Karl Marx and Citizens United

Conservatives often fault Marx for making predictions (which he actually never made) that did not prove true. Nonetheless, in writing about the nature of capitalism, he almost inadvertently, he clearly laid out the logic, which made Citizens United inevitable.

“In bourgeois society capital is independent and has individuality, while the living person is dependent and has no individuality.”

Public Safety at Zucotti Park

I had not realized that we were staying only two blocks away from the Zucatti Park, the scene of the violence last night.  It was all blocked off with very few people anywhere near the park.  Instead, the whole block was ringed by police cars, perhaps fearing that a lone protester might dare to climb over the metal railings placed to make the park inaccessible.

 

We walked down to Wall Street.  Again, an enormous number of police guarding the heart of capitalism.

Neoliberalism Hits a Speedbump?

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article today, which begins, ” More Asian governments are pressing businesses to hike wages as a way to prevent outbreaks of labor unrest, raising the specter of higher manufacturing costs for global companies — and the products they sell world-wide.”

 

The problem is that people in Asia lack the necessary naiveté to make capitalism work efficiently; i.e. to maximize exploitation.

 

“Political leaders say they have little choice but to act, as voters grow savvier about wage gains” elsewhere, which they can research on the Internet. Recent protests by low-income workers in places like Indonesia and Thailand have added to pressure on governments to raise wages.”

 

“There is a genuine feeling that the low-wage segments [of Asia’s population] haven’t made much progress in recent years” as the gap between rich and poor has widened in some areas, said Edward Teather, an economist at UBS in Singapore.”

 

What is wrong with Americans that they can be bamboozled to think that the current neoliberal policies are constructive of anything more than more of the same?

James Hookway, Patrick Barta, and Dana Mattioli. 2012. “China’s Wage Hikes Ripple Across Asia.” Wall Street Journal (13 March).

Neoliberalism Hits a Speedbump?
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article today, which begins, ” More Asian governments are pressing businesses to hike wages as a way to prevent outbreaks of labor unrest, raising the specter of higher manufacturing costs for global companies — and the products they sell world-wide.”

The problem is that people in Asia lack the necessary naiveté to make capitalism work efficiently; i.e. to maximize exploitation.

“Political leaders say they have little choice but to act, as voters grow savvier about wage gains” elsewhere, which they can research on the Internet. Recent protests by low-income workers in places like Indonesia and Thailand have added to pressure on governments to raise wages.”

“There is a genuine feeling that the low-wage segments [of Asia’s population] haven’t made much progress in recent years” as the gap between rich and poor has widened in some areas, said Edward Teather, an economist at UBS in Singapore.”

What is wrong with Americans that they can be bamboozled to think that the current neoliberal policies are constructive of anything more than more of the same?

James Hookway, Patrick Barta, and Dana Mattioli. 2012. “China’s Wage Hikes Ripple Across Asia.” Wall Street Journal (13 March).

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577279111724105828.html?mod=ITP_pageone_0

My Left Forum Panel

I will be offering a long-term diagnosis of capitalism and the current economic meltdown at the Left Forum. I am hoping to meet as many Internet friends as possible. My session will be on Sunday 12:00 pm Session E Room E308. Please introduce yourself.