From: Randy.Moon-AT-kctcs.net Subject: RE: Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 12:07:32 -0400 I like to consider myself something of a socialist, and I have no problem with Brians' response. It seems quite reasonable to me. The way capitalism works in the western industrialized nations is obviously something different from the way it operates in other parts of the world without the constraints of a democratic system in place. No doubt democratic principles are constantly under threat by capitalistic forces that find democracy a hindrance to maximizing profits, but that is one of the contradictions in the system and one that requires constant scrutiny. -----Original Message----- From: Paul Brians [mailto:brians-AT-mail.wsu.edu] Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 8:56 AM To: postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu Subject: L.Connell-AT-herts.ac.uk wrote: >As for Paul Brians typically liberal intervention I would be interested >in hearing his defence of the way that international capitalism >generates inequalities between nations than some utopian assertion of >the lack of any credible alternatives. How are we to find these >alternatives without a sustained critique of the status quo? This is hysterical. My pragmatism is is "utopian" whereas sweeping anti-capitalist denunciations are not? Oh dear. The main flaw in capitalism, as Marx pinpointed, is the way it generates economic inequality. But that's not all it does. It seems to be terrifically successful at generating and spreading wealth, though in a shockingly uneven fashion. The problem is that programs purporting to impose maximum equality under Marxism have generally 1) failed and 2) robbed those who lived under them of important freedoms and 3) been much less successful in generating wealth for all except a handful of dictators and their cronies. Damn straight, I'm a liberal. Say it loud and say it proud: LIBERAL! Spending time plotting to overthrow capitalism when no such prospect is in the offing and when no humane alternative seems realistic is to me pure escapism, or impractical idealism at best. The world needs lots of reform, and lots of people willing to work at reform. I've been sending checks to Doctors Without Borders, Unicef, and Oxfam lately. That's a modest way to work toward improving the world, but I think more useful than most of what passes for postcolonial economic theory. -- Paul Brians, Department of English Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-5020 brians-AT-wsu.edu http://www.wsu.edu/~brians --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- --- from list postcolonial-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---
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