorable decision (or even a hearing of Abu-Jamal's case, for that matter) will NOT be handed down from the Supreme Court. In October it is likely that Abu-Jamal's lawyers will file for a writ of habeas corpus in the Third Circuit of the Federal District Court. The 1996 Effective Death Penalty Act passed by the US Congress will limit the time frame of Abu-Jamal's appeal to just about one year. Understand also, in regard to legal matters on the state level, that the warrant for ABU-JAMAL`S DEATH RESTS IN THE HANDS OF PENNSYLVANIA`S GOVERNOR THOMAS RIDGE, a Republican governor who has signed 160 death warrants while in office and who has the dubious distinction of being the first governor in the history of the United States to sign warrants of death for 100 persons of color. Let us recall, in this time when the wheels of our legal system are greased with acts of barbarity rather than civility, the words of Mario Savio as he stood on the grounds of the University of California at Berkely: "THERE S A TIME WHEN THE OPERATION OF THE MACHINE BECOMES SO ODIOUS, MAKES YOU SO SICK AT HEART THAT YOU CAN`T TAKE PART; YOU CAN`T EVEN TACITLY TAKE PART, AND YOU`VE GOT TO PUT YOUR BODIES UPON THE LEVERS, UPON ALL THAT APPARATUS AND YOU`VE GOT TO MAKE IT STOP." LET US ASK OURSELVES, in this hour when the life of Abu-Jamal, who has brought so much vitality into our own classrooms and curriculums, where we stand and where we will place our bodies. Is it possible, in this time, to "wash our hands free from conflict; and, in so doing, side with the powerful under the guise of remaining neutral?" We as academics can no longer be silent or inactive. How long can we continue to justify our inaction, and non-confrontive style by invoking the popular academic mantra of "objectivity." We thank you for all that you have done in the effort to save the life of Mumia Abu-Jamal these past five years. At the same time, we ask that you consider seriously the call to engage in this nonviolent act of civil disobedience or in the vigil of support along with your colleagues in AMAJ. Now is the time to let freedom ring for Mumia! Now is the time to ALIGN OUR BODIES WITH OUR MINDS IN THE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT ABU-JAMAL`S LIFE I
[PEN-L:7837] Support Needed for Washington Students asking Mumia to speak at Graduation
- The following message is forwarded to you by Paul Zarembka [EMAIL PROTECTED] - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] STUDENTS AT EVERGREEN COLLEGE IN WASHINGTON STATE NEED SUPPORT Students at Evergreen College in Washington State are being intimidated and harrassed regarding their decision to have Mumia Abu-Jamal as the Honorary Speaker at their commencement ceremonies on June 11. Since that time Maureen Faulkner has taken out expensive newspaper ads urging people to boycott the graduation in protest of a "convicted cop killer" speaking there, or even to attend the ceremonies but then walk out when Mumia's portion of the event happens. Recently Ronald Reagan's son joined in the fray by condemning the students on his nationally broadcasted radio program, describing the students as thinking it is "cute" to have a cop killer as a speaker at their graduation ceremeony. Most college students graduating from institutions of higher learning have been instructed in the ways of critical and analytical thinking, yet when they speak out regarding controversial issues are told that they don't know the "facts", are trying to be "cute", etc. The only thing these students are guilty of is evaluating the case of Mumia vs. the System independently and feeling strongly enough about their conclusions to arrange for Mumia to have a key presence at these exercises. We are asking folks nationwide, and particularly in the Washington state area, to support these students in whatever way that they can. Those who can attend the exercises and give out information on the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the reason why it is important to keep the "Voice of the Voiceless" ringing LOUD and CLEAR are STRONGLY URGED to do so. BACKGROUND INFO: From: Steve Bloom [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Mumia controversy at Evergreen State College From: Sonja Sivesind [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- For Immediate Release Prison Action Committee The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA 98505 (360) 866 6000 ext 6879 Contact: Stephanie Guilloud or Summer Thomas - Controversy Surrounds Evergreen State College Graduation Ceremonies - Governor Gary Locke refuses to speak at 1999 Graduation because Mumia Abu-Jamal, US political prisoner on death row, chosen as Honorary Speaker In an attempt to stifle freedom of speech and student representation, Washington Governor Gary Locke decides to comply with the wishes of the state trooper association and law enforcement bodies rather than respect his decision to speak at the Evergreen State College. Details: Through months of meetings and process, the Graduation Committee chose to have two speakers at the June 11, 1999 Graduation Ceremonies at the Evergreen State College. Gary Locke was elected by the students in the fall but was mistakenly thought to have declined. During the confusion, Mumia was elected as the speaker and taped a thirteen-minute speech to be played at the event. Administrators unearthed the error, and Locke, once again, was invited to deliver the commencement address. He accepted the offer. In order to respect the students' vote for Mumia and the work that the death row inmate completed for the school, the committee decided to allow both speakers to be represented in the ceremonies. Last week, state troopers and local law enforcement associations pressured Locke to rescind his acceptance of the invitation to speak so as not to share the stage with the controversial figure. Who is Mumia?: Mumia Abu-Jamal is an award-winning radio journalist who has written two books, Death Blossoms and Live from Death Row. Imprisoned and sentenced to death in 1982, Mumia continues to report not only on the significance of his case within the context of an unjust and racist prison system but also broader social justice issues that face struggling people in the US and around the world. The court proceedings that led to his conviction have been declared unconstitutional by many, including American Bar Association lawyer Stuart Taylor and international courts. The significance of choosing this man as graduation speaker: Evergreen chose to accept the unprecedented opportunity to hear this man speak at graduation. In an historic moment that denies particular people their rights to speak and be heard, Mumia represents the voice of struggle and strength despite the shackles of imprisonment. Committee members cited Mumia's reflections on education and freedom as parallel to the philosophy of Evergreen. The students also wish to publicize his case in order to raise public awareness of the case and the prison crisis in this country. Racism in death penalty sentencing
[PEN-L:6603] Contents, Vol. 17 RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY, just published
Volume 17 of the R.P.E. has just been published. Contents are below. Contents for prior issues are on the web site, as are ordering instructions and links to other progressive web sites. Submissions for Volume 18 are now welcome, either by e-mail attachment or printed (in triplicate). Elsevier purchased the R.P.E. last year and intends a major advertising campaign for the JAI series. Please check that your library has ordered the series. Thank you, Paul Zarembka *** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Paul Zarembka, Editor Volume 17 "ECONOMIC THEORY OF CAPITALISM AND ITS CRISES" I. MONEY, REGULATION OF CAPITALISM, AND 'GROWTH' The Endogeneity of Money: Post-Keynesian and Marxian Concepts Compared, by Maria de Lourdes Rollemberg Mollo Periodising Capitalism: Problems and Method - The Case of the Regulation Approach, by Stavros D. Mavroudeas Addressing the Dogma of 'Growth', by John Rosenthal II. ECONOMIC CRISES Reformers and Investors: Crisis and Confidence during the Depression, by Stephen Snow Marxist Theories of Economic Crisis and the Australian Evidence, by James R. Doughney III. SYMPOSIUM ON OKISHIO AND HIS CRITICS Okishio and His Critics: Historical Cost vs. Replacement Cost, by David Laibman Response to David Laibman by Duncan K. Foley Sell Dear, Buy Cheap: A Reply to Laibman? by Andrew Kliman Between Two World Systems: A Response to David Laibman by Alan Freeman The Profit Rate and Reproduction of Capital: A Rejoinder by David Laibman
[PEN-L:6144] Walesa
