Shameless Self-promotion Sunday #24
Here's a pretty old post from the blog archives of Geekery Today; it was written about 16 years ago, in 2008, on the World Wide Web.
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In the wake of the collapse of our financial system, I’ve decided to start reading Das Capital for a grounding and critique of the capitalist system. It certainly seems as if Marx was right about some things, that the Capitalist system, would ultimately fail and also the reasons for its failure. What I am not so sure about is whether the system he proposed which would replace it is actually the one what will. I’ve done some reading by writers of the Frankfurt School of thought which is essentially neomarxist in its character. The best path to tread is likely one that is somewhat socialist in character, with State owned enterprises an what not, while also incorporating some neoliberal and libertarian ideals such as incentive based systems and the avoidance of mandated economic equality. Only time will tell what will rise from the ashes.
I took on teleology
and will be taking on more aspects of Marxism soon…
Yesterday, I wrote http://nothirdsolution.com/2008/10/25/who-are-you-voting-for/
Brushing aside philiosophical concerns regarding socialism, state owned enterprises will almost be necessary to solve the credit crisis. They have, in fact, already existed in the United States. See Resolution Trust Corporation for an example of what I mean. I did not support the bailout in its current form because it was flawed legislation. A more appropriate solution would have been smaller, at least initially, and divided the task of handling these toxic assets among several regional institutions. I’m optimistic though that sound policy can implemented under a different administation.
“It certainly seems as if Marx was right about some things, that the Capitalist system, would ultimately fail and also the reasons for its failure.”
The currently existing capitalist order adopted (nearly a century ago) a policy similar to Marx’s ideal of centralizing the system of banking and credit into a central bank, and look what’s happened ever since: a cycle of massive booms and busts, such as the one at present. And now the state is citing the present crisis as the rationale for consolidating and centralizing banking and credit even more so.
Why, if Uncle Karl were here now, he’d probably join Hugo Chavez in welcoming “Comrade Bush” to the international brotherhood of socialism!
Surely, the workers’ utopia is just right around the corner…?
“The best path to tread is likely one that is somewhat socialist in character, with State owned enterprises an what not, while also incorporating some neoliberal and libertarian ideals such as incentive based systems and the avoidance of mandated economic equality.”
Oh, please enlighten us some more, oh Divine One With the Big Picture!
You may be right about the state-owned enterprises of the future: It’ll be just what we have now, but only much, much more so and without any high minded rhetoric about “equality.” It’ll just be the boot right on your face, stompin’ good and hard…
“Only time will tell what will rise from the ashes.”
Oh yes, who knows what type of system will just up and pop out of the ground? The anticipation is killing me!
“Brushing aside philiosophical concerns regarding socialism, state owned enterprises will almost be necessary to solve the credit crisis.”
Yup, just brush those concerns away. State ownership of certain means of production is just the way of the future. No two ways about it. Discussion closed. (Besides, after that boot’s been stomping on your face awhile, you won’t feel any more pain, anyway. Just numbness.)
“I did not support the bailout in its current form because it was flawed legislation…”
Oh, yes, of course. Forget about the principles or the ethics involved. The technical details were just screwed up, that’s all. Not that there’s anything wrong with robbing productive people per se in order to try and save irresponsible Wall Street plutocrats and self-delusional consumers from experiencing the full consequences of their own reckless actions…
“They [state-owned enterprises] have, in fact, already existed in the United States.”
That’s right, and just because we still haven’t succeeded in opening a door by banging our heads against for over a century doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep on trying…
It’s like I’ve always said: We just need the right enlightened technocrats to implement Marxist ideas in their truest and purest form (not like how it’s been tried before, with all the forced labor camps and mass starvation and executions), and everything will finally be solved!
If people listen to you, there is more likely to be mass starvation set off by a reduction in the money supply. There is already food crisis, and it’s going to get worse if there is not an overhaul of the financial system. The right thing for government to do is buy banks and start giving out loans so there is enough money to go around. Banks certainly aren’t going to do this on their own. This should be clear as day to anyone with any sense.