[lbo-talk] Pathological Fear of Dependency, was Re: NewImperialism?

[T Fast]

>
> I don't see how you can have a hierarchy without gradations in power.
>
> What's the strong claim and what's the weak claim? I guess I'd say we'll 
> probably always have some degree of exploitation and oppression, but I 
> think we could have a lot less than we do now. Is that strong or weak?
>
> Doug

The strong claim would be that hierarchy and power = domination and 
exploitation.

Now this list has a hierarchy and it is held together through the exercise 
of your power to stop over-posting, what you deem to be abusive language, 
etc.  But from these stylized facts it does not flow that you are in any 
meaningful way dominating or exploiting list members.  So the weak claim 
would be that hierarchy and power are integral to effective organization but 
that need not entail the domination and exploitation of subordinates within 
that hierarchy.