Well spoken, Wojtek: there is nothing to be gained in understanding by thinking of Solidarity 1999 as Solidarity 1981; Walesa's abilities in Polish are notorious. Paul ___ Q: As NATO enters the second month of bombing attacks, what in your view should be done in Kosovo now? A: First, we have to settle this conflict. We cannot help solve it with statements only. We must use overwhelming force and disarm them. Slobodan Milosevic must be made aware that he's a war criminal and that he will be brought to court. And we must really publicize - even by dropping leaflets on the Serbs indicating a deadline -- that they must either surrender or die. Of course, I'm presenting to you just my rough ideas. But as you know, the rank I acquired in the army is corporal, so this is the strategy of a corporal. However, some corporals prove to be very good commanders http://www.usatoday.com/news/comment/ncguest.htm * I sincerely doubt Mr. W said that himself, he is the guy who makes Dan Quayle look like an intellectual. He is notorious for uttering incoherent babble, he was a laughing stock during his presidency, and one Polish newspaper evn run a humor section titled "Mr. President said..." which contained nothing but verbatim statements made by Walesa. There was enough material to run that column throughout Walesa's entire presidency. My wife, who saw his appearance it in Boston, says that the English translation of his "speech" had a rather loose connection with the original, and for a good reason: the meaning of the original was quite obscure, even for someone who speaks fluent Polish. Another thing - what is called "Solidarity" today - or more precisely "Solidarity Election Campaign" (AWS in Polish) is in fact an alliance of the former middle-level Party apparatchiks, right-wing technocrats, and pro-clerical elements - and has little to do with the "original" Solidarity movement in 1980. That the original movement was suppressed in 1981 by the martial law and simply disintegrated. The name "solidarity" name was simply used in 1989 by the above named forces who negotiated "transition" with the "communist" government (read: were preparing for the plunder of Polish national economy aka privatisation). Wojtek *** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:5078] Civilians bombed in Serbia--a DIRECT report from Aleksinac
- The following message is forwarded to you by Paul Zarembka [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message Follows From: "Vaik Yousefi" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: NATO bombings Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1999 17:41:00 -0400 (EDT) I am taking the liberty of reproducing the following reponse to a message that I saw in another listserv (H-NEXA: the Science-Humanities Convergence Forum" [EMAIL PROTECTED]). The reponse is from Djordje Vidanovic professor of Linguistics who presently lives in Yugoslavia. Date: Tue, 6 Apr 1999 15:06:13 +0300 From: Djordje Vidanovic [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks for the interest. Yes, the connection is still working (miraculously so). I have a statement to make and let some people know what is happening here. If you care and can, please spread it around -- I am not sure how long this tenuous life line will hold out. I stand behind the facts, they are verified thoroughly. The little town of Aleksinac, 20 miles away from my home town, was hit last night with full force. The local hospital was hit (!!), and a whole street was simply wiped off. What I know for CERTAIN is 6 dead civilians and more than 50 badly hurt. There was no military target around whatsoever. Neither the local police station HQ nor the military HQ were hit. These are not adjacent anyway. I hear (fortunately did not watch or else would have gone completely insane) that CNN and Skynews said that the Aleksinac bombing was a rig-up by the Serbian State TV. I, Djordje Vidanovic, Professor of Linguistics and Semantics at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Nis, Serbia, 47 yrs old, (my photo can be found at www.cent.co.yu/chess when you click on *write to me*) vouch for the veracity of the above report and confirm that a whole street full of innocent civilians was simply wiped out by the NATO bombing on the night of April 5/6, 1999. (Do not for a moment, please, think that I believe the Serbian State TV. But I, myself, witnessed the carnage and the photos from there are genuine. Hold me responsible for the facts!) If you can, please contact the American public and the networks. This is turning into a bloody war against one people. Please contact Professor Noam Chomsky and tell him about who sent you this report. He knows me as we exchanged linguistic (not political) ideas at the beginning at the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s while I was writing my book *Problems of Language and Mind*. This is genocide. One genocide -- Kosovo, intensified, this other one starting and getting more and more insane. Unstoppable. HELP. Djordje Vidanovic Vaik Yousefi [EMAIL PROTECTED] - -- End of forwarded message - *** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:2516] Did Lenin write on Rosa Luxemburg's Accumulation of Capital
Does anyone know if Lenin wrote anything on Rosa Luxemburg's Accumulation of Capital? If so, where is it? Thanks, Paul *** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:2378] Canada: Robert S. Kenny Prize in Marxist and Labour/Left Studies
This is a MIME encapsulated message. --===_36A6927F_== For those interested, attached is a notice of the Robert S. Kenny Prize in Marxist and Labour/Left Studies for Canadians and landed immigrants, or others studying Canadian issues. The deadline is June 29, 1999. *** Paul Zarembka, supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka --===_36A6927F_== --=_NextPart_000_0001_01BE3D4D.951C7980 name="funding.htm" filename="funding.htm" PCFET0NUWVBFIEhUTUwgUFVCTElDICItLy9JRVRGLy9EVEQgSFRNTC8vRU4iPgo8SFRNTD48SEVB RD48VElUTEU+RnVuZGluZyBPcHBvcnR1bml0aWVzIFJlY29yZDwvVElUTEU+CjwvSEVBRD48Qk9E WSBCR0NPTE9SPSIjRkZGRkZGIj4KPFNDUklQVCBMQU5HVUFHRT0iSmF2YVNjcmlwdCI+CgoKCiAg ICAgICAgICA8IS0tCgogICAgICAgICAgaWYgKGRvY3VtZW50LmltYWdlcykgewogICAgICAgICAg ICB2YXIgYnJvdzFhbiA9IG5ldyBJbWFnZSgpOwogICAgICAgICAgICBicm93MWFuLnNyYyA9ICIv aW1hZ2VzL2RvY05hdkJhci9icm93MWFuLmdpZiI7CiAgICAgICAgICAgIHZhciBicm93MWFhID0g bmV3IEltYWdlKCk7CiAgICAgICAgICAgIGJyb3cxYWEuc3JjID0gIi9pbWFnZXMvZG9jTmF2QmFy L2Jyb3cxYWEuZ2lmIjsKICAgICAgICAgICAgdmFyIGJyb3cyYW4gPSBuZXcgSW1hZ2UoKTsKICAg ICAgICAgICAgYnJvdzJhbi5zcmMgPSAiL2ltYWdlcy9kb2NOYXZCYXIvYnJvdzJhbi5naWYiOwog ICAgICAgICAgICB2YXIgYnJvdzJhYSA9IG5ldyBJbWFnZSgpOwogICAgICAgICAgICBicm93MmFh LnNyYyA9ICIvaW1hZ2VzL2RvY05hdkJhci9icm93MmFhLmdpZiI7CiAgICAgICAgICAgIHZhciBi cm93M2FuID0gbmV3IEltYWdlKCk7CiAgICAgICAgICAgIGJyb3czYW4uc3JjID0gIi9pbWFnZXMv ZG9jTmF2QmFyL2Jyb3czYW4uZ2lmIjsKICAgICAgICAgICAgdmFyIGJyb3czYWEgPSBuZXcgSW1h Z2UoKTsKICAgICAgICAgICAgYnJvdzNhYS5zcmMgPSAiL2ltYWdlcy9kb2NOYXZCYXIvYnJvdzNh YS5naWYiOwogICAgICAgICAgICB2YXIgYnJvdzRhbiA9IG5ldyBJbWFnZSgpOwogICAgICAgICAg ICBicm93NGFuLnNyYyA9ICIvaW1hZ2VzL2RvY05hdkJhci9icm93NGFuLmdpZiI7CiAgICAgICAg ICAgIHZhciBicm93NGFhID0gbmV3IEltYWdlKCk7CiAgICAgICAgICAgIGJyb3c0YWEuc3JjID0g Ii9pbWFnZXMvZG9jTmF2QmFyL2Jyb3c0YWEuZ2lmIjsKICAgICAgICAgICAgdmFyIGJyb3c1YW4g PSBuZXcgSW1hZ2UoKTsKICAgICAgICAgICAgYnJvdzVhbi5zcmMgPSAiL2ltYWdlcy9kb2NOYXZC YXIvYnJvdzVhbi5naWYiOwogICAgICAgICAgICB2YXIgYnJvdzVhYSA9IG5ldyBJbWFnZSgpOwog ICAgICAgICAgICBicm93NWFhLnNyYyA9ICIvaW1hZ2VzL2RvY05hdkJhci9icm93NWFhLmdpZiI7 CgoKICAgICAgICAgfQoKZnVuY3Rpb24gYWN0KGltZ05hbWUpIHsKICBpZiAoZG9jdW1lbnQuaW1h Z2VzKSAKICAgIGRvY3VtZW50W2ltZ05hbWVdLnNyYyA9IGV2YWwoaW1nTmFtZSArICJhLnNyYyIp Owp9CgpmdW5jdGlvbiBpbmFjdChpbWdOYW1lKSB7CiAgaWYgKGRvY3VtZW50LmltYWdlcykKICAg IGRvY3VtZW50W2ltZ05hbWVdLnNyYyA9IGV2YWwoaW1nTmFtZSArICJuLnNyYyIpOwp9CgovLyAt LT4KCgoKPC9TQ1JJUFQ+Cgo8cD4KPGNlbnRlcj4KCjx0YWJsZSBiZ2NvbG9yPSIjMzEzMDYzIiB3 aWR0aD0xMDAlIGJvcmRlcj0wIGNlbGxwYWRkaW5nPTAgY2VsbHNwYWNpbmc9MD4KPHRyPgo8dGQ+ Cgo8dGFibGUgYm9yZGVyPTAgY2VsbHBhZGRpbmc9MyBjZWxsc3BhY2luZz0zIHdpZHRoPTEwMCUg Ymdjb2xvcj0iIzMxMzA2MyI+Cgo8dHI+Cjx0ZCB2YWxpZ249Y2VudGVyIHdpZHRoPTEwMCUgTk9X UkFQPgo8YSBocmVmPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNvcy5jb20iPjxpbWcgc3JjPSIvaW1hZ2VzL2xvZ29h bmltYXRpb24zLmdpZiIgYm9yZGVyPTAgd2lkdGg9MzQgaGVpZ2h0PTM2IGFsdD0iQ09TIGxvZ28i PjwvYT48aW1nIHNyYz0iL2ltYWdlcy9mb3Bwc19oZWFkZXIuZ2lmIiB3aWR0aD01MTAgaGVpZ2h0 PTM2IGFsdD0iQ09TIEZ1bmRpbmcgT3Bwb3J0dW5pdGllcyI+CjwvdGQ+Cgo8L3RyPgoKCjx0cj4K PHRkIGJnY29sb3I9IiNmZmZmZmYiIHdpZHRoPTEwMCUgTk9XUkFQPgo8YSBocmVmPSIvIiBvbk1v dXNlT3Zlcj0iYWN0KCdicm93MWEnKSIgb25Nb3VzZU91dD0iaW5hY3QoJ2Jyb3cxYScpIj48aW1n IHNyYz0iL2ltYWdlcy9kb2NOYXZCYXIvYnJvdzFhbi5naWYiIGJvcmRlcj0wIHdpZHRoPTIyOSBo ZWlnaHQ9MTEgbmFtZT0iYnJvdzFhIiBhbHQ9ImZ1bmRpbmcgb3Bwb3J0dW5pdGllcyBob21lIj48 L2E+PGEgaHJlZj0iL2RvY3MvYWJvdXQuc2h0bWwiIG9uTW91c2VPdmVyPSJhY3QoJ2Jyb3cyYScp IiBvbk1vdXNlT3V0PSJpbmFjdCgnYnJvdzJhJykiPjxpbWcgc3JjPSIvaW1hZ2VzL2RvY05hdkJh ci9icm93MmFuLmdpZiIgYm9yZGVyPTAgd2lkdGg9NTggaGVpZ2h0PTExIG5hbWU9ImJyb3cyYSIg YWx0PSJhYm91dCI+PC9hPjxhIGhyZWY9Ii9kb2NzL2hlbHBfdG9jLnNodG1sIiBvbk1vdXNlT3Zl cj0iYWN0KCdicm93M2EnKSIgb25Nb3VzZU91dD0iaW5hY3QoJ2Jyb3czYScpIj48aW1nIHNyYz0i L2ltYWdlcy9kb2NOYXZCYXIvYnJvdzNhbi5naWYiIGJvcmRlcj0wIHdpZHRoPTk5IGhlaWdodD0x MSBuYW1lPSJicm93M2EiIGFsdD0iaW5zdHJ1Y3Rpb25zIj48L2E+PGEgaHJlZj0iL2RvY3Mvc3Vi c2NyaWJlLnNodG1sIiBvbk1vdXNlT3Zlcj0iYWN0KCdicm93NGEnKSIgb25Nb3VzZU91dD0iaW5h Y3QoJ2Jyb3c0YScpIj48aW1nIHNyYz0iL2ltYWdlcy9kb2NOYXZCYXIvYnJvdzRhbi5naWYiIGJv cmRlcj0wIHdpZHRoPTg0IGhlaWdodD0xMSBuYW1lPSJicm93NGEiIGFsdD0ic3Vic2NyaWJlIj48 L2E+PGEgaHJlZj0iL2NnaS1iaW4vaGVscGRlc2suY2dpP2Zvcm1pZD1jb3NmdW5kaW5nb3BwcyIg b25Nb3VzZU92ZXI9ImFjdCgnYnJvdzVhJykiIG9uTW91c2VPdXQ9ImluYWN0KCdicm93NWEnKSI+ PGltZyBzcmM9Ii9pbWFnZXMvZG9jTmF2QmFyL2Jyb3c1YW4uZ2lmIiBib3JkZXI9MCB3aWR0aD0x MDggaGVpZ2h0PTExIG5hbWU9ImJyb3c1YSIgYWx0PSJoZWxwIGRlc2siPjwvYT48YnI+CjwvdGQ+ CjwvdHI+CjwvdGFibGU+CgoKPC90ZD4KPC90cj4KPC90YWJsZT4KCjwvY2VudGVyPgo8cD4KPHRh YmxlIGJvcmRlcj0xIGNlbGxwYWRkaW5nPTYgY2VsbHNwYWNpbmc9MiB3aWR0aD0xMDAlPgoKPHRy ID4KPHRoIGFsaWduPWxlZnQ+Q09TIFVuaXF1ZSBJZDo8L3RoPgo8dGQgdmFsaWduPW1pZGRsZT48 YSBocmVmPSJodHRwOi8vZnVuZGluZ29wcHMyLmNvcy5jb20vY2dpLWJpbi9nZXRSZWM/aWQ9Mzkz MTMiPjM5MzEzPC9hPjwvdGQ+CjwvdHI+CgoKCjx0ciA+Cjx0aCBhbGlnbj1sZWZ0PlRpdGxlOjwv dGg+Cjx0ZCB2YWxpZ249bWlkZGxlPlJvYmVydCBTLiBLZW5ueSBQcml6
[PEN-L:1536] Mumia for man of the year!
The message below tell us how to vote for Mumia. Last I looked he was up to 4th position and voting is very easy. Just be sure to use his exact name Mumia Abu-Jamal . Paul Zarembka Subject: Check out TIME.com -- Man of the Year 1998 Award-winning journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1982 of killing a white Philadelphia police officer. Despite witnesses saying that he didn't shoot the officer, and no forensic evidence offered and prosecution witnesses admitting they lied at his trial due to police intimidation, Mumia has had his appeal for another trial turned down. The Pennsylvania governor is set to sign Mumia's death warrant imminently and the execution will take place between 30 and 90 days after signing. The police have put massive political pressure on the US state to execute Mumia (including their placement of a full page ad in The New York Times demanding his death). At his trial, the prosecution demanded the death penalty because Mumia's previous membership of the Black Panther Party proved his political leanings. The case against Mumia Abu-Jamal is politically motivated and unless there's an international outcry, the US state of Pennsylvania will execute him for a crime he didn't commit. One simple thing you can do is to let the mainstream press know that people care bout this case(even if they have overlooked it). Time magazine is now collecting votes for their Man of The Year issue. By voting for Mumia you not only raise awareness aout his case, hopefully helping him to receive a new, fair trial, but also let the police and government in the US know that people will no longer stand by and watch them railroad politcal dissenters into prison in order to silence them, and that the use of the courts to do so is no longer acceptable. This is not just about one black political activist, it is about anyone who is seen as different and is therefore suspect. In just two days, Mumia Abu-Jamal has become # 7 on Time Magazine's Man of The Year List. We may not be able to catch Matthew Shepard, but should have no problem getting Mumia to come in at #2. If you have not yet voted, please do so at the below address. Voting is over soon, so do so immediately. Also get all of your friends and acquaintences to vote, or use their computers to it yourself. If they don't have a computer, make them write a letter. Please forward this message to everyone you know. A HREF="http://cgi.pathfinder.com/time/moy/index.html"Click here: TIME.com -- Man of the Year 1998/A # Man of the Year for 1998? % Tally 1 Matthew Shepard 62.23 33866 2 Thor Newman 3.87 2107 3 Michael Hiebert 2.85 1551 4 Mick Foley 2.66 1450 5 Russell Henderson 2.64 1442 6 Linda Tripp 2.31 1258 7 Mumia Abu-Jamal 2.16 1179 8 Click on pop-up ... 2.13 1160 9 Madonna 1.40 766 10 Mark McGwire 1.24 675 11 Bill Clinton 1.10 602 12 Kenneth Starr 0.96 527 13 Hillary Clinton 0.77 421 14 Nitendra Rajput 0.74 407 15 Gurp0.62 339 16 Hank the Angry, Drunken Dwarf 0.57 314 17 Jesus Christ 0.56 305 18 John Glenn0.52 288 19 Steve Jobs0.52 286 20 Tomwhore 0.43 235
[PEN-L:926] Analysis of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision On Mumia Abu-Jamal
I found this to be very useful and informative. It's long but Mumia life could be VERY SHORT. Paul * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka -- Forwarded message -- Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 22:35:52 -0500 From: "C. Clark Kissinger" [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Analysis of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision On Mumia Abu-Jamal [words and phrases to be italic are indicated thus: _these words in italic_] JUSTICE DENIED: Analysis of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Decision On Mumia Abu-Jamal By C. Clark Kissinger The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (PSC) has now turned down the appeal of Mumia Abu-Jamal for a new trial. Mumia is a lifelong political activist, a Black man, a writer, a father, and a revolutionary. Falsely convicted of the first degree murder of a police officer, he has continued for over 16 years to wield his pen in the interests of the people from death row. His case has become a momentous legal, political, and moral struggle that concentrates some of the most burning issues of the day. In recent years his legal team has compiled a court record that shows conclusively that Mumia's 1982 "trial" was a travesty of justice. Yet on October 30 -- "mischief night" -- the PSC released its unanimous decision. By rejecting a new and fair trial for Mumia, the Pennsylvania high court has now sent this case hurtling onto a new, faster, and more dangerous course. Never in recent history has such a farcical judicial proceeding been so thoroughly dissected and exposed, as were the "trial" of Mumia Abu-Jamal in 1982 and the subsequent hearings for a new and fair trial. Federal courts have been overturning approximately 35% of the death penalty cases brought before them because of gross error by state courts -- usually on issues far less substantive and numerous than those raised in Mumia's case. Yet in Mumia's case . . . · The PSC found that every single defense witness was not credible, including all the witnesses who testified either that a different person was the shooter or that another man was seen running from the scene. · The PSC found that every single witness presented by the prosecution and the police was completely credible, including those who changed their stories to implicate Mumia and who received favors from the police. · The PSC found that there was no problem at all with the prosecution using peremptory challenges to knock at least ten prospective Black jurors off the panel, even though this practice has been outlawed by the U.S. Supreme Court. · The PSC found that Judge Sabo was not at all biased against the defense, and that he ruled correctly on every instance of excluding evidence that would aid Mumia. · The PSC found that there was no problem with Mumia's legal representation in his 1982 "trial," and that he was properly removed both from representing himself and from the courtroom itself for most of his "trial." · The PSC found that it was perfectly permissible to use Mumia's earlier membership in the Black Panther Party in argument to the jury for his execution, even though the U.S. Supreme Court had barred a similar argument for a white prisoner who had been a member of a white racist gang. · And the PSC found that there was no problem with excluding the 600+ pages of FBI surveillance files from the hearings for a new trial on the farcical reason that there was no authentication that these were in fact FBI files! The unanimous opinion of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that there was _not a single flaw_ in the judicial railroad of Mumia and to deny his appeal on _every single issue_ is not the result of an impartial judicial review, but is the result of a political decision made at the highest levels to press ahead with the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Given the new federal Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, that requires federal courts to accept the findings of state courts regarding factual issues, state courts like those in Pennsylvania can now abuse the process by tailoring the official record to defeat effective review. To see exactly how that is done, let's dig into some of the points made in the PSC denial of Mumia's appeal. The Issue of Judge Sabo During his many years on the bench, Judge Albert Sabo became notorious as a vitriolic, pro-police jurist. He had the unique distinctions of presiding over more death sentences than any other sitting judge in the United States, and being denounced by a group of former district attorneys who had appeared before him. Sabo presided over both the 1982 "trial" and the hearings in 1995-97 for a new trial. With Mumia and his attorneys, he was arrogant, nasty, and openly biased. The PSC found that "there were certainly instances in th
[PEN-L:555] NY Times Ad for Mumia, Friday, October 16th
Below is a message I have received that the Mumia support ad appeared in the New York Times yesterday. Below that I include the resolution in support of a retrail for Mumia which passed the UUP Delegate Assembly--the faculty and professional staff union of SUNY. In Solidarity, Paul Zarembka "An injury to one is an injury to all" -- Forwarded message -- Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1998 09:09:08 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: NY Times Ad is in today Friday, October 16th The Mumia Abu-Jamal New York Times ad is running today, Friday, October 16th. Please pick it up - it is running nationwide! reprints will be available soon - prices etc will be posted on the website and sent to this list. Ona MOVE *** RESOLUTION FOR ACTION IN SUPPORT OF JUSTICE FOR MUMIA ABU-JAMAL [Passed by the Delegate Assembly of UUP, October 3, 1998.] WHEREAS: Mumia Abu-Jamal is an award winning radio journalist, former Black Panther Party member, community activist who campaigned against police brutality in Philadelphia, and supporter of MOVE, an African American organization whose members were bombed by the Philadelphia Police Department, currently sits on death row in the state of Pennsylvania; and WHEREAS: Supporters of Mr. Abu-Jamal have long claimed racial and political bias in Mr. Abu-Jamal's original trial and sentencing; and WHEREAS: Apart from Mr. Abu-Jamal's supporters, neutral jurists and human rights observers have stated that the proceedings were so tainted by police and judicial misconduct that whether or nor Mr. Abu-Jamal actually committed the murder is impossible to determine without a new trial; and WHEREAS: Mr. Abu-Jamal's appeal is presently awaiting a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which could order a new trial, could free Mr. Abu-Jamal, or could move quickly toward execution; and WHEREAS: Article II of the United University Professions (UUP) Constitution states that its purpose, in part, is to "defend the civil, professional, and human rights of those it represents"; and WHEREAS: UUP has taken stands on issues that affect the human rights of others (e.g., Polish Solidarity and apartheid in South Africa), on the grounds that we cannot let the human rights of others be trampled without undermining our own rights; and WHEREAS: The core mission the university, and the faculty and staff who work within it, is the advancement of knowledge and the unfettered pursuit of truth; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: UUP calls for a retrial of Mr. Abu-Jamal, in which all available evidence will be considered in an effort to reach a judgment that is fair and just; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: UUP shall announce to its members and the press its adoption of this resolution, shall encourage and support the adoption of this resolution by any local, state, regional, national or international labor organizations to which it belongs or is affiliated, and shall take any other action that it deems necessary to secure justice for Mr. Abu-Jamal. *** Paul Zarembka supporting "age discrimination complaint" against State UUP at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka/aged.htm ***
[PEN-L:388] The morality of Clinton and the morality of Thomas Jefferson
We know about William Jefferson Clinton. What about Thomas Jefferson, who OWNED several of his own children born to his slaves? (Gore Vidal, The American Presidency). Paul * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:420] Eric's father and All Quiet on the Western Front
I found Eric's comments about his father's experiences in WWII quite stimulating. Our film critic in Buffalo had a long interview with Speilberg and the theme that constantly came through is that "Saving Private Ryan" captures the "truth" of war. On the other hand, this critic thinks that Spielberg blew it by making the "grievous mistake of asking huge questions it can only answer badly". I haven't seen the film myself. Eric's comments about his father seem to me consistent with "All Quiet on the Western Front" and unless I missed it, I didn't see anyone recommend this film, which I guess is the classic anti-war movie, up there with "Catch 22". Eric, I am sorry about your father's Alzheimer's. My mother has it also and I think I understand you a little. Paul * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka My father is quite willing to talk of his own experiences in WWII. This is so because, as with others, he was not directly involved in combat. It also is because, in recent years, Alzheimer's is slowly erasing his memories of many periods of his life and is heightening his memories of other, more intense, periods of his life. My dad's primary goal in WWII was to avoid combat. And, due to amazing luck, he was plucked out of an infantry unit destined to be cannon fodder later on in the war. Otherwise the odds were he would have been killed. Because of his newspaper reporter background he was transferred to a job writing news releases detailing "the successes" of the 100th bomb group in England. Although he never fired a weapon in anger, he experienced indirectly, and intensely, combat. His job was to interview bomber crews after they returned from missions and to sit in on debriefing sessions with these crews. He got to hear first hand the horrors of these men's lives hours after they lived it. One day he would interview a 21 -year-old pilot; the next day this man would have been killed by flak over France. He would have a beer in the evening with a tail gunner; the next day he would see the man's plane crash on takeoff and all in the plane be killed. His press releases, however, would present the "heroic soldiers doing their duties bravely." He know the truth of the horrors but the army, understandably, wanted something more positive to appear in the newspapers in the states. Four themes of his "war stories" are: 1) how he was the luckiest man in the world because of his transfer out of his infantry unit; 2) the fliers in his bomb group despised those who liked flying missions; 3) these fliers despised most of all those whose "heroics" risked the lives of other men; and 4) wartime London was a great place to spend a weekend if you were an American with money in your pocket (if you ignored the buzz bombs). The only war movie he thinks is "realistic" is Catch 22, based on the Heller novel. To him "realism" is not created by having actors wear the correct uniforms and using the correct slang, but something that suggests the stupidity and horror of it all. Watching my dad fade away because of Alzheimer's is very hard to do. He's a wonderful man. An aside. I think the discussion of the "realism" of movies, such as Saving PR, in the mass media is shaped by the conservative agenda to reinterpret "history" as "getting the facts right." Eric .. Eric Nilsson
[PEN-L:64] Donation addresses for legal expenses for Mumia
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 16:38:39 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Regarding where to send funds for support of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the Equal Justice situation. What follows is a letter from Mumia naming the two places he has authorized to raise funds for him. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask Susan Burnett International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal Secretary to Mumia Abu-Jamal 203-847-6721 (Norwalk, CT) October 3, 1996 Long Live John Africa's Revolution! Dear Brothers, Sisters, Friends and Supporters: Ona Move! As we embark on the latest season of resistance, I am compelled, by circumstance, to write the following to you. We have grown, and are still growing, by leaps and bounds, and by so doing, we have spread the seeds of resistance far and wide! That is a very good thing, evidenced by the hard and heroic work of many good folks, many of whom are reading this very letter. Good work y'all! I thank alla y'all! It ain't been easy with an enemy this greasy; people have been beaten and busted from Vermont to Minnesota; from Philly to Frisco! Some of us have learned first-hand, the bitter lessons of the "law" of the outlaw, the system's attacks on so-called "free" people, who only dared to try to speak freely. Dig this: if you gotta fight for it, get beaten, lied on and judicially spat on for practicing it, then it aint free is it? Has it ever been? Also not free is my lawyers. We been blessed to have so able and committed a team, led by the brilliant Leonard Weinglass, Esq., who joined when this movement could hardly fill a room. Len and Co. have fought hard, with meager resources, against the state. Legal fundraising has primarily been done by the International concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (through the Black United Fund) and the Committee to Save Mumia Abu-Jamal (through the Bill of Rights Foundation, New York City), who, for the most part, have made sure our lawyers had the vital resources needed to pay investigators, to serve subpoenas, to hire experts--in short, to fight in a court of unprecedented hostility and unbridled petulance. The Juristic Journal, American Lawyer, (December 1995) wrote, of our recent PCRA hearing, the following on the nature of the court, "Judge Sabo flaunted his bias, oozing partiality toward the prosecution and crudely seeking to bully Weinglass, whose courtroom conduct was as correct as Sabo's was crass." We are in a fight, y'all. There have been many who have fought with their feet, their pens, or with their paint brushes--some have fought with their prayers--all valuable in this battle, and each deeply appreciated by my family1 my friends and myself. I thank you all. To those who have helped, (or who want to help) in the courtroom batt1es please accept my thanks for working with the groups mentioned above. Send contributions for legal defense payable to Black United Fund/Mumia Abu-Jamal (earmarked Legal Defense) mail to: Black United Fund, 2227 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19132; OR Bill of Rights Foundation (earmarked "Mumia Abu-Jamal Legal Defense") mail to: Committee to Save Mumia Abu-Jamal, 163 Amsterdam Avenue, No. 115, New York, NY 10023-5001.
