Re: GLOBAL KEYNESIANISM

To Andrew:
In your latest posting you first talked about gender inequality and racism,
that are not the subjects of our debate. Then came this final statement:

"The disagreement that we are having, Paul, is over whether capitalism is a
just and desirable system. If the question is whether Keynesianism can
"improve" capitalism and extend its life, then this is a technical question
requiring scant debate. While accomplishing such a thing is desirable for
many people, it cannot make a just system since it is continuing a system
that is intrinsically exploitative. It is fine to say that you support
exploitation and therefore you desire the system and you wish only to
ameliorate the conditions of the working class to keep them loyal to
capitalism (this has been a successful strategy). There are many who
believe this and openly declare their elitism. I just disagree with this.
That's all."

My answer:
Neoliberal capitalism is certainly not an ideal way of organizing Society,
but it still HAS SOME INBUILT CHECKS AND BALANCES AND WAYS FOR CITIZENS TO
EXPRESS THEIR DISCONTENT AND TO SUGGEST CHANGES. Such mechanisms have lost
some of their effectiveness lately and wealth has become much too
influential, but they are still working and can be used for needed reforms.

As to alternatives, the past attempts to establish an ideal classless
Society have ended in different versions of State capitalism, with an
enormous amount of power concentrated in the hands of a small ruling class
and lacking ANY such mechanisms for reform or peaceful change.

The same can be said for the different types of right-wing authoritarian
regimes.

My proposals for Global Keynesianism try to address some of the grave
problems of our capitalist societies, that might cause their breakdown
within a rather short period. By opposing such policies you are looking
forward for this violent upheaval, hoping a classless, non-exploitative
society will then necessarily emerge.

The chances for such an outcome are not promising. If past history is any
indication, the victors in a violent struggle will want to preserve the
power they won and will almost certainly establish dictatorships of the
left or the right. Well-meaning and peaceful idealists shall not be welcome
in such a society and it is easy to imagine what will happen to them.

If on the other hand, Keynesianism prevents such an outcome and achieves a
society with less inequalities and a better life for everybody, there might
be a chance for confirmed Marxist to find out, whether their theories can
work in a practical test, without again ending up as state capitalism 
instead.

Regards Paul Riesz