[lbo-talk] Ruling class

[Charles Brown]

In general, don't ruling classes rule by being more conscious of their class
interests (or at least an executive sector of the class is so conscious)
than the classes that they rule ?  There has to be a high level of class
consciousness in the effective active sector of that class in order for the
system to persist. 

On the other hand, perhaps this class consciousness need only be at a high
level when there is a crisis or challenge to ruling. In other words, it is
when the ruled class' consciousness is high that the ruling class'
consciousness must be very high.

"I'm not sure we have one now - 
and in part because they're too focused on accumulating capital to 
worry about the conditions of their own reproduction."

Plus, at least in the U.S., the working class is in even more disarray and a
state of lacking consciousness than the ruling class. So the ruling class
consciousness of its battles with the working class doesn't have to be that
focussed.  Anything the ruling class does right now doesn't result in the
working class moving toward revolution.

CB