On Aug 10, 2010, at 10:33 PM, Michael Pollak wrote:
> No, dominant factions are still factions. (Also I believe SA is arguing that you are overstating that -- that a lot "have a problem with it," but accept it as a fact of life. Just as a lot of economists have a problem with the home interest deduction, but accept it as a fact of life.)
Economists are geeks. They're not the ruling class, really.
> But to go back to the lobby terminology -- do you think there's anything essentially different in kind from the banking lobby opposing Elizabeth Warren's appointment and the Israel lobby opposing Chas Freeman's? Isn't that kind of opposition and mobilization pretty much what we mean by lobbying?
That "banking lobby" represents the commanding heights of the capitalist class. It's not like, say, the way mom & pop liquor stores used to oppose Sunday opening in New York. I think the "Israel lobby" is rather similar to the banking lobby - a commanding heights faction and not just some little subfaction like car dealers.
Doug