make-work (was Re: pre-Keynesian)

[Forstater, Mathew]

Kelley's post (and the posts to which it replies) reinforces my feeling
that we are all--even critics of the status quo--much more programmed
than we realize and that social transformation will require 'personal'
transformation of some types.  take the make-work topic for example.
even harsh critics of capitalism fall into the trap of idealizing market
activity and the idea of market acitivity as privileged or 'valuable.'
what i mean is, we call government jobs 'make-work' without a mention of
how many market jobs are make-work (or worse!). and kelley is right to
mention all the 'other stuff' that happens n work situations--the
interactions with others that, however mundane or whatever--do give
meaning to our lives. i can't see how we can possibly imagine a
post-capitalist society without addressing how messed up we are from
years and generations of alienation, etc. one may argue that under a
socialist society, human beings will be in a world conducive to
de-alienation, but talk about 'transitions' that will have to be
made--we have to really confront the difficulties of making those kind
of adjustnments. imean, could you imagine if 'we' were suddenly in
charge, starting tomorrow morning. not an easy move.


>i don't think any of us are old dogs afraid of freedom. it's much too 
>complicated for that.