Date: Thu, 15 Sep 1994 15:04:48 -0400 (EDT)
From: Stephen Grossman <SGROSSMAN-AT-umassd.edu>
Subject: Re: Labor theory of value debate


Date: Thu, 15 Sep 1994 10:12:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: Louis N Proyect <lnp3-AT-columbia.edu>
Subject: Labor theory of value debate

>The zig-
>zags of the Soviet state in the early 1920's (war communism, NEP) 
>had more to do with pragmatic choices rather than Marxist doctrine. 

Your pragmatic/Marxist doctrine split is false. Within the structure of 
dialectical revolutionary strategy, Marxists are encouraged to Pragmatically
exploit historical splits. See my essay, _Zig-Zag_ (recently posted here; i 
have copy i can email). Your own Pragmatism blinds you to Marx's system. Marx, 
Stalin, Mao, and _International Affairs_ (Moscow) have condemned Pragmatism 
(tho usually without using that term).

Lenin's "'Left-wing' Communism" shows his use of doctrine to advance the 
revolution. There are many essays like this on revolutionary strategy. 

>I believe that the Marxist movement has suffered from its inability to 
>understand how capitalism operates to the fullest degree. 

Of course, given Marx's rejection of abstraction in economic activity. 
Capitalism is abstraction-guided production.



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