Date: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 04:34:55 -0500 From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki) Subject: M-G: Re: M-TH: All Work and No Play? No Way! The Thaxis discussion between Jerry,Doug,Hugh, Justin and others on this stuff should be turned towards another more interesting subject, subjects or at least linked to it. And that is the tendency in the post war economic boom of inter-class marriages and middle-class ideologi vis a vis the working class. Also the so called "social climbers" out of the proletariat and into and alien class. In fact it was not only the crumbs and the *real* leisure involved in all of this stuff, but and extremely important ideological weapon in the hands of the bourgeoisie. These days at least in Sweden people are talking about a "new" class. In this period of dismantling the welfare state and downsizing as we now go in the other direction. Then their is also the shift in Social Democracy towards the middle class which I believe in the long run a utopian pipedream. The only "new" class the big bourgeoisie are interested in is putting history back on their course especially in the states around the Baltic sea. The prolos are always the prolos and the middle class a tool which can be used or discarded at will and need... Because behind the original arguements lie the left's anti-western worker stance and in fact the reverse side of this stuff which Yoshie was getting into. However I disagree with her conclusions that painting up the lifestyles of the bourgeoisie as a big champagne party is somehow used against poor and working class people. Then their is the whole question of the "big" bourgeoisie and who they really are? I would deam to make the assertion that the big bourgeoisie are the ones that own real material resources of production and distribution and they certainly have a historical thread which can be followed both backwards and forwards through history over and above the present debate on drinking and mating habits. This is concrete and real. Where as the people like Soros, the Americans or Arabs who mainly push paper and speculation, or investments in more soluable things are paper tigers or relatively newcomers in the game. (The Americans and Arabs) Hugh talked about "blue chip" stocks. Well their is something very real behind them.. Not only industrial clout but social and historical clout. Then their is another side of this stuff which is even far more interesting. The "new" capitalist class in the ex USSR and deformed workers states! And how it is effected by this stuff. As the old stock big bourgeoisie really has not existed in the USSR for quite a long time. In Germany we have a quite different situation which effects not only the former east Germany bit the old idea of the Third Riech turning into the Fourth Reich! Everybody is talking about the "wild west" atomosphere in the USSR and a lot of the International big bourgeoisie see both opportunities and the dangers in what is going on their. Thus here in Sweden one sees the clever approach towards the now defunct Baltic States. Here they are going back to find the ties of the old stock bourgeoisie which survived either in exile or the bureaucracy connected to building up the army and police to defend their interests.Not in the least they dragged out Carl Gustav and the monarchy to make these links real! Where as the Swedish "big" bourgeoisie are putting all of their cards on building up the infrastructure in these countries and have pretty much by passed quite conciously the Soviet Union which they are quite skeptical too because of the fact that the whole operation could explode in their faces and know way to control it. When Yeltsin was here, one sees the idiot that other big imperialists interest, not in the least the Americans are supporting as their man in Moscow. And as far as the American "big" bourgeoisie--historically--they are just newcomers on the arena and mostly considered "louts", big mouthed and clumsy" connected to using muscle instead of their heads to rule! In this sense Justin's description of his "mates" at college are very funny but I doubt if the boys and girls at Oxford see it in the same way. In fact the recent events around Di show the real class of decadent monarchy and the real power of the big bourgeoisie and their lackies in turning this into a fucking parade for jolly old England as it sinks into the sunset.. But the swedish bourgeoisie were more interested in more realistic goals in regards to their strategy. Thus all the talk was about troop withdrawals especially around the Baltic states and Poland which they see as the real bastion for moving their positions forward.. They see the always historic dream of the swedish ruling class controling the countries that border the Baltic sea. Naturally the clout to build their empire depends on Germany or a NATO umbrella to defend these interests.And in back of this stuff is the rebuilding of and industrial infrastructure connected to low labor costs and a grateful "anti-communist" and nationalist ideology looking for and identity that was lost when the Red Army occupied these countries. And the King and the big bourgeoisie in Sweden are more then willing to give a "helping" hand.. The German "big" bourgeoisie are certainly not sitting back and watching all this stuff going on without defending their historical interests which survived after the secind world war. They to are acting in their *own* interests and hardly for the Americans or any body else. Just as the French and others are doing. Probably the only old "bourgeoisie" which is really bad off is the English who's empire faded into the sunset with the end of the boat and seafaring nations mighty imperialist power came to be replaced by the tank and the airplane.. In fact I hear that it is the "new" Arab bourgeoisie that owns have of London and not the other way around! Despite the "Victorian" imperialist culture and all that represented best at Jefferson Village by Chris B and his left version of this now dead bird.. I stop their for the time being. But I think this discussion could give far more then the jousting at present taking place on the list. Wish we had a smart German here. And our "Dutch/Finnish" expert could tell us about not only the revangeist history of the Finnish ruling class who certainly have a score to settle with Russia. But the Dutch ruling class and Dutch East Indies empire and all that..Then there is the Italian "big" bougeoisie playing their games in Albania and Africa. The french in Africa..And that stuff. Spain would also be interesting to here about and what the "big" bourgeoisie are doing these days. Because set the stage for world war two. Just as the former Yugoslavia is a prelude to the next imperialist confrontation.. Not to mention the Southern belly of the ex Soviet Union, Turkey and Iran. And what is the big bourgeoisie of Japan doing and the Chinese bourgeoisie which is preparing to retake the mainland.. I think that if one links the "big" bourgeoisie as a class and family usually under one nation and their god--gods, one can also see that they are alive and kicking and acting according to their own history and traditions..The "discreet charmers" verses upp comers and "workerholics" is just a fluke discussion. Although the "new" bourgeoisies like the Arabs are certainly a force albut without any military clout whereas the black bonapartes like in the former Zaire recruited as neo-colonial message boys can produce the cannon fodder necessary to penetrate this new and changing situation. Here to the British are fucked. Despite Nelson Mandela..It is the French, Belgians and Americans with the ex Soviet Union playing a has been role.. Warm regards Bob Malecki Ps! Just a thought I want to throw out here..We have talked about the "weak link" in the imperialist chain and revolutions after the first and second world war. Perhaps the new weak link will be a few of the core imperialist countries like England with a bourgeoisie that has the tradition but no real social clout any longer with all the colonies gone being the new weak link where the opportunity of proletarian revolution could very well sweep them away. Before like in Franco's Spain they had the imperial troops and empire to use to smash any rebellion at home. this is not the case today.. Whereas the Swedes and the germans understand the need for the infrastructure in order to uphold their rule. England on the other hand has nothing but the middle class left and Tony Blair! A fucking by product of ages long gone and by passed..Naturally this goes for Proyects boring us with his India history which has no point at all other then as Juri says Proyect trying to find a justification of some sort for his present "Gren" trajectory.. Warm regards Bob Malecki --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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