Henry C.K. Liu
"We should pay close attention to the well-being of the masses, from the problems of land and labour to those of fuel, rice, cooking oil and salt. . . . All such problems concerning the well-being of the masses should be placed on our agenda. We should discuss them, adopt and carry out decisions and check up on the results. We should help the masses to realize that we represent their interests, that our lives are intimately bound up with theirs. We should help them to proceed from these things to an understanding of the higher tasks which we have put forward, the tasks of the revolutionary war, so that they will support the revolution and spread it throughout the country, respond to our political appeals and fight to the end for victory in the revolution."
Mao Zedong, "Be Concerned with the Well-Being of the Masses, Pay Attention to Methods of Work" (January 27, 1934), Selected Works, Vol. I, p. 149.*
Michael Perelman wrote:
> I agree 100% with what Brad says below. When do we start with such a system?
> I am all for doing away with the corporate press [or at least having a viable
> alternative] and the sham 2 [corporate] party political system.
>
> Brad De Long wrote:
>
> > If there is one lesson, I think it is the absolute priority of a free press
> > and political democracy.
>
> One of the problems with revolutionary regimes is that they generally come into
> power under uncredible pressures, usually under enormous pressure from civil
> wars and/or foreign threat. They also lack resources to carry out their
> program.
>
> Lenin called for the Soviet Union to learn from the best of bourgeois society;
> Yeltsin, the worst.
> --
>
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
> Chico, CA 95929
> 530-898-5321
> fax 530-898-5901