The nature of anarchism (Lefty Despair etc.)

[clifford_staples at und.nodak.edu]

> It doesn't play out there at all. Expecting it to stems from getting
> levels of abstraction mixed. Theory (e.g. the Marxist theory of
> exploitation and of capitalist contradiction) provides a framework for
> thougt but it won't do your thinking for you.
> 
> This is  important. There is a huge literature, for example, arguing
> over whether one should "privilege" class or race or gender, or 
> how one
> should "combine" class analysis and gender analysis, etc., but class
> operates at a wholly different level of abstraction from race and
> gender, and the debate is utterly futile.
> 
> Carrol

Well, I certainly am relieved.  I was beginning to despair at the thought of going through the rest of my life without hearing the One True Way of thinking about such matters.  Now I can rest easy.  Clearly you've done all the thinking anyone need do, so I'll just sit back and bask in the glow of your wisdom.

Asshole.

----- Original Message -----
From: Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu>
Date: Saturday, September 28, 2002 11:32 pm
Subject: Re: The nature of anarchism (Lefty Despair etc.)


> 
> 
> Cliff Staples wrote:
> > 
> > >
> > > 
> > Because I am currently doing some work on the "problem of
> > exploitation," and because you ground your politics so 
> profoundly in
> > class, I would be interested in hearing how you theorize class, 
> class> antagonism, etc.  Do you subscribe to some version of 
> Marx's view of
> > exploitation- defined as the expropriation of surplus value?  I do,
> > but I have only just begun trying to figure out how that all 
> plays out
> > down at the local Denny's.
> > 
> 
> 
>