[lbo-talk] RE HOW THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT IS BLOWING IT:

[Michael Dawson -PSU]

Q: How does African poverty today contribute to
European and North American wealth?

Companion Q: How does G7 wealth contribute to African poverty?

African poverty ---> G7 wealth:
-- sales of African labor-power and other commodities to G7 at prices G7
sellers would never tolerate, if the roles were reversed
-- lack of African good examples helps ensure status quo in world order
-- lack of African economic growth and prosperity keeps the question of the
historical/ecological impossibility of perpetual capitalism off the agenda a
while longer:  If Africa stays poor, G7 elites can buy more time tricking
people into believing we live within a sustainable techno-economic order.
If Africa starts getting rich, this question eventually hits the agenda.
(Nod and wink to China...)

G7 wealth ---> African poverty
-- G7 powers refuse to acknowledge the importance of timing and early
"import substitution" policies in their own success; hence they deny that
these two factors are now even bigger factors in places like Africa.  Africa
must try to parlay itself into a billionaires' poker game that has already
been played.  Late starts and IMF-imposed export orientation cause Africa's
astounding and worsening socio-economic crisis.  There is no other game for
Africa to play.
-- There has been no reverse flow of grant aid to repair the damage done by
slavery and colonialism.