Date: Fri, 22 Nov 1996 09:11:11 -0000 From: Adam Rose <Adam-AT-pmel.com> Subject: M-I: Smugness and smugability was : RE: The proletarian revolution and the renegade MacLennan > Ah Adam - there is so much in this. We would need to argue it out for hours > over a pint or two or three or... > But let me say that I reject the charge of vulgar Marxism. I thought you might ! > Of course the bourgeoisie can act irrationally, possibly by definition, > but they will only take that step if the crisis they face is one of total > negation as it was in the 1930s. There is no such thing as rationality for capitalists. The heart of capitalism is irrational. One capitalist invests to increase his own rate of profit, but this necessarily reduces every capitalists rate of profit, including his own. You say Australian capital is increasingly integrated with Asian capital. But the flip side to integration is competition. Australian based capitals will be competing with Asian based capitals for market share. Integration and competition are two sides of the same process. So what is "rational" for Australian capital ? This question becomes even harder to answer when you factor in the arms race in S.E Asia. > Now I believe the economy determines in the last instance and I believe that > the ideas of the ruling class rule. I am sure that I do not need to give you > page references from the above. None of these ideas came from Kautsky, > young Rose. Your analysis of Hanson would lead you to argue that she will never wobble back again, to open racism. I would argue the complete opposite, that the underlying economic crisis means that an openly racist political party would be extremely "rational" for the capitalists. Of course I can't predict whether this would be lead by Hanson or someone else. And of course, the crucial mediating factor is the class struggle itself : during the French strikes last year, Le Pen was completely marginalised. The Trade Union leaders have kept control since then. Now the FN is winning an alarmingly high percentage of votes, not just in the South but also around Paris. Last month, I was the only contender for smug bastard of the month. Gary is now giving me some competition. However, I should point out that "So far, 279 people have joined [ the Socialist Workers Party ] in November : 17 . . . in Manchester". I think I'm still in the lead. PS. Gary MacLennan is 102. Adam. PPS I have changed mail tools. If the format of my posts seems knackered, please mail me privately. Adam Rose SWP Manchester Britain --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005