Date: Sat, 03 Apr 2004 12:41:58 -0500
From: hbone <hbone-AT-optonline.net>
Subject: Re: politics


Steve wrote:
> Hugh
>
> The problem with all your statements is that you never make any attempt
> to answer the question you pose below.  Nor do you ever appreciate the
> attempts  made by  european theorists to develop an answer to the
questions.
>
> The challenge then is precisely what is your own answer to the implicit
> question ?
>
> s

> >Capital vs. labor was a 20th Ccntury struggle and giant Corporations won.
> >Our "democracy" is what these plutocrats make it.
> >
> >The question is how to recover our lost democracy and control
corporations.
> >The present situation can  be delineated but not in Marx's 150 year-old
> >philosophy.

The question is explicit.  There are various possible answers or scenarios
that might be delineated.  Finding
and using the sources of power is the hard part.  What I say about national
government refers to the U.S.
since I know little of  others.

Scenario I - Workers take the State by force, the State owns the means of
production.  The State becomes
a macro-community of  worker-communities who co-exit with communal love and
respect.

Scenario II -

Corporations:  Workers own the organizations they work for;  the dwellings
they live in.  The size of a corporation
is limited to a particular geographical site, its buildings, fences, roads,
vehicles, power plant, and equipments.
The stock of the corporation is issued only to its workers, who can sell it
back to the corporationbut not
to a third party.  When corporations are dissolved, its assets are sold and
the monies
are distributed to the workers.

The workers do not pay taxes on their individual
earnings.  The Corporation pays taxes to
the State.  There is no stock market.  Corporations cannot buy each other.

Government:

Senators:  The present U.S. system of government is changed.  Senators serve
for six years only, with new senators chosen every two years.  Senatorial
candidates are chosen from State populations similar to the procedure by
which prospective jurors are now chosen by Courts.  Comparable to courts
making final selection of  jurors, the Senators of adjacent States would
make final selection from half a dozen candidates.

Representatives:  Parallel to Senate procedure with six-years terms.
Representatives of adjacent Congressional Districts make final selection of
successful candidate.

President:
The Senate, the House of Representatives, The Supreme Court, and the
combined Governors of 50 States, nominate  four  Presidential Candidates.
One month is allowed for campaigns.  Elections are held on Sundays.  The
person who gets 2nd largest vote becomes the Vice-President.

 I favor Scenario II.  The U.S. Constitution did not contemplate rule by
professional  politicians who can (many of them ) serve for a lifetime if
they carry out the policies of the Corporations who finance their campaigns.
I read recently that the average age of a Senator is 69.

regards,
Hugh