GM for AA

Michael Perelman michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
Wed Jul 19 07:36:34 PDT 2000


Doug, I believe that it is similar to Kalecki's political business cycle. It has to do with the specific stage of the economy. When there is a lot of unemployment, fight AA, cause dissention, and blame the minorities. When the job market is tight, go for AA.

Carrol Cox wrote:


> Doug Henwood wrote:
>
> > [What does this do to the theory that racism is essential to US capitalism?]
>
> I wouldn't have the slightest idea unless someone spelled which of the 15 or so
> "theories" of the role of racism in u.s. capitalism. What theory do you have in
> mind.
>
> My theories (I shift from time to time on it) have ususally included two quite
> independent parts:
>
> 1) A theory as to the inherent necessity in capitalism for some such set of
> relations as "race" manifests. (I tend to say no: no inherent necessity in
> principle, but I don't know).
>
> 2) A theory, or rather a jumble of overlapping theories needing clarification,
> as to whether, *given* the history of slavery and black oppression in the U.S. it
> is, in practice, possible to eliminate that oppression "inside capitalism." I tend
> to say no, but arguments to the contrary would be interesting.
>
> It seems to me you have asked a question about as sensible as the following:
>
> Jack Jones has increased his annual consumption of blueberries by 1.37 percent.
> What does that say about the theory of the place of packaged-fruit consumption in
> western culture?
>
> Carrol

-- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu



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