http://www.newleftreview.org/?view=2731
It comes down to the idea that social movements for ending racism, sexism, and homophobia have essentially benefited the neoliberal economic system by asserting we all have a right to be equally exploited.
``...virtually all the growth in inequality has taken place since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965—which means not only that the successes of the struggle against discrimination have failed to alleviate inequality, but that they have been compatible with a radical expansion of it. Indeed, they have helped to enable the increasing gulf between rich and poor.
Why? Because it is exploitation, not discrimination, that is the primary producer of inequality today. It is neoliberalism, not racism or sexism (or homophobia or ageism) that creates the inequalities that matter most in American society; racism and sexism are just sorting devices...''
In other words, demonstrations of diversity are the sales pitch for capitalism as a system of equal opportunity exploitation.
While I obviously agree, there is still something wrongly framed or something that annoys me about this formulation. It simply tells us that the work toward creating a more tolerant society with civil rights for all was wasted as long as we failed to address economic inequality.
Okay, and what?
I don't think Michaels understands that most of us working in these movements were very well aware of economic inequalities. Internally there was a divided struggle going on between those of us addressing poverty, and those who sought to aim the struggle toward ending discrimination. What can I say? The latter, the liberals won. (These internal debates were particularly sharp when employment discrimination and affirmative action were on the table.)
On the other hand, I am sure not going to put down or dismiss the improvements in the quality of life or the improvements the struggle for civil rights produced.
What I don't like about Micheals' line is that it pits equal justice under law against economic justice. He says in effect civil rights are a waste of time without economic rights. Okay. I've had that argument about forty-seven years ago.
Now, a question for this crowd. How do you supposed we are going to get economic justice, without the civil and human rights to carry out that battle? The whole point to the latter struggle was to get more of the working class interest into political power to change the economic system.
So let's take on the economic system. The enemy is not the diversity crowd or the civil rights political movements.
There are still the same two old enemies. The white power elite and the racist dogs on the right. You can bet on this. They are together in class war to get rid of civil rights and take your money.
In fact in order to take your money better and faster, they need to get rid of your civil rights. I think this understanding is at the heart of struggles going on all over the world.
Most of the bleeding edge everywhere recognizes both struggles are intertwined. Guys like Chavez demonstrate the concrete truth behind the interlocking nature of the battles for a socialist democracy. His internal enemies are the wealthy bourgeoisie and their racists views of who should be up and who should be down.