File spoon-archives/postcolonial.archive/postcolonial_2001/postcolonial.0110, message 469


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


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