>Boris Kagarlitsky (Russian sociologist) came to Berkeley a few weeks
>ago and talked about this and other issues at length to various
>groups. He said he believed the proposed "19th century" labor laws
>were put forward to be knocked down...to make other less draconian
>measures look attractive by comparison.
>
>But, probably, the best thing to do is to get in touch with him. I
>was very impressed with him -- with his activism and his
>intelligence/common sense and his commitment to a socialist program.
>I don't know his email address, but he does write a weekly column
>for the Moscow times: www.themoscowtimes.com, so you could try him
>there.