France: Strikes, Protests Mount vs. Austerity Measures

joanna bujes joanna.bujes at ebay.sun.com
Wed Nov 27 11:17:32 PST 2002


At 12:07 PM 11/27/2002 -0500, Woj wrote:
>- - meritocracy and irrelevance of social inheritance in the market place
>(equal opportunity)
>- - embracing technological progreess and innovation
>- - transcending national boundaries (aka "globalization")
>- - secularism
>
>In a word, "free market" espouses the very same ideals that
>"communism/socialism" did 60-80 years ago. It is a sad commentary on
>the state of the left and labor politics today - not only did they loose
>political power, but the battle for the "hearts and minds" as well.

Aw, Woj, no. First, meritocracy is a sham; it's just a buzz word for having the right connections. For examble, Dubya. For example, Manhattanites spending a million on bribes to get their kids in the right pre-schools.

"Technological progress and innovation" -- sounds nice, but it's bullshit. I've been working in the computer industry for twenty years and guess what, the best technology almost NEVER winds. Are GM foods part of that picture?

"Transcending national boundaries" -- yeah for capital.

"Secularism" -- some of that is good; some has more to do with not recongizing any higher principle than the "material comfort of deserving individuals" -- see point 1, meritocracy.

.... we need to get beyond buzzwords, to the underlying reality.

Joanna



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