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roachboy · 03-05-2009, 12:09 PM

well, pan, there is a vague space of agreement--i would prefer that obama advanced a more comprehensive plan that provided adequate information to back it up and a sequence of clear objectives linked to particular kinds of outcomes. but for that, he'd have to break entirely with the neoliberal past, and it's not clear that either the administration or--especially---the idiots in the mass media who, like it or not, still--somehow--are in a position to structure legitimate opinion (this in a sociological sense)--are ready to do that. what i've seen so far is mostly geared around trying to get things back to a sense of normal--but normal is already 30 years fucked up, so i don't see the point in doing that in principle. in pragmatic terms, which for better or worse we have to think in terms of, i don't see a real alternative IF you accept the idea that a central driver behind all that's been happening is panic. and panic appears to follow from folk having to think too much about the possibility that this, "the best of all possible worlds" is a Problem. so the administration has to play softball with folk. and it's doing it. i just don't think that's a good idea.

manufacturing for example--there's no way back from the just-in-time type system for the strata of corporate entities that have adopted it short of massive state funding for the transition. that ain't happening--so the alternative is seeding new manufacturing--which requires a plan. protective tariffs aren't going to do anything because in the present system "made in america" is functionally meaningless, except in the context of medium-to-small scale firms. there are alternatives--but they require a plan.

one thing the administration is starting to move toward that's maybe interesting is eliminating tax havens. an effect of this would be to slow down something of capital movements. the intent that's been stated is tax revenues, but the idea goes beyond that in principle. again, same problem. no plan really.

03-05-2009, 12:09 PM	#292 (permalink)
roachboy Super Moderator Location: essex ma	well, pan, there is a vague space of agreement--i would prefer that obama advanced a more comprehensive plan that provided adequate information to back it up and a sequence of clear objectives linked to particular kinds of outcomes. but for that, he'd have to break entirely with the neoliberal past, and it's not clear that either the administration or--especially---the idiots in the mass media who, like it or not, still--somehow--are in a position to structure legitimate opinion (this in a sociological sense)--are ready to do that. what