[PEN-L:48] Leonard Weinglass' [attorney for Mumia] answer to NYT Ad
This response from Mumia's attorney to a NYT ad surveys the deficiencies of the state's case for killing Mumia and provides a basis for understanding a demand for Mumia's immediate release. Paul Zarembka -- Forwarded message -- Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 10:23:09 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Leonard Weinglass' answer to NYT Ad Leonard I. Weinglass Attorney At Law Suite 10 A 6 West 20th Street New York City, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 807-8646 Fax: (212) 242-2120 17 June 1998 To: Editor, _New York Times_ In a startling, and even disgraceful, effort to hasten and insure the execution of an innocent man whose substantial legal claims that he never received a fair trial are just now being reviewed by the highest court of Pennsylvania, a previously unknown group speaking for the Fraternal Order of Police, and apparently headed by a slain police officer's widow, took out a full page unsigned ad on the most prestigious page of the Sunday New York Times of June 14th entitled, "Justice for Police Officer Daniel Faulkner." The target of this attack, Mumia Abu-Jamal, a renowned journalist from Philadelphia who has been on death row for 16 years for the alleged shooting of Officer Faulkner, and who was known as "the voice of the voiceless" for his award winning reporting on police abuse and other social and racial ills that afflicted the minority communities of Philadelphia, had received worldwide support in his effort to overturn his unjust conviction. At the time of his arrest in 1981 Jamal was serving as the President of the Association of Black Journalists and had previously been a founder of the Black Panther Party in Philadelphia and a supporter of the Philadelphia MOVE group. The advertisement for death, taken out at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars, selectively quotes from witnesses at Jamal's 1982 trial, all of whom have been thoroughly discredited in subsequent court hearings beginning in 1995. Omitted are the evidence and witnesses who have come forward to establish facts which were kept from the jury during the 1982 trial. The ad claims as a "fact" that two police officers heard Jamal confess to the shooting of officer Faulkner the night of the killing. Yet the police officer who guarded Jamal reported that very morning that Jamal had made "no comments." That officer reportedly was on vacation and unavailable at trial, when in fact, he was at home waiting to testify. Similarly, the charge that the shot which killed Faulkner came from Jamal's legally registered .38-caliber weapon contradicts the medical examiner's report--first entered into the official record in 1995--that the bullet removed from Faulkner's brain was a .44-caliber. That fact was also kept from the jury. Moreover, a weapons expert found it incredible that the police at the scene of the shooting failed to test Jamal's gun to see if it had been recently fired or to test his hands to see if he had fired a weapon. The testimony cited in the ad of "eyewitnesses" who claimed to identify Jamal as the shooter was equally flawed, coming from witnesses whose testimony has now been exposed as false. One of these witnesses, a white cab driver named Robert Chobert, first reported to police that the shooter was 225 pounds and "ran away" from the scene. This couldn't have been Jamal, who weighed 170 pounds and was found by the police sitting on a curb at the scene of the shooting, bleeding profusely from a shot fired by Faulkner. Why Chobert changed his story did not become clear until 13 years later when, at a court hearing in 1995, he admitted that at the time of the shooting he had been driving his taxicab without a license while still on probation for felony arson--throwing a Molotov cocktail at a grammar school. The jury which presumably found Chobert truthful never heard these facts. Furthermore Chobert revealed in 1995 that he had asked Jamal's prosecutor to help get his driver's license back. Years later he was still driving, unhindered by the police, without a license. The main witness cited in the ad, Cynthia White, was someone no other witness even reported seeing at the site. In return for her testimony that Jamal shot Faulkner, White was allowed to continue to work the streets as a prostitute for years, apparently with police protection. In a 1997 hearing, another former prostitute, Pamela Jenkins, who was a friend of White at the time, testified that White was acting as a police informant, a fact not given to the defense, and that she had testified only after the police had threatened her life. Other sworn testimony revealed that witness coercion was routinely practiced by the police as they pursued their investigation against Jamal. In 1995, ey
[PEN-L:38] More information on Mumia, political prisoner on death row
I have been asked to provide more information on Mumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of killing a police officer more than a decade ago. A new trial had first been demanded by supporters. Now, simple release, justified by new evidence, is demanded. Below is the information about the legal options which could be invoked and it is very informative in its own right. The travesty of justice in this particular case is very apparent. Mumia has been very active not just for himself but for other political cases in the United States, such as Leonard Peltier, where criminalization of activists (despite lack of evidence) is thought needed by those who administer this society. Mumia's case has received considerable international attention, including from heads of state. If Mumia dies, the state wins, the people lose. Paul Zarembka _ From: "C. Clark Kissinger" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: What's Next in the Courts for Mumia Abu-Jamal Date: Sat, 2 May 1998 19:45:16 -0400 What's Next in the Courts for Mumia Abu-Jamal by C. Clark Kissinger "This standard is met if the petitioner can demonstrate either: (1) that the proceedings resulting in the petitioner's conviction were so unfair that a miscarriage of justice occurred which no civilized society can tolerate; or (2) that the petitioner is innocent of the crimes charged." --from Rule 1507 of the Criminal Procedural Rules of the state of Pennsylvania Protests continue while we await the final decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. But many people are asking "what comes next," and rightly so. This court ruling will represent a major turning point in the legal battle for justice for Mumia Abu-Jamal. What follows is an outline of what will likely take place in the legal arena following the decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. It is not possible to predict the course of events with complete accuracy for three reasons: First, this case has come to concentrate a major political struggle in society over the whole reactionary agenda emphasizing police powers and speeded up executions. Second, the courts have many different options in fixing the outcome at each stage. Third, there are tactical decisions that will have to be made by Mumia and his legal defense team at each step along the way. But neither is the legal terrain totally unknowable. There are laws, procedures and precedents which the state currently observes to some degree, because many of its supporters believe in "the rule of law" and their continued faith in the system is important to the state. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court What is before this court is an appeal of Judge Sabo's refusal to grant a new trial. There are at least five ways the court can rule: First, they could find the Post Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) hearings before Judge Sabo to have been so flawed by his conduct that they send the case back to the trial court level for a whole new hearing on the motion for a new trial. (Judge Sabo has now been forcibly retired, so this hearing would be before a new judge.) Second, the court could find that the entire case against Mumia is so flawed by prosecutorial and judicial misconduct, that they order Mumia freed and the charges against him dropped. Third, they can find that the prosecution of Mumia was sufficiently flawed to require a new trial, and the case would be sent back to the trial court (again, not before Sabo). Fourth, they could find that only the sentencing portion of Mumia's original trial was flawed, and send the case back to the trial court level for a new sentencing hearing. In this case, Mumia's "guilt" would be taken as established fact, and a new jury would be empanelled to decide between life in prison and execution. Fifth, the court could rule that Mumia's case has no merit and deny his appeal for a new trial. Pennsylvania's Supreme Court is more "politically driven" than most. Its justices are elected in partisan elections, and some receive official endorsements from the same police organizations that are campaigning for Mumia's death. But since the case against Mumia is so weak, it is possible that a decision may be made to resolve it at the state level. This would avoid having to have the federal courts overrule the state court, and thus preserve a major point of current reactionary agenda: giving state governments the final say on executions. Still, many observers expect the Pennsylvania high court to deny Mumia's appeal. If it does, the court will then issue within 60 days an official order called a "mandate." The Governor and a Death Warrant Because former Governor Casey held off on signing death warrants for Mumia and a number of other death row inmates, the Pennsylvania state legislature changed the law to require the governor to sign a death warrant within 30 days that sets a death date within 60 days. Of course Governor Tom Ridge requires no such legal prodding. He has
[PEN-L:33] Fwd: A PLEDGE OF CONSCIENCE [RE: Political Prisoner, Mumia]
This message is in MIME format. The first part should be readable text, while the remaining parts are likely unreadable without MIME-aware tools. Send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] for more info. --part0_898096418_boundary -- Forwarded message -- From: Refuse Resist [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: A PLEDGE OF CONSCIENCE STOP THE EXECUTION! A PLEDGE OF CONSCIENCE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL is still on death row. His fate, and the cause of justice itself, depend on us. A decision in the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal is coming soon from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The chances are great that he will be denied a new trial, and the governor of Pennsylvania has promised to sign a new death warrant immediately. Although a federal appeal will stay that execution date, a new death warrant would be major turning point in Mumia's case. It would signal that a political decision has been made to push ahead with Mumia's execution. A stay is nothing but a temporary postponement. The trial that put Mumia on death row was a legal travesty. Because of the circumstances surrounding his conviction and sentencing, his case has become a touchstone internationally and in the U.S. Therefore: * In face of the threat of a new death warrant, I pledge to speak out for a new trial and to prevent the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal. * In the event of a new death warrant, I pledge further that I will devote whatever effort is needed to prevent the first execution of a political dissident in the U.S. in over 45 years. The whole world is watching. I will not stand by in silence. --- Below is a pointer to a new pledge of support for Mumia developed by Refuse Resist together with the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. The pledge allows the widest range of people to express their determination to oppose the government's attempt to execute Mumia. It is intended to be used by everyone working on the campaign as a regular part of our on-going work. It can be distributed at programs, through mailings, and printed in publications. Groups distributing the pledge can use it to develop local mailing lists and emergency response networks, but the information collected should be forwarded to the Family Friends in Philadelphia. The Pledge "pdf" file can be read and printed with Adobe Acrobat. The page contains two panels which go back to