[lbo-talk] feeling good

[Carrol Cox]

I more or less agree with this, but I am a bit bothered by the
identification of  capitalism with capitalists. Also I would argue that
capitalism is not the same as capitalist society -- the latter in terms of
human activity isfar larger. (Miles has made comments that point in this
direction. Capitalism (any variety) requires a state a state is not as such,
capitalist. And though I, like everyone elst contstantly speak of capitalism
doing this or that (reforming or not reform itself) capitalism is not of
course and agent and actually does nothing at all.

And "reforming capitalism" is an oxymorong, which is perhaps what Doug
meant. It is capitalist relations that enslave humanity, and capitalism is
those relations! At its best (whatever that means) it is barbarism. How many
lives around the world were being destroyed during that "golden age" of u.s.
capitalism, the 1950s. The Central American peasants would have beenmuch
better off over a clumsy and brutal feudalism.

Carrol

-----Original Message-----
From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org]
On Behalf Of SA
Sent: Monday, November 22, 2010 4:32 PM
To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] feeling good

  On 11/22/2010 4:58 PM, Doug Henwood wrote:


> On Nov 22, 2010, at 4:51 PM, Marv Gandall wrote:
>
>> In light of this experience, we can speculate on whether the economic and
political system has become so dysfunctional that it is no longer possible
for American capitalism to reform itself. That would be a discussion worth
having
> I dunno, are there really two sides to this question?

I think the premise can be questioned. You could argue that American 
capitalism is thriving like never before. Wall Street is making 
billions, profits are soaring, unprecedented attacks on the working 
class (slashing SS and Medicare, quasi-privatizing education) are on the 
table to an unprecedented degree, along with huge further tax cuts 
despite an alleged fiscal crisis. And all without a peep of protest. 
Pointing to the possibility of another crisis down the road just begs 
the question - why wouldn't that crisis merely have the effect of 
finally letting them push through all the stuff they haven't been able 
to get before?

SA
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