Market freedoms

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

At 09:01 PM 4/23/01 -0700, Ian quoted:
>George Monbiot
>Tuesday April 24, 2001
>The Guardian
>
>
>This means that in some respects the state will have to become not weaker
- as both
>the anarchists and the neoliberals insist - but stronger. It must be
empowered to
>force both producers and consumers to carry their own costs, rather than
dumping them
>on to other people or the environment. It must be allowed to distinguish
between the
>protection of workers, consumers and the ecosystem and trade protectionism.
>

An interesting thought, but what would be the material basis for such a
strong state and international law?  Certainly corporate powers will not
succumb to a piece of paper with no enforcement capacity behind it.  

In the past, state grew strong as a result of wars.  But in the absence of
a major war (local conflicts that corporate poweres can pursue by hiring
mercenary armies doe not count) the state is bound to become weaker and
depenent on corporate dictate.  Moreover, which state is to be the guardian
and the enforcer of the international law? The US? - No thanks.  The
toothless UN?

wojtek