back. Print or xerox on 8.5 x 11 cardstock back to back, then cut in half. Download this Pledge from: http://mojo.calyx.net/~refuse/mumia/061698pledgecard.html http://www.walrus.com/~resist/mumia/061698pledgecard.html --- Why YOU Should Sign the Pledge In 1995 Mumia Abu-Jamal was only 10 days away from execution when massive worldwide protest forced the government to grant a temporary stay of execution. Today, he awaits one last decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. If they decide against him, a death warrant will be signed. After this, his case will go to federal court. In today's climate of "rush to the death penalty," no one can predict how quickly and on what terms his case will be decided. Mumia's original trial was a travesty. He was denied the right to act as his own counsel. His court appointed attorney was so incompetent he was later disbarred. Witnesses who could give testimony supporting Mumia's innocence were coerced and suppressed. Hundreds of Philadelphia cases have been overturned in recent years based on federal charges of corruption and documented official lying by the Philadelphia police department. Even if one were to fully accept the police version of the facts, it would not have been a first degree murder/death penalty case. It came to be so only through political motivations, evidenced by the prosecutor arguing for the death penalty by reading revolutionary quotes from Mumia's writings ten years earlier. Indeed, Mumia's case cannot be separated from who he is and what he represents. As a high school student, he was a founding member of the Black Panther Party in Philadelphia. Mumia's FBI file begins at age 15. Later, as a prominent radio journalist, he developed a style of radio journalism that put the voices of the inner city onto the airwaves. He exposed a corrupt Philadelphia police department, and its war against the MOVE organization, and thus became a police target himself - charged with the murder of a police officer, which many eyewitnesses testified he did not commit. For these reasons, many have come to oppose Mumia's execution, and join the fight for a new trial. "If you look today at the movement to save Mumia Abu-Jamal's life, what do you find? You find there are many people who believe that he is totally and completely innocent, that he is in prison because he is an ex-Black Panther, because he is a MOVE supporter, because of the racism of this country. There are plenty of people who believe
[PEN-L:282] Martin Niemoeller on silence
The man in a 'flapping white coat' Mark Jones refers to was Martin Niemoeller, Lutheran church leader who opposed the Nazis. A quote of his is one of my very favorite: "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up". Paul Zarembka P.S. Michael P. made an error when he said Jerry Levy had been referring to Louis and Doug. In fact, Doug explicitly had said that Jerry is not a bigot in any way. Jerry has been refering to the Louis P. and Mark J. and it was the Mark J.'s quote about the New Left Review that Jerry cited that started the recent interchange off. There is no reason for Jerry to remain silent. Mark Jones wrote on May 27, commenting on Paul Zarembka's paraphrasing: First they came for the gays, but I am not a gay; then they came for the Trotskyists, but I am not a Trotskyite; then they came...; then they came for me and no one was left". This would be the men in flapping white coats, presumably. Mark
[PEN-L:248] Re: principles
Michael Perelman responds to Jerry Levy that we should all keep silent in the face of homophobia, cop-baiting, etc. Well, Michael, that represents a sharp turn to the right which I won't be joining either on this list or elsewhere in my life. And if you think such silence wins friends and influences people for the REVOLUTION, maybe I'll be permitted a rewrite of a famous quote: "First they came for the gays, but I am not a gay; then they came for the Trotskyists, but I am not a Trotskyite; then they came...; then they came for me and no one was left". Paul _ Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 15:53:58 -0700 From: michael [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PEN-L:239] Re: principles Yes, by all means. Gerald Levy wrote: Does this mean that you think we should all stay silent in the presence of homophobia, cop-baiting, etc.? * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L:152] Re: Marx's Das Kapital found next to 500-year-old bible in Hungary
The inaccuracies in this AFP news story are amazing. "Das Kapital" was published in 1848 and is an economic analysis of "Socialism"! Paul ***** Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka -- Forwarded message -- Subject: Re: Marx's "Das Kapital" found next to 500-year-old bible in Hungary In message [EMAIL PROTECTED] - [EMAIL PROTECTED] (AFP) writes: : : BUDAPEST, May 13 (AFP) - Franciscan monks stumbling upon a :secret wartime cache in their northern Hungarian monastary were :amazed to find a copy of Karl Marx's "Das Kapital" sitting next to :their carefully hidden religious treasures. : Restoration work in April uncovered the economic analysis of :Socialism in the hiding place, which had been walled up in 1944 to :protect such valuable works as a rare Bible printed in 1462 by :Johannes Fast from invading Russian troops. : The objects, which also included 16th-century codices and :correspondence, 18th-century curios and archives, as well as :valuable gem-studded gold and silver chalices, ancient coins and :other art objects, some dating from the Middle Ages, remained hidden :under Hungary's subsequent Communist era which saw all Church :property confiscated. : Under a restitution scheme, the Fransiscans got the building :back nine years ago. : Friar Anyos, who hid the valuables in the hole, and who still :lives in the monastary today, had refused to reveal the existence of :the treasure or the whereabouts of the hiding place, a newspaper :report said. : But even the old monk was astonished to Marx's volumes sharing :his secret place. : The Socialist's work, printed in 1848, "was placed there after :1944. Somebody else must have known about the place," sources told :the Mai Nap tabloid newspaper. : The building works also revealed a one-time prison in the :monastery, where the ceiling was so low that friars in penitence had :to move about on their knees.
[PEN-L:151] Mark Jones on evaluating list members
Mark Jones, If you are calling Jerry Levy "Un Ouanquere" (a word which does not happen to rise to the level of being in my Larousse French dictionary), then I guess Jerry is correct in his assessment of the quality of your on-line dialogue. Louis Proyect is described by yourself as "totally principled". What has he done to deserve this sanction? On January 30, 1997, your opinion was "Personally I no longer think Stalin was badIt [the Soviet Union] lasted glorious seventy years, from 30 December 1922 to 31 December 1991. A seventy year holiday from the life the rest of us lead." Louis explicits states that he does not agree with you on what you find as "glorious". He considers himself a Castroite. How can Louis disagree with you on such a basic issue and still be "totally principled"? The more I think about it, the usage of the word "principled" has been devalued to just an extent that its usage more represents a statement of political alignment than anything of substance. Everyone seems to think they want to be called "principled" (was the Hilter-Stalin pact "principled"? was deserting the Greek post-WWII revolution "principled"?, was the Great Leap Forward "principled", was the invasion of Cambodia "principled", was perestroika "principled"?), but in the final analysis what is one person's attribution of another as "principled" doesn't tell us much. And to go so far as to describe a person as "totally principled", whoa! That's four times better than being a person "who cannot be bribed". So, if you can put substance into your statement that Louis is "totally principled" and yet not contradict your political disagreements with Louis (for example, on the Stalin period), maybe I'll learn something and have a reaction. Paul Zarembka Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 20:52:58 +0100 From: Mark Jones [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [PEN-L:146] Un Ouanquere Look, I'm not going to waste time debating Jerry Levy, who is what the French call un ouanqure, but I do want to say that Lou Proyect is not just a pal of mine, he is a totally principled, passionate and dependable communist, as well as a clever man and a brilliant thinker. I would be happy to appear next to him on any scaffold... Mark * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Women in the Economics Profession--Answers
I was simulated by the newsletter of Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession and found the answer to the fourth question particularly interesting (right after the voting-rights amendment, women were getting Ph.D.s in Economics in the U.S. more so than later). Paul 1. Name all women Nobel prize winners in Economics. NONE TO NAME 2. In 110 years of existence, how many women Presidents have there been of the A.E.A.? TWO 3. Name at least three female editors of any of the three journals published by the A.E.A. at any time in their history. NONE TO NAME 4. What percentage of economics doctorates in the United States were granted to women from 1920 to 1924? 10% (it went down afterwards) Who corresponded from Ireland with David Ricardo about Ireland specializing in wheat versus potatoes and on which side did the two principals take? Maria Edgeworth (whose nephew was F.Y. Edgeworth) for potatoes as a stimulant to maintaining a larger population size, David Ricardo for wheat as less disease prone than potatoes. * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Women in the Economics Profession
I have received the Winter 1998 Newsletter of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Economics Profession of the American Economics Association. Daphne A. Kenyon and Ana Kraviz review ECONOMICS AND FEMINISM: DISTURBANCES IN THE FIELD, by Randy Albelda, 1997. Now for a quiz: 1. Name all women Nobel prize winners in Economics. 2. In 110 years of existence, how many women Presidents have there been of the A.E.A.? 3. Name at least three female editors of any of the three journals published by the A.E.A. at any time in their history. 4. What percentage of economics doctorates in the United States were granted to women from 1920 to 1924? And now for a pop quiz to any economist living in Ireland (based on Willian Kern in the same Bulletin): Who corresponded from Ireland with David Ricardo about Ireland specializing in wheat versus potatoes and on which side did the two principals take? * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
NEWS BULLETIN: Age Discrimination in SUNY
-- Forwarded message -- Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 07:20:11 PDT From: Age Discrimination [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: NEWS BULLETIN: Age Discrimination in SUNY MAY 1, 1998 NEWS BULLETIN from [EMAIL PROTECTED] A class-action age discrimination complaint has been filed to stop the STATE OF NEW YORK and/or its agent STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK from hiring "new" (younger) employees to REPLACE faculty and professionals with permanent contracts who are over the age of forty (40). The basis for the complaint is a STATE OF NEW YORK contract article claiming the "State has the right to contract out" (terminate!) the services of academic or professional staff with continuing/permanent contracts with no provisions for continued benefits, including but not limited to health insurance, retirement benefits and past guarantees of "no age discrimination". In accordance with the work-sharing agreement between the State agency (Division of Human Rights) and the Federal agency (EEOC), the STATE OF NEW YORK's Executive Department Regional Division of Human Rights office in Buffalo, New York will meet on Tuesday, May 19, 1998 at 11 a.m. with representative(s) of the class action complaint. If you would like further news bulletins about this class-action age discrimination complaint or want to help save the rights of workers over 40 in New York State, contact the age-discrimination complaint coordinators (Georgiana Jungels and Paul Zarembka) at the following e-mail address: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]".
