[lbo-talk] Thoughts on Mirowski

[Wojtek S]

Chuck G: "Upgraded into the neoliberal think tank world, the inner circle
of experts become the fountain of wisdom who consult the first principle of
the universe, The Market, and since they are the inner circle, they can
read the indicators better than anyone else... Neoliberalism is a
monotheistic religion where The Market has replaced God and the divine
right of kings. And, where the direction of government is determined by the
conscious reflection of the few for the benefit of themselves (inner
truth), and for the benefit of the many (outer truth).

Clearly this sort of system has failed and neoliberalism as a foundation
for society has been thoroughly discredited by events. It's a giant PR
problem for the capitalist elites and their drones in public office across
the western world. Meanwhile, it is a giant concrete problem for the rest
of us."

[WS:] I fully agree with the first paragraph, but as far as the second
paragraph is concerned, I take a Marx/Weber position on the role of
religion and ideology in society.  Religion and ideology are not a
foundation of anything - they are merely mythologies designed to legitimate
the existing power relations, which are the actual foundations of social
order.  This legitimation function entails two elements - rationalization
and diversion.  The rationalization element portrays the existing power
relations as "natural" and "rational" and thus "justified".  The diversion
element is to deflect any critique from the actual power relations and
their material base to the sphere of ideas - so instead of questioning the
position of power holders people discuss intellectual properties of the
mythologies justifying that power.  Instead of asking "how to expropriate
of property holders and what consequences of that expropriation may result"
people discuss whether the dogma of liberty and personal choice in the
market is internally consistent or true.

My own position is "expropriate the expropriators, execute the executives,
and dump the holy scriptures to the rubbish bin." ;)

-- 
Wojtek

"An anarchist is a neoliberal without money."