[lbo-talk] let's all pray for a depression

[John Thornton]

Bill Bartlett wrote:
> At 5:55 PM -0600 22/1/08, John Thornton wrote:
>
>   
>> Only from a position of privilege can one hope for a crisis. See how
>> many working class converts you get telling them they need to suffer
>> more than they already do before their lives can improve.
>>     
>
> What about all those with nothing to lose? Surely they have nothing to lose?
>
>   
>> Or try this,
>> during the depths of a depression tell a large group of out-of-work
>> people how much you hoped for this day so you can raise their
>> consciousness and hopefully end their suffering.
>>     
>
> Of course if they didn't have a pot to piss in before the depression 
> even started it won't make any difference. Although it would be more 
> diplomatic to tell them you hope a recession will raise the 
> consciousness of other people besides them.
>
> Bill Bartlett
> Bracknell Tas

If the evidence supported the idea that immiseration was instrumental in 
consciousness raising then that position would be tenable. The evidence 
is mixed and more often undermines this position. Again I'll state that 
we know for a fact that a fiscal crisis will immiserate millions but we 
do not have any reasonable assurances that it will provide the hoped for 
catalyst for change. Why wish for and possibly wait for a crisis when we 
know this to be true?
If one truly believes that immiseration will be helpful or even 
necessary to bring about consciousness it is reasonable to imagine that 
people with such a belief will work towards that goal is it not?

John Thornton