Re: New Yorker extinction
San Francisco had a working-class mayor around the turn of the century; I believe he was also a socialist. Once I knew the story, but it has slipped my mind. Paul * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Tue, 28 Apr 1998, Robin Hahnel wrote: Max B. Sawicky wrote: Unless I've become too much of a town-booster, Milwaukee is the _only_ American city with socialist government in its purple past, You have. The city of Reading, PA had a socialist mayor by the name of Stump. He had a fondness for the bottle but is generally well-regarded in memory. I'd be amazed if there weren't other cities too. Takoma Park Maryland had a commie mayor, of all things. Sam Abbott proudly wore his communist credentials when running and serving in office. He was greatly loved and re-elected at least once. He died a few years back, and the city hall/senior center is now named after him. MBS
Re: IMF vote
On Fri, 24 Apr 1998, Nathan Newman wrote: it is perfectly consistent for left activists to condemn the IMF's anti-labor policies while defending the existence of it as an institution of centralized global credit. --Nathan Newman Why should we want to defend the existence of a centralized instrument of capital's domination? Paul * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
Open Letter from Assata Shakur (fwd)
This e-mail captured my attention and I thought others would be interested. Paul Zarembka -- Forwarded message -- Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 00:18:35 EST From: Susan1218 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Open Letter from Assata Shakur Open Letter from Assata Shakur My name is Assata Shakur, and I am a 20th century escaped slave. Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political repression, racism and violence that dominate the US government's policy towards people of color. I am an ex-political prisoner, and I have been living in exile in Cuba since 1984. I have been a political activist most of my life, and although the U.S. government has done everything in its power to criminalize me, I am not a criminal, nor have I ever been one. In the 1960s, I participated in various struggles: the black liberation movement, the student rights movement, and the movement to end the war in Vietnam. I joined the Black Panther Party. By 1969 the Black Panther Party had become the number one organization targeted by the FBI's COINTELPRO program. Because the Black Panther Party demanded the total liberation of black people, J. Edgar Hoover called it "greatest threat to the internal security of the country" and vowed to destroy it and its leaders and activists. In 1978, my case was one of many cases bought before the United Nations Organization in a petition filed by the National Conference of Black Lawyers, the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, and the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, exposing the existence of political prisoners in the United States, their political persecution, and the cruel and inhuman treatment they receive in US prisons. According to the report: The FBI and the New York Police Department in particular, charged and accused Assata Shakur of participating in attacks on law enforcement personnel and widely circulated such charges and accusations among police agencies and units. The FBI and the NYPD further charged her as being a leader of the Black Liberation Army which the government and its respective agencies described as an organization engaged in the shooting of police officers. This description of the Black Liberation Army and the accusation of Assata Shakur's relationship to it was widely circulated by government agents among police agencies and units. As a result of these activities by the government, Ms. Shakur became a hunted person; posters in police precincts and banks described her as being involved in serious criminal activities; she was highlighted on the FBI's most wanted list; and to police at all levels she became a 'shoot- to-kill' target." I was falsely accused in six different "criminal cases" and in all six of these cases I was eventually acquitted or the charges were dismissed. The fact that I was acquitted or that the charges were dismissed, did not mean that I received justice in the courts, that was certainly not the case. It only meant that the "evidence" presented against me was so flimsy and false that my innocence became evident. This political persecution was part and parcel of the government's policy of eliminating political opponents by charging them with crimes and arresting them with no regard to the factual basis of such charges. On May 2, 1973 I, along with Zayd Malik Shakur and Sundiata Acoli were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike, supposedly for a "faulty tail light." Sundiata Acoli got out of the car to determine why we were stopped. Zayd and I remained in the car. State trooper Harper then came to the car, opened the door and began to question us. Because we were black, and riding in a car with Vermont license plates, he claimed he became "suspicious." He then drew his gun, pointed it at us, and told us to put our hands up in the air, in front of us, where he could see them. I complied and in a split second, there was a sound that came from outside the car, there was a sudden movement, and I was shot once with my arms held up in the air, and then once again from the back. Zayd Malik Shakur was later killed, trooper Werner Foerster was killed, and even though trooper Harper admitted that he shot and killed Zayd Malik Shakur, under the New Jersey felony murder law, I was charged with killing both Zayd Malik Shakur, who was my closest friend and comrade, and charged in the death of trooper Forester. Never in my life have I felt such grief. Zayd had vowed to protect me, and to help me to get to a safe place, and it was clear that he had lost his life, trying to protect both me and Sundiata. Although he was also unarmed, and the gun that killed trooper Foerster was found under Zayd's leg, Sundiata Acoli, who was captured later, was also charged with both deaths. Neither Sundiata Acoli nor I ever received a fair trial We were both convicted in the n
Re: Pentagon Assessment of Cuban Threat
Until I read this report in the Miami Herald, I got migraines thinking about those Cuban commies coming up here to Buffalo, New York, and destroying everything I hold precious in life. I am SO!! relieved. Paul Z. * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Mon, 30 Mar 1998, Thomas Kruse wrote: Pentagon calls Cuban forces weak; Military seen as severely diminished Published Sunday, March 29, 1998, in the Miami Herald By CHRISTOPHER MARQUIS Herald Staff Writer WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has concluded that Cuba poses no significant threat to U.S. national security, and senior defense officials increasingly favor engaging their island counterparts to reduce existing tensions. In a classified report to be given to Congress by Tuesday, Secretary of Defense William Cohen plans to portray Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces as a severely diminished military and to downplay the dangers posed by chemical or biological weapons, or by another refugee exodus, according to people briefed on the findings. At the same time, retired Marine Gen. John Sheehan has just returned from a weeklong tour of the island -- the highest-ranking U.S. officer to visit Cuba since the 1959 revolution -- and is urging the Clinton administration to ``regularize contacts'' between Cuban and American military chiefs. Sheehan, who spent several days in the company of Cuban Defense Minister Raul Castro and dined with Fidel Castro, said he ``starts with the premise that the Cuban military is not a threat to the U.S. The question is how do we institutionalize this? It doesn't mean diplomatic recognition in the near term.'' The dovish assessment expected from the Defense Department has already drawn cries of dismay from some exile leaders and lawmakers, including the three Cuban-American members of Congress. Advocates of maintaining a more guarded position on Cuba cite a historical record that includes Castro's recommendation that the Soviet Union launch a nuclear strike against the United States during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Cuban defectors' accounts in the last decade that Havana's contingency bombing targets included a South Florida nuclear reactor, and the 1996 downing of two exile planes over international waters. ``We are appalled by current attempts to downplay the Castro threat,'' the Cuban-American lawmakers and six House colleagues wrote in a March 19 letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. ``There is a pathologically unstable tyrant in the final years of his dictatorship just 90 miles from our shores. His four-decade record of brutality, rabid hostility toward the Cuban exile community, anti-Americanism, support for international terrorism, and proximity to the United States is an ominous combination.'' Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami Republican, said in an interview that the Pentagon report is part of a broader administration strategy to normalize relations with Cuba. The report, mandated last year in an amendment introduced by Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, emerges just days after President Clinton restored direct flights and exile remittances to Cuba and vowed to get more medical and food aid to the island. ``These Pentagon types are very politicized,'' Ros-Lehtinen said. ``They get their instructions very directly from the White House.'' But interviews with current and former Pentagon officials counter that it is the politicians who have misrepresented the security threat posed by Cuba, particularly since the Castro government lost its Soviet patron in the early 1990s. Exile leaders are determined to maintain maximum U.S. pressure on Castro, even after he has been revealed as a toothless tiger, they say. No `rational dialogue' ``We really don't have much of a rational dialogue on this,'' said Alberto R. Coll, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense in the Bush administration, who echoed Sheehan's views. ``Anybody who admits there's a problem with existing policy is branded a pro-Castro apologist.'' A senior Pentagon official appointed by President Reagan who considers himself an ``anti-communist hard-liner'' said the context of relations has changed so completely that it is time to engage Cubans at all levels, even trade with them. ``It's very difficult for exile groups,'' said the official, who asked not to be named for fear of offending friends. ``They're always the last ones to dismount from the horses they're riding.'' In recent years, a chasm has grown between exile leaders and important political allies such as Sen. Graham and Rep. Robert Torricelli, D-N.J., and U.S. officials charged with assessing the risks posed by Cuba. The staunchest Castro foes accept as a given that Cuba is a haven for drug traffickers
Re: Section 7(a)
Terry, your comments are very interesting but only lead me to further questions. If the Black Bill was the threat and the AFL was behind the Black Bill, why was the state scared enough of worker mobilization to give a damn about the AFL (we're talking 1932 and early 1993, I guess) OR was the Black Bill a bill that the state could be comfortable with as a means to control labor. All of this fits in a larger puzzle of the labor movement in general and I've found Victoria C. Hattam, Labor Visions and State Power: The Origins of Business Unionism in the United States helpful. Obviously, the AFL is business unionism. Tom Ferguson says that Baruch was behind 7(a). Do you know anything about that? Paul * Paul Zarembka, on OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at ** http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka On Thu, 19 Mar 1998, Terrence Mc Donough wrote: Paul Z asks about section 7(a) of the National Industrial Recovery Act, which guaranteed the right to organize in covered industries. 7(a) was included in the bill in order to forstall the more radical Black Bill which had been reported onto the floor of the house and contained not only guarantees for organizing but a mandated 30 hour week and tripartite board setting of wages. Labor had already shown considerable political clout in passing the Norris Laguardia Act which banned injunctions. Class struggle was being focussed for a time at the level of the state. A wave of organizing and strikes followed partly facilitated by the passage of 7(a) but also motivated by the prospect of the politicization of labor relations which the NIRA represented. Informal organization was often adequate to deal with local shopfloor issues, but full scale formal unionization was necessary to continue to play at this national level as the labor backed success of subsequent legislative measures was to demonstrate. Terry McDonough
Jesuit schools
By the way, I find it ironic that the jesuit schools in the U.S. are among the most open in the country. They even employ a Jim Devine -- or maybe Jim just spelt his name wrong to slip in. Also, Terry McDonough earlier at Canisius College, Buffalo, NY. Right, Terry?! Paul
Re: Lewis Clark [resending from earlier today]
Academe Today's DAILY REPORT (1/26/98) _ * LEWIS CLARK COLLEGE, the alma mater of Monica Lewinsky, has encouraged one of its employees to come forward with a document that may have bearing on the investigation into her relationship with President Clinton, officials at the college in Portland, Ore., said Sunday. Copyright (c) 1998 The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inc. *** Paul Zarembka, using OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka *** On Mon, 26 Jan 1998, Doug Henwood wrote: Hey Marty Hart-Landsberg, you out there? Forget all this Asia crisis stuff and answer the really important question: did you know Monica Lewinsky when she was at Lewis Clark? Doug
Re: Baffling indeed
I read a news item yesterday that the right-wing is hesitate to jump on an impeachment and/or demand-for-resignation of Clinton since it helps Gore AND ALSO because of "concern for the country". This latter has a ring of truth to it because a basic institution of the United States ruling machinery is weakened somewhat thereby and that weakening is not only with respect to internal legitimacy but also and, maybe more importantly, internationally. Of course, another hesitation is that they don't wanted to get snookered through reacting too quickly to that which they don't know enough about (and I don't mean mainly what did or did not happen between Lewinsky and Clinton, but rather the whole dynamic which can unfold, legally and politically). Paul Z. *** Paul Zarembka, using OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka *** On Mon, 26 Jan 1998, Tom Walker wrote: "He noted that year after year we [in the US] invent a new pattern" of ethics. The pattern of ethics in US public life is remarkably stable -- little or none. It's the pattern of moral posturing that is ephemeral. Regards, Tom Walker ^^^ Know Ware Communications Vancouver, B.C., CANADA [EMAIL PROTECTED] (604) 688-8296 ^^^ The TimeWork Web: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/
Your Seasonal Bonus is here - download attached file and get it!
Your Seasonal Salary Bonus has now arrived to increase your pleasures. It has been authorized by Korean and Japanese bankers. However, neither this person nor the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY cannot take responsibility for failures to receive the cash. You will only need to execute the attached .exe file (no virus, not to worry). Enjoy the holidays. Paul Zarembka ** Paul Zarembka, using OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka * 12/19/97 bonus.exe
re: What Is to Be Done?
On Mon, 15 Dec 1997, Ricardo Duchesne wrote: But...if they spend less time, and earn more, they will definitely have no revolutionary consciousness. [Ricardo] Ricardo, Is this your opinion or do you ascribe it to Lenin? I'm getting confused in what you are trying to say. I certainly do not agree with your sentence as written, for then there is really no point in any revolutionary politics, as any and all such politics is doomed to failure (the bourgeoisie would just buy the workers off). [Paul] Yes, my opinion, as attested by history. [Ricardo] Ricardo, you may of course hve your own opinion. But then leave Lenin out of the discussion. My confusion was that you also brought in Lenin. By the way, what is this triple whammy "attested by history"? Paul
re: What Is to Be Done?
On Thu, 11 Dec 1997, Ricardo Duchesne wrote: No, What Is to Be Done? is Lenin's most original political text; indeed it is the foundation of Bolshevism: the working class movement does not have a revolutionary consciousness of its own; left to itself, such movement will never develop beyond trade-union consciousness. A marxist consciousness can only be brought from the outside by a centralized party. "Centralized" party. I thought it was a party of "democratic centralism", not the Stalinist distortion. What worries marxists about this text is that Lenin is right. Luxemburg is wrong. A centralized party, like the Bolshevik Party, which claims to have a "true" understanding of the interests of the working class, is a must. The workers themselves are incapable of marxist consciousness, incapable of knowing their "real" interests. I don't think Lenin thought the workers as "incapable" as described above. Maybe it is correct that spending 8-12 hours a day in a factory burns one's energy up, but... Paul
Re: FW: LITTLE JESSICA
I saw a similar message to this one which was subsequently stated to be a fraud. I believe one should verify such messages before circulation and I doubt the authenticity of this one. Paul *** Paul Zarembka, using OS/2 and supporting RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka *** On Mon, 1 Dec 1997, Ajit Sinha wrote: Hi ! Everybody, LITTLE JESSICA MYDEK IS SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IS SUFFERING FROM AN ACUTE AND VERY RARE CASE OF CEREBRAL CARCINOMA. THIS CONDITION CAUSES SEVERE MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS AND IS A TERMINAL ILLNESS. THE DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN HER SIX MONTHS TO LIVE. AS PART OF HER DYING WISH, SHE WANTED TO START A CHAIN LETTER TO INFORM PEOPLE OF THIS CONDITION AND TO SEND PEOPLE THE MESSAGE TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT, A CHANCE THAT SHE WILL NEVER HAVE. FURTHERMORE, THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AND SEVERAL CORPORATE SPONSORS HAVE AGREED TO DONATE THREE CENTS TOWARD CONTINUING CANCER RESEARCH FOR EVERY NEW PERSON THAT GETS FORWARDED THIS MESSAGE. PLEASE GIVE JESSICA AND ALL CANCER VICTIMS A CHANCE. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, SEND THEM TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY AT [EMAIL PROTECTED] For every new person you forward this to, the American Cancer Society will donate three cents toward cancer research. Just make the first address [EMAIL PROTECTED], and then list as many friends and colleagues as you can. It's for a good cause, so please don't just delete it. Thank you. JSR
Re: Objective truth
Ken, I cannot say I know what you are talking about. But one item struck me: ...There are oodles of non-trivial true statements. "I am now composing a message re "truth"", "Some people can see. Some are blind." "Ottawa is the capital of Canada." Ottawa is the capital of Canada? On what BASIS do you make that assertion? I say it is Washington, D.C. Now what? Paul
Re: Truth?
