[lbo-talk] rethinking marxism, this time seriously

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

I think that rethinking Marxism should start with rethinking the conference
logistics itself - to make it accessible to "the masses."  Amherst might be
a quaint lovely town, but there is no place to stay there.  This is a result
of a simple market principle that even Marxists should understand: excess of
demand over supply.

Hotels.com and Travelocity come up with hotels within the 30 or mile radius,
but they all have a problem - transportation.  To get from, say, Springfield
to Amherst one needs a car.  For me, this means driving all the way from
Baltimore - about 7 hours behind the wheel - instead of taking the Amtrak,
which has a direct connection.

I wonder what was the thinking (if any) behind organizing a Marxist
conference in a little Podunk hosting an elite college, instead of a place
to which wage earning grunts can actually get and stay, or better yet, live
there (like NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Detroit).  Is not it indicative
of where the Marxist thought is nowadays?

In any case, I do not think that rethinking Marxism in person is worth the
horrors of a 7-hour drive, and then another 30 or so mile car commute.  I
shop on line to avoid driving to the burbs, so I'll pass this one too.

Wojtek