[p2p-research] cutting cultural budgets

[Ryan Lanham]

On Sat, Jun 26, 2010 at 11:37 AM, Ryan Lanham <rlanham1963 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Here is my concept of the left:
>
> 1. There is a dominant evil force called capitalism that must be struggled
> against.
>
>
The flaw here of course is rather obvious.  It assumes a moral outcome based
on simplistic rules.  It is thus deontological.  It is often, though not
always, morally absolutist...as it was with the Soviets.   Of course
capitalism isn't evil or good.  It is a technology.  Calling it evil or good
is like calling a hammer evil or good.  The opposite of capitalism is
neither socialism nor communism.  Instead, it is central planning and
technocracy.  I likewise see no evil (or good) in technocracy.  It is
simply, at present, inefficient.



> 2. The way to win that struggle is to unite into a solid base that can
> block the standard mechanics of capitalism and allow
> for "fair" and "equitable" systems to replace those that are unfair and
> inequitable.
>
>
This is the politics of the left based in the labor movement.  The idea was
the value could be blocked from the system by withdrawing partially or fully
from it.  This is now obviously naive both because skilled labor has greatly
expanded geographically and demographically, and also because skilled labor
is increasingly irrelevant.


> 3. This struggle exists long as exploitation exists.
>
>
More deontology...really moral absolutism.  Define the end state you dislike
and then label it as evil.  Many workers find their work no demeaning and
exploitive but rather as uplifting and value-giving.



> 4. Exploitation exists whenever someone gets a sustained advantage over
> someone else in a localized plain.
>
>
This is the equality first absolutism.  There is no biological or social
means to justify it.  It is really, in the end, theological.  More
importantly, it simply doesn't work because it greatly diffuses incentive
and specialization while emphasizing free riding and self-actualization in
ways that are socially unproductive...particularly for intellectuals who
tend to pursue useless self-interests while free riding on the system.


> 5. Ending sustained advantage arises when some sufficiently broad and flat
> means of governance comes about whereby any imbalances are soon put right.
> The broader and flatter this means of governance, the better.
>
>
This was the most hopeful if naive part of the modern left's agenda.  It
aligned some of the left with democracy rather than vanguards of the
proletariat (which was an absurd idea.)   It also unfortunately gave rise to
anarchism in its historical forms going back to 19th century US
libertarianism and 19th century utopian socialism in Europe.  Most of the
modern movement is more US as I see it...Lysander Spooner like.




>
> The left has long thought that capitalism's end would come from
> concentration...not diffusion.  Capitalism didn't die of dictatorship
> combined with exploitation...it died of poor prospects for giving people
> more that they want in a sufficiently broad way for it to be an inclusive
> system.  The possible outcomes are slaughtering the peripheries--which is
> still a possibility--or succumbing slowly to unemployment and deflation
> through the decline and fall of credit--what seems to be the mode of death
> most likely at the moment and one the labor movement, which always thought
> it would be of value, never anticipated at all.
>
> That is what I meant.
>
> Ryan
>
>
>
The left is not strong on economics.  They tend to focus on politics.
Those who were strong on economics tended to become Keynesians...really what
the modern political left now identifies with the "right" because Keynesians
believe in markets, mixed states, and growth (Harold Macmillan would be my
ideal in this regard...but John F. Kennedy would be a good second...as would
Richard M. Nixon, who's first administration may have been the greatest in
the history of the U.S.)  Regardless, Keynesians are now greatly out of
favor (left and right) despite Obama's desire to go toward that zone.
Europe has backed away from any form of Keynsianism, and is choosing
austerity instead...which will lead to collapse in the medium term.  Germany
knows it is tougher than the rest and is willing to let the rest die so it
can preserve its mode of going for a while longer.  Spain, I'd guess, will
be the first to crumble.  It really has no economy at all.   All in all,
there is a death watch...with the US, Britain, France, Germany, Japan and
numerous small states as candidates for something worse than default.  As I
have said, my money is on Spain.  Britain and Germany are doing what is
necessary to get out of the immediate bind.  France is wobbly.   So is the
US.  Hard to say...

>
> On Sat, Jun 26, 2010 at 11:19 AM, j.martin.pedersen <
> m.pedersen at lancaster.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> On 26/06/10 16:32, Ryan Lanham wrote:
>> > of private and corporate debt to the public sector.  In short, as we
>> have
>> > said here left and right, capitalism is screwed...but for reasons far
>> > different than anything the left ever envisioned...not that it matters.
>>
>> > Europe's left will spend 30 years discussing the injustice done them,
>>
>> Your conception of "the left" is incredible narrow.
>>
>> There is a rule of thumb in philosophy: if you want to present a
>> convicing argument, then construct your enemy, opponent or even straw
>> men, as strongly as possible.
>>
>> m
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Ryan Lanham
> rlanham1963 at gmail.com
> Facebook: Ryan_Lanham
> P.O. Box 633
> Grand Cayman, KY1-1303
> Cayman Islands
> (345) 916-1712
>
>
>
>


-- 
Ryan Lanham
rlanham1963 at gmail.com
Facebook: Ryan_Lanham
P.O. Box 633
Grand Cayman, KY1-1303
Cayman Islands
(345) 916-1712
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