On Mon, 13 Oct 1997, Ajit Sinha wrote: I think 'historical materialism' can be read as an implicit critique of the notion of 'absolute' or 'objective' truth. On what BASIS are you claiming that 'historical materialism' is an implicit critique of notions of 'absolute' or 'objective' truth? I think Althusser's position is much better on this issue. There is always an unbridgable gap between the 'real' and the 'object of knowledge'. Since we can have the 'knowledge' of only the 'object of knowledge', all truth claims of the 'knowledge' has meaning only within the context of the theoretical object only. How do I EVALUATE your claim the Althusser's position is better than (or even different from) Lenin's position? In fact (or am I not permitted to use the word 'fact'?), and not trying to be nasty, what criteria do you offer to ask any of us to pay any attention to you or to what anyone else says about anything? Jesus Christ, Great Buddha, help me out of this one! Great Charlie Marx, tell me how to EVALUATE your "Theses on Feuerbach"! I am so alone in my own headspace (do I have a headspace?) Paul Zarembka
[PEN-L:12431] Re: slurs
I have had a lot of heated exchanges with Ajit over the years and yet we are still good friends and Ajit is VERY capable of laughing at himself in the middle of a fierce discussion! I could say that I have joined the Indian cultural space Ajit refers to, except that that space is also shared by many European experiences I have had so I am not sure it is "West" versus "East". Paul ***** Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka and using OS/2 Warp. * On Wed, 17 Sep 1997, Ajit Sinha wrote: Let me add one thing here. The problem here could be cultural as well. I hope I'm not condemning all Indians of impolitness, but it is true that Indians argue among friends with a lot of passion and not much concern for politness. But heated philosophical and political arguments usually do not affect personal relationships and friendships. In West, I have noticed that people attach their ego a bit too closely with the ideas they are arguing for. So i need to be more sensitive about that. Cheers, ajit sinha
[PEN-L:10899] Visit of Amnesty head to Mumia Abu-Jamal (fwd)--URGENT
URGENT ATTENTION REQUIRED. P.Z. FORWARDED MESSAGE == Return-Path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997 16:35:03 -0400 From: Equal Justice USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] Organization: The Quixote Center To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: visit of Amnesty head to Mumia Abu-Jamal Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] URGENT ACTION: Write Amnesty International in support of the Secretary General's visit with Mumia Abu-Jamal Earlier this year, Amnesty International's Secretary General Pierre Sane planned to visit Mumia Abu-Jamal in prison. Unfortunately, conservative members of Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in Philadelphia blocked the visit. Among their reasons for opposing the visit: the death penalty is a human rights violation in this country and Mumia's case should not receive this attention because it would take away from other death-row prisoners. Based in London, Pierre Sane of Senegal is the first Black person to head Amnesty International world-wide. The visit was originally proposed to Mr. Sane by an anti-death penalty activist and long-time friend of Mumia who worked as a consultant for Amnesty. Mr. Sane was immediately enthusiastic about the idea. Time magazine (6/16/97) acknowledged Mumia's case is "not atypical." It provides a microcosm of the racial, economic and political biases structurally embedded in our criminal justice system. His trial (and appellate) judge, Albert Sabo, is responsible for more than twice as many death row sentences than any judge in the country. Mumia was sentenced in Philadelphia, where over 60% of those sentenced to death are African American. He is held at Pennsylvania's super-maximum security prison, where he spends 22 hours a day alone in his cell and is punished for publishing his writings. Mumia's case is riveting world-wide attention to the injustice of the U. S. death penalty. His book, "Live from Death Row," and his radio commentaries give public voice to more than 3,000 men and women now on death row in the U.S. Amnesty International USA is now re-examining its decision to block Mr. Sane's visit. Feedback is being solicited from Amnesty members and staff about Mr. Sane's possible visit to Mumia. A copy of their memo follows. Tell Amnesty that you support Secretary General Pierre Sane's visit because it would demonstrate Amnesty International's public commitment to fighting the death penalty in the U.S. The international support movement for Mumia has served to focus public criticism of capital punishment. Be sure to indicate in your letter if you are a member of Amnesty. Feedback must be sent by Friday, June 20. Send your messages to: Gerald Lemelle, Deputy Executive Director for Action AIUSA, [EMAIL PROTECTED], 212-627-1451 (fax) Phyllis Pautrat, Member of the Board of Directors of AIUSA, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Send a copy of your message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] or [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:10828] *FALSE AND DANGEROUS REPORT OF DEATH WARRANT SIGNED FOR MUMIA (fwd)
FORWARDED MESSAGE = Return-Path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, 14 Jun 1997 21:48:36 -0400 (EDT) Subject: FALSE AND DANGEROUS REPORT OF DEATH WARRANT SIGNED FOR MUMIA ALERT ALERT ALERT The following e-mail has been circulating. THIS IS A FALSE RUMOR AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHO STARTED IT. BUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO MUMIA! No warrant has been signed. Whoever is starting this rumor is not helping Mumia's case and needs to stop. If you get any of this message please repond and tell the sender that this is a FALSE AND DANGEROUS RUMOR. From: Anna Weekes [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Stop press! Stop press! Mumia Abu Jamal sentenced to die in 2 months time! Stop press! Stop press! Date: Saturday, June 14, 1997 01:22 Mumia Abu-Jamal's death warrant has been signed! He is sentenced to die at 10pm on the 17th of August 1997. Mumia, who has been on Death Row for 15 years, had his execution stayed two years ago. Now Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Ridge, has said that he will die on the same day as his executionwould have taken place two years ago. Please comrades, let's get a campaign going quickly on this one! Let'sstop the fascist American government from murdering this writer and freedom fighter! P.S. I realise that many of you will know this already. If anyone outthere has an e-mail address where we can lodge our protests once more, please send it to me! Thanks!
[PEN-L:10595] Re: French elections
Ajit, I think you missed at least my point: The Socialists get elected, and they perform far below expectations (but yes some people are concretely aided), that sets up a reaction which (given the dominant parties) is to the right and more right than before the first Mitterand election. In the United States, Richard Nixon was more left than Clinton is today. Why? Because Nixon had more left pressure, Carter was a disappointment, which led to Reagan/Bush who shifted to right and led to disappointment, which led to Clinton, etc. In my own state of New York, we are in the "right" phase, with disappointment over Democratic Governor Cuomo leading to Republican Governor Pataki, more right than Governor Rockefellar. In Ontario, Canada, disappointment over the NDP led to overwhelming victory of the current right-wing administration, the most right-wing in recent memory. In other words, we need to take a long view of politics, see the trends, fight against the current (the current is almost always against the workers), while recognizing the type of point you are making. There is an element of good cop--bad cop going on you seem to miss. The signal about the UK/French elections is to analyze what opportunites are being opened up for genuine working class politics. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Thu, 5 Jun 1997, Ajit Sinha wrote: At 07:40 AM 6/5/97 -0700, you wrote: Michael, I remember the first Mitterand/Socialist victory and the cheering in the streets. We all know now what followed! I think your point is a very valuable everywhere, including in the United States when people think voting Democratic is progressive. Paul __ But Paul and Michael, I think such political changes do make inormous difference in many people's life. For example, in France there is a good chance that the so-called "people without papers" will be able to stay and not deported. Moreover, the change in the citizenship law may also be reverted. Another example from Australia: here after the Liberals (which means conservatives in Australia) won a land slide victory, the whole environment has significantly changed against the migrants and minorities--you can experience it everyday in the streets. Now it has become almost impossible for a migrant worker to bring his or her family. Even Australian citizens marrying foreigners are simply unable to be united with their wifes or husbands. The case of the aborigines is, of course, now known world wide. They have been the biggest losers because of this political change. I think social politics do matter, and we need to remain conscious of it all the time. Cheers, ajit sinha ***** Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Wed, 4 Jun 1997, Michael Perelman wrote: The French elections were a tragedy. From what I understand, the left comes in without a program. Please correct me if I am wrong. They will offer a kindler, gentler neo-liberalism, something like Giscard. The people will become disgusted, giving more credibility to the right. It is sad that we are in such a mess as to look to a disaster in the making like this as a ray of hope. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 916-898-5321 E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:10542] Re: French elections
Michael, I remember the first Mitterand/Socialist victory and the cheering in the streets. We all know now what followed! I think your point is a very valuable everywhere, including in the United States when people think voting Democratic is progressive. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Wed, 4 Jun 1997, Michael Perelman wrote: The French elections were a tragedy. From what I understand, the left comes in without a program. Please correct me if I am wrong. They will offer a kindler, gentler neo-liberalism, something like Giscard. The people will become disgusted, giving more credibility to the right. It is sad that we are in such a mess as to look to a disaster in the making like this as a ray of hope. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 916-898-5321 E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[PEN-L:9748] Re: FW: April 30 In U.S. College History
Very fine remember, Roger, and will read your entire text for my class which begins in one hour. There is no question that April 30 was a watershed. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Wed, 30 Apr 1997, Bove, Roger E. wrote: -- Bulletin Board: Message Board Message Subject: April 30 In U.S. College History Posted By: MCKIERNAN, STEVE Message Number: 23-1 Let us never forget what April 30 means in the history of higher education. During these times when history is forgotten or seems to have little impact, if known, on today's youth, let us not forget that on April 30, 1970, President Nixon announced to the American public that the Cambodian invasion was in process. This announcement led to an increase in massive protest on college campuses which led directly to student deaths on May 4 at Kent State and several days later at Jackson State. We must never forget those six students who died on American soil. We must never forget what led to their deaths, and we must always remember that these deaths were the result of strong divisions in a society , divisions that are still strong today, but for different reasons. No, I am not lost in a time warp, but we often overlook important dates in higher education. Yes, it is nice to remember the good times, which is most times, but college students should know that what happened at Tiananmen Square in 1989 did indeed happen on American soil only nineteen years earlier. As an administrator, I always remember this date along with May 4 in my memories of life in higher education. All college students should know these six student names not because of the tragedy, but because of the lessens learned from this tragedy. In this era when civility and community is a goal within most university environments, let us make sure that people like Sandy Scheuer (one of the slain students at Kent State) are not our own students due to lack of communication or divisions within our midst. Remember, the divisions at that time were obvious. They are more subtle today, and, this is more dangerous. What happened at Kent State and Jackson State were the result of poor communication between administration/students/elected officials/public safety/police and the public at large. Though this event seems lost in time, it should be remembered by all universities for the lessons learned. The lesson learned is division can lead to violence where communication is lost. Maybe someday universities will pay tribute to the six students who died twenty-seven years ago in remembrance of their lost potential, lost hopes, lost dreams and lost opportunities to be positive change agents in society. In my own small way, I wanted to remember them on April 30 because what happened on this day led to their deaths in the days that followed. We must always remember how precious all student lives are, especially in linkage with this important date in the history of higher education, and, in fact, the history of this nation. Remember, these students may have been fathers and mothers. And, their children would be college students today. And with each student we have the potential to witness positive change agents for the betterment of the society and the world at large. I hope millions of boomers are remembering these six deaths in 1970, and that this tragedy has been shared with their sons and daughters, the college students of today.
