[lbo-talk] U.S. auto sector socialized! WITBD?

[James Heartfield]

Well Carrol's comparison with nationalisation of industry in the UK is correct in one important respect: the only companies that were ever put into public ownership - or in the case of Merdien - under workers' management - were those companies that had already tanked. Nationalised industries were, by definition, failed industries. Of course it was a problem for those workforces, who could hardly refuse the prospect that nationalisation might be the best way to defend their jobs in the here and now, but it definitely did not translate into the socialist future, but workers left in control of all the lame ducks.

By all means, lets look at the UAW-GM deal, but is it likely that a positive outcome will arrive by chance? Did the UAW fight for a workers' control? Did a revolution happen without us knowing? Or did the employing class fumble the ball? Scepticism might be a way of avoiding looking at what is new, but there is no need to be naive.