[lbo-talk] Critique of the Political Scene Today?

[Carrol Cox]

I've already responded to this on pen-l. The answer is NO -- it is not even
close to a description or critique of the political scene today. In the 17th
& 18th centuries "faction" meant the interests of the people (or the working
class) as opposed to the proper rights of the rulers. Faction was
theopposite of Law and Order. For a 195h-c expression of this, written with
a different vocabulary, read Arnold's Culture and Anarchy. Anarchy was his
name for Faction. Contemporary statesman are doing their duty against
faction, as expressed in Austerity and the pepper-spray of the cops. ."
Charles Davenant would highly approve of Obama and both Democrats &
Republicans in Congress. They are hard at work at controlling faction. The
differnces between Democrats & Republicans is not faction: it is the sober
consideration of the public interest by the true Statesmen.

This conception of faction is pretty clear in the Federalist Papers. The
Constitution had been designed specifically to control the ills of faction.

Carrol

-----Original Message-----
From: lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org [mailto:lbo-talk-bounces at lbo-talk.org]
On Behalf Of michael perelman
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2011 11:11 AM
To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
Subject: [lbo-talk] Critique of the Political Scene Today?

"As faction is the effect of that loose government which is
unavoidable in a time of war and trouble; so, while faction is
suffered to continue, it is a perpetual bar to better administration;
for it emboldens the bad, and terrifies the good.  Is a lunatic, whom
the physician cannot approach without danger to himself.  Some
statesmen, therefore, when it rages high, withdraw from affairs, and
will not administer the physic of their councils till the fit is
over." Charles Davenant. 1698.

-- 
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA
95929

530 898 5321
fax 530 898 5901
http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com

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