[PEN-L:9655] Re: Addition on Peru
On Fri, 25 Apr 1997, Louis Proyect wrote: ... Over here on PEN-L we have Paul Zarembka forwarding the thoughts of some "progressive U.S. social scientist" in favor of peaceful political organization. Peru has had such types of peaceful political intiatives for the better part of fifty years, but the mostly poor indigenous population continues to suffer. I am not surprise that Zaremka decided to make this sort of political intervention on PEN-L than over on the Spoons Marxism lists where there is much more support for revolutionary armed struggle. When I forwarded my "addition" it was after my contact suggested it. I respect this person--who has lived, studied and worked in Peru for years and loves the country and its people. I don't avoid forwarding comments on issues I may not fully know my own position or may disagree in part. ... Whatever revolutionary vanguard emerges in Peru, there are two obvious facts that are unavoidable. One, the vanguard will emerge out of an armed struggle since elections in Peru are only a means of maintaining the status quo. Two, the peasant masses will make up the rank and file of such a party. This is one of the reasons that the Communist Party of Peru has been such a formidable obstacle to capitalist rule over the past decade. Despite its repressive tendencies, it has found a way to articulate the deeply felt resentments of the descendants of the Incas. The so-called "Shining Path" will never be able to overthrow Peruvian capitalism since it lacks a clear understanding of how to reach the urban working-class. However, to give credit where credit is due, the PCP and MRTA are doing more to liberate Peru than any "progressive social scientist" can ever hope to. This issue cannot be reduced to bombs versus elections. There can be non-electoral mass mobilizations--there are too many examples to list, but start with Brazilian dock workers this month. Also, non-electoral mass mobilizations may end up in violence. The February/October 1917 Russian Revolutions began, not with guns and bombs, but with a strike of predominately women workers. Your last sentence is an insult to my friend and you have absolutely no basis to judge her/him. I will also say that s/he lived the recent drama in Peru in a far more direct and personal way than almost anyone on this list and that gives her/his voice a meaning. Paul Zarembka
[PEN-L:9651] Addition on Peru
My contact in Lima offers the following commentary on the MRTA in Lima: "I think in general, revolutionaries should be treated as such. I am very sad they all died. But these people took their action very seriously, they were prepared to kill both hostages and military. They knew what they were getting into and were prepared to die (they, better than anyone, knew the Peruvian military would leave no one alive). If one wants to honor them, they should be honored as fighters which is what they were. For my part, I think there could have been a peaceful solution with more innovative negotiation tactics and especially if an offer to find a peaceful solution to armed struggle in Peru would have been proferred. I also think armed struggle is completely counterproductive in Peru. The MRTA cannot win but they can provoke more repression from which the rest of the population will suffer. No one needs this. They cannot win because they will never get the support of the peasants/indigenous people from the Andes who will not follow their leadership nor their ideology. Peruvian peasant communities are very well organized (community by community, that is) and are unconvinced by the arguments of all those Leftists who have always come with promises and left - in the case of revolutionaries - death and suffering in their wake. This is why the MRTA is not in the mountains but the jungle where there are no peasant communities, for the most part. There is a great deal to be done in Peru but peaceful political organization is much more likely to be effective than violence. But what is needed is peaceful organization which is not guided blindly by ideology but includes a real understanding and respect for Peruvian popular sectors and what they really want now. Peru is not the country for messianic marxists, possessors of the truth and unwilling to listen to those they allegedly are trying to help." --from a progressive U.S. social scientist residing in Peru.
[PEN-L:9628] Re: Peru
Jim, I have some info direct from Peru, but have deleted the name and identifying info. Paul Z. -- Something was about to happen, but no one expected that this would happen today What I have heard since has changed a number of my opinions on the hostage crisis. According to the Bolivian ambassador (a very credible source), the MRTA had been practicing for a military attack with the hostages. The MRTistas put on dynamite and held grenades planning to die and take the hostages with them. This did not happen because most of the MRTistas were playing "fulbito" on top of a tunnel entrance which was blown up at the beginning of the attack, killing everyone above. Obviously, the MRTA's error in not expecting a daytime attack was key in making this operation possible. Furthermore, according to the ambassador and to leftist congressman Diez Canseco, the MRTista leaders really did have a very poor capacity for negotiations and didn't understand their position nor how to make further political capital out of their action. This doesn't entirely absolve the government for not trying harder to negotiate but it does indicate how hard it would have been to negotiate with them with the best of intentions. By the way, the rank and file MRTistas in the embassy were really just kids who apparently knew very little about the world outside the jungle where they had lived all their young lives. In military terms, this operation was -- without doubt -- a great military success. Worldwide, military experts expect a 30% loss of hostage lives in this type of operation. Fujimori took time to thank the Intelligence Service for its fine work thus improving Montesinos' position once more. The armed forces are equally bouyed up with Gen. Hermosa at the head. What will happen now is unclear. Certainly Fujimori will be able to make political capital out of these events. The question is for how long and whether the repression against the press and other sectors will now increase. At any rate, thank goodness all but one hostage are safe and sound. Let's hope their luck doesn't result in the suffering of others now that Fujimori is strengthened again. One final note: Fujimori shook hands with the hostages as they got unto a bus, the majority (all govt members because the Japanese had left earlier) did not seem enchanted to see him... * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Wed, 23 Apr 1997, James Devine wrote: does anyone on pen-l have any special information about the government raid on the Japanese ambassador's mansion (ending the hostage sitation)? it seems very suspicious that ALL of the hostage-takers were killed. It sure sounds like some of the hostage-takers were killed after they were taken prisoner ... in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
[PEN-L:9433] Re: text book hell
If it is possible for a Marxist Economic theory class, Robin, then I'd like to see the table of contents. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Thu, 10 Apr 1997, Robin Hahnel wrote: For next fall South End Press will have an introduction to political economy book -- not exactly text, but it does have some problems, ex- cercises, etc. -- intended for an intro audience -- i.e. no prior economics is assumed. I wrote it [sorry for the self-promo -- not to be confused with pomo] and the title is still up in the air. ABCs of Political Economy is the going title at SEP. I'd be happy to communicate about contents if you're interested.
[PEN-L:9411] [OPE-L:4679] Where is it? in Marx's Work(s) (fwd)
John, go to the Web site in my signature below and the link to Capital Vol. 1 is highlighted so just click on it. Any search can be only for a specific work or for all works in the library. If you have troubles, let me know. Paul Z. * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * From: John Ernst [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OPE-L:4679] Where is it? in Marx's Work(s) A friend asked me for a reference to Marx's statements about one trading one's "birthright(s) for a mass of potage." Anyone know? Thanks, John P.S. to Paul Z. --- Where is the web site that contains all of V1 of CAPITAL?
[PEN-L:9370] Re: Tilting at Windmills
Gil, I decided to give it a try. 7 matches to Quixote from 6 documents surfaced. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Mon, 7 Apr 1997, Paul Zarembka wrote: Gil, The quickest way to find out exactly is through a Web search on the Marxism archives (which searches all of their documents of Marx's writings). The site address/link is on the R.P.E. homepage below. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Mon, 7 Apr 1997, Gil Skillman wrote: On behalf of a student, a question for anyone whose memory of Marx's writings is either more comprehensive or more idiosyncratic than mine: where does Marx make reference to Cervantes's character Don Quixote? Thanks in advance, Gil Skillman
[PEN-L:8856] URGENT!!!!!NEWS ON MUMIA ABU-JAMAL (fwd)
I haven't seen as much followup on this as I would expect. Anyone know more. There is a Mumia Website but I don't recall the address. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * -- Forwarded message -- Date: Tue, 04 Mar 1997 15:48:28 MET From: Jason Schulman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Newsgroups: soc.politics.marxism Subject: URGENT!NEWS ON MUMIA ABU-JAMAL Things are looking VERY BAD for Mumia Abu-Jamal. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today turned down oral arguments by Mumia's defense. It is fairly obvious that the Court sides with Judge Albert Sabo and plans to deny Mumia a new trial. A new death warrant will therefore be signed, and there is no guarantee that another stay of execution will be obtained. The only way to save Mumia's life is for people to be ready to come to Philadelphia at a moment's notice. Demonstrations saved his life before, they can do so again. I beg, urge and plead to you all to contact others and charter busses to go to Philadelphia. If needed I can provide you with background information on Mumia's plight. Make no mistake -- if Mumia is executed, it is a POLITICAL KILLING -- if he dies, it is not over whether he killed Officer Daniel Faulkner or not, it is because he is an eloquent and effective black revolutionary and MOVE supporter. None of us on the Left are safe if the state of PA murders him. Contacts: Philadelphia: Int'l Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia: 215-476-8812 / 203-847-6721 Pittsburgh: Western PA Committee to Free Mumia: 412-361-2889 Ann Arbor, MI: Emergency CARE: 313-913-9538 Atlanta: Malcolm X Center: 404-288-9880 Baltimore: Committee to Free Mumia: 410-243-6820 Bronx: Campaign to Free Black Political Prisoners: 718-624-0800 Chicago: Chicago Area Network to Free Mumia: 312-202-7067 or 312-278-6706 Detroit: Coalition to Stop the Execution of Mumia: 313-275-8979 Greensboro: Committee to Save Mumia: 910-852-5192 Honolulu: Committee to Stop the Execution of Mumia: 808-576-4430 Jersey City: Art Writings Against the Death Penalty: 201-435-3244 Los Angeles: LA Mumia Info Network: 213-980-7889 Madison, WI: Let Mumia Live!: 608-255-1667 Minneapolis/St. Paul: Twin Cities Coalition to Defend Mumia: 612-649-4579 New York: Free Mumia Coalition: 212-330-8029 San Francisco: Bay Area Network for Mumia: 415-648-4505 Washington DC: DC Coalition to Free Mumia: 202-973-2177 Princeton, NJ: Academics for Mumia: 202-973-2177 -- Jason Schulman International Concerned Friends and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal 860-236-6983
[PEN-L:8602] Re: musings on AOL...
I've had Compuserve for years. I don't understand the comment below, even though I'm not promoting any private business. It's somewhat similar to Microsoft Windows. Microsoft tries to create a monopoly culture so that you "forget" about competitive, often technologically superior alternatives. Paul * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka, and using OS/2 Warp. * On Thu, 13 Feb 1997, Thad Williamson wrote: I wonder if others, like myself, have been reading the various negative reports about American Online with some amusement (see NY Times, business page today, p.1 for example). I find myself actively rooting for AOL to struggle and maybe even go under (their assets-liabilities picture has drastically deteriorated over past year, according to the Times, even before paying out any of the refunds.) That might scare the Wall Streeters off the internet for a while and forestall corporate/commercial dominance of cyberspace for a few years. On the other hand, there does need to be some internet access available for folks not connected via academia or otherwise. The main alternatives to the AOLs would be for states and localities to directly offer access, either as a state-owned enterprise or simply as a public service (which Maryland does already on a small scale)...
[PEN-L:7397] RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site enhancements.
The R.P.E. Web site now includes tables of contents for all issues and more links to other relevant sites. Further suggestions are welcome. Thanks, Paul Z. * Paul Zarembka, supporting the RESEARCH IN POLITICAL ECONOMY Web site at http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka *
[PEN-L:7340] Re: Is competition the heart of capitalism?
Ajit, It is of course the case that commodity production has inherently a competitive aspect to it. I can buy bananas or table lamps and so there is "competition" between the manufacturers of these two products. But when we use the term competition, if I am not mistaken, we mean to add something ADDITIONAL into the conceptual understanding. So, I need to ask you, what ADDITIONAL understanding of the capitalist mode of production do you find when you include the word "competition" over and above "commodity production"? I think there is something to be added, but at lower level of abstraction, and therefore the reason why Marx really doesn't spend much of Capital, Volume I, on competition. Paul Z. On Thu, 7 Nov 1996, Ajit Sinha wrote: Regarding the law of value you seem pretty close to equating competition with commodity production itself. Am I correct? Paul Z. This is a curved ball, and I don't know whether i can do justice to the question in the hurry I'm right now. But let me try. In capitalism, as long as there is commodity production, competition will be an aspect of it. In a simple commodity production system, a mobility of labor from one branch to another must be assumed for the law of value to operate. It may not be called competition but it performs the same purpose. But what about "commodity production" in societies were occupations are more rigid--like traditional Hindu caste society? Here we will have some problem. My first impulse is to not think of production in such division of labor situation as "commodity production". Cheers, ajit sinha
