System change (responding to Moore and Wagar)

Fri, 3 Oct 1997 13:31:03 -0700 (MST)
Richard N Hutchinson (rhutchin@U.Arizona.EDU)

RKM-

You make an excellent point about the necessity to think in terms of
evolutionary process rather than apocalyptic scenarios. I agree that the
crew currently piloting the planet are way ahead of most of their
erstwhile opponents in understanding and acting on this insight.

A very useful book in this regard is Kevin Kell(y/ey?)'s >>Out of Control:
The Rise of Neo-Biological Civilization<<. Sure he's enamored of the
"natural evolutionary" status of capitalism. We would be better off if we
absorbed some of the insights he presents. (Marx thought all of
capitalism's potential would have to be played out before it was
surpassed.)

With regard to Warren Wagar's recent proposal, I'm afraid the problem is
that he proposes a blueprint, when what is needed is a plan. It is
a question of process as opposed to ideal depiction of an outcome. The
resistance to the capitalist world-system will arise from below
(including intellectuals of course) and take on forms that we cannot
currently envision. In the meantime, Samir Amin and others play an
invaluable role in specifying the continuing conditions for popular
resistance and revolution. But in terms of the transition to a different
system, Wagar's proposal sounds too much like a utopian novel.

Comradely regards,
Richard Hutchinson