Date: Thu, 19 Jun 1997 14:41:49 +1000 (EST)
From: Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan-AT-qut.edu.au>
Subject: Re: M-I: Organizing a counter-hegemonic movement.


At 02:26 AM 6/18/97 -0400, Andrew wrote:

>It has come time for a working out of our basic philosophy, I believe, to
>reaffirm socialism as the instrument of radical social change, and to
>begin talking seriously and at length about what we want and how we are
>going to get it. I can see by the developing conversation that is emerging
>on this list that what I am saying has already been said and people are
>already way ahead of me on this. I just wanted to let you know that I
>support the direction of discussion and want to participate.
>
>In Solidarity,
>Andrew Austin

I support Andrew's sentiments.  I am currently trying to write an editorial
on this topic for the local anarchist throwaway that I support.  It has
been pressing in on me lately that I am fine when it comes to "fighting the
filth", as I put it.  None better, if I may say so.  But when we have to
move beyond denouncing the enemy, things are rather more difficult.

I simply do not have any idea how to get out of this present situation.
Here in Australia the government is moving towards the low wage solution
for unemployment.  Lou' post containing the economists' description of what
is happening in the 90s is so true of Australia now.  The age of
uncertainty is upon us.

Part of  me interprets this as meaning that the ruling class are now so
confident and arrogant that they feel in this post-communist era they can
do without the welfare state to bribe the workers into quiescence.  I feel
in this mode that we are experiencing an arrogant capitalist class that is
moved by boundless avarice to wage class war ruthlessly from above.

Another part of me thinks that we are in an economic crisis and the
bourgeoisie have no alternative but to press ahead with the destruction of
the welfare state.  I don't understand economics enough to make up my mind
between these two scenarios.  

If it is just a case of excessive animal spirits then presumably the
capitalists could be 'persuaded' to return to the Keynesian option. However
if there is an economic crisis at foot then the capitalist class will not
be so easy to drive back.  temperamentally I am for advancing radical
demands but I lack the chutzpa of the typical soi-disant 'Bolshevik' who
likes nothing better than advancing the 'correct' demand in a political
vacuum.

We need a mass movement, but how?  My own response here is that things will
have to get much worse before a crack appears in the subaltern mentality of
the working class.  They will have to feel that it is more dangerous to be
apathetic than to protest. My best guess (and I am always wrong) is that
that stage is about 10 years away.

regards

Gary



     --- from list marxism-international-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---