[lbo-talk] Liberal Intellectuals and the Coordinator Class

Tayssir John Gabbour tayssir.john at googlemail.com
Thu Jul 12 10:49:24 PDT 2007


On 7/12/07, Bill Bartlett <billbartlett at aapt.net.au> wrote:
> I would be opposed to any kind of remuneration for work. That's what
> I mean by work being voluntary, one does it voluntarily, not because
> in exchange you get the means to survive.
>
> The necessities of life would, under my conception of socialism, be
> an inalienable human right.

I already mentioned my thoughts on that:

"I can see that it may be repressive if not combined with humane

policies which guarantee human rights of food and shelter. Like

perhaps any economic model. In the same way, you can have better

or worse forms of capitalism, state communism, etc. Depends on the

details."

Free food and shelter strike me as more a matter of politics than the economic system. But it isn't so easy as having a nanny-state provide everything for you -- someone's farming your food, driving trucks to deliver your advanced medicines, emptying your bedpans and so on. These don't come from the Ancient Gods of Communism. They come from someone working hard to get you your stuff. Cleaning the place where people play music for each other, and the trains they took to get there.

The working class. What does it make you if you're benefitting from a working class tending to your human needs, but you don't wish to share the onerous work?

I simply don't think it's bean-counting to keep in mind peoples' effort and sacrifice devoted to these basic societal tasks. The working class's time and stress is relevant.

(That said, I do think there are psychological issues with remunerated vs. voluntary work, which people like Michael Albert have touched upon.)

Tayssir



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