>is it arguing over the meaning of words (in this case, "class") worth
>any time?
For socialists, certainly. Class analysis is fundamental not only to understanding social problems and devising solutions, but also to showing us what strategies might be successful in achieving solutions. So class analysis is the indispensable foundation for all other socialist analysis, organisation and action.
> I thought that Wright's formulation that the "new middle
>layers" were in a contradictory class location made a lot of sense and
>got us away from arguing over meanings.
"Wright's formulation", as you express it, doesn't make any sense to me. But why would you particularly think it was a good thing to get us away from debating class?
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas