From: Seth Ackerman <SAckerman at FAIR.org> Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 13:39:54 -0500
Brad DeLong wrote:
> > Chomsky seemed to think that the Marshall Plan entailed no net
> > transfer of resources from America to Europe. The counterfactual
> > appeared to be a scenario in which European governments seized
> > American property of their nationals and used that to finance dollar
> > imports instead...
> > Brad DeLong
>
Actually, the more likely counterfactual would be a scenario where the Americans gave Europe a grant of gold or other store of value, which the Europeans used to finance dollar imports. The way the Marshall Plan is taught to schoolchildren -- "the most unselfish act in history" -- some people probably believe this.
Brad, what's so terrible about Chomsky's pointing out the Marshall Planners' capitalistic self-interest?
Seth