[lbo-talk] Universal Asceticism and Social Levelling

[Russell Grinker]

It will be interesting to see what measures are proposed by both the
political elite and the environmental left for a reduction of consumption
allegedly required to combat climate change. Back home I've already come
across a number of people arguing for austerity along Second World War
lines. WW2 rationing (and discipline I assume) is said to have been good for
both the physical and mental wellbeing of the masses! Asceticism to 'save
the world' could become the new clarion call. Seeing as most people here
already live under conditions of severe austerity, I doubt that such calls
will go down too well. 

Yoshie says:

 The form of resistance Marx
criticized is the only one that exists today, and in
hindsight, it is
clear that state socialists' resistance, too, was
resistance through
"universal asceticism and social levelling."  As soon
as party
bureaucrats abandoned that, they became capitalists,
in China as well
as Russia.

*********

Gee, that's sure an appealing thought. I'm sure it
will be a big seller in Des Moines.