To the extent that Scandinavian social democracy is a variety of Keynesianism (which can be disputed), then, as Louis Proyect so helpfully pointed out, one must have a strong working class movement to put in place. Thus there can be "Keynesian organizing" (if you will) that is strictly revisionist "Third Way."
Indeed the Swedes in particular used to be very proud of calling themselves the Third Way. Of course as Doug H. has noted more than once, the collapse of the Soviet model has since undermined severely the Scandinavian social democracies, especially that of Sweden. The Swedes like being "middle way" and are uncomfortable defining the global extreme. All part of the right-wing salami tactics that has led us to Clinton/Blair/Prodi/Schroeder et al. Barkley Rosser On Tue, 22 Sep 1998 15:44:39 -0400 Charles Brown <CharlesB at CNCL.ci.detroit.mi.us> wrote:
> Micheal,
>
> This is from a few days ago, but
> I hope you don't mind taking it up
> again.
>
> I don't
> think it is on Louis and us Marxists to come
> up with ways to get the working class moving
> more than it is on "Keynesians".
>
> With due respect to Michael, what are your
> answers to your own questions ? What does
> Keynesian analysis add to the questions of
> organizing the working class ? Do Keynesians
> have a different plan FOR REVOLUTION ?
>
> In other words, Keynesians do not win
> this dispute with Marxists by saying the
> working class movement is not going right
> now, we don't see revolution, so it's
> ok for us to just keep discussing reforms
> of capitalism. The low ebb of Marxists
> organizing actual workers movements does
> not redound to the credit of Keynesians in
> this dispute, because, as far as I know,
> Keynesians are not organizing and haven't
> organized workers for revolution. They don't
> propose revolution as a solution to capitalism.
>
> In this argument, are the Left Keynesians
> for revolution or not ? They have to answer
> that question first. If they say , no, then
> Louis Pro and us Marxists rest our case.
> Keynesianism has no revolutionary wing.
> If they answer yes, they are for rev, then
> they have as much obligation as Marxists
> for the lack of what is to be done being
> done right now. Furthermore, what are you
> proposing as better than Louis' "rhetoric" ?
>
>
> Charles Brown
> Detroit
>
> Workers of the West , it's our turn.
>
> >>> Michael Cohen <mike at cns.bu.edu> 09/18 7:18 PM >>>
> Louis Proyect wrote:
>
> > Once again Chris Burford, while invoking Marxism, proposes Keynsian
> > solutions. The "progressive" solution is not to increase the purchasing
> > power of the masses, but to expropriate the capitalist class. Chris Buford
> > thinks that "generous unemployment benefits" are some kind of answer.
> > Speaking for myself, I received the most generous unemployment benefits
> > that any wage worker could receive after I lost a consulting position with
> > Kidder-Peabody, a gang of thieves on Wall Street. I had to borrow $5000
> > from my retirement funds to pay my rent. No, the answer is to lay off the
> > ruling class, not plead for higher unemployment benefits for the people who
> > create the wealth of society.
>
> Louis, the rhetoric is terrific but you got much of it from the horses
> mouth.Now whats the plan. I myself think that the current world would be a
> better
> place if the working classes in Indonesia, Russia, and South Korea siezed
> control
> of closed down factories and started producing for their own benefit. This
> also
> would make Burford's economy remedies more likely. Now how do you
> plan to accomplish this now? What are the most hard hit workers doing?
> Can the West provide any support Whatsoever? Is there any simple way
> to aid their strike efforts. Is any of the proletariat which is the bulk of
> the
> citizens in Russia able to take control of the Russian Factories.
>
> Is the layoff rate in Japan sufficiently high (I doubt it) that such moves
> would
> be possible there? "Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but
> your chains" sounds terriffic to me. As a slogan this is terrific, now how do
> you
> propose turning the gravy into meat and potatoes.
> --mike
>
>
>
> --
> Michael Cohen mike at cns.bu.edu
> Associate Professor, Center for Adaptive Systems
> Work: 677 Beacon, Street, Rm313 Boston, Mass 02115
> Home: 25 Stearns Rd, #3 Brookline, Mass 02146
> Tel-Work: 617-353-9484
> Tel-Home:617-734-8828
> Tel-FAX:617-353-7755
>
>
>
-- Rosser Jr, John Barkley rosserjb at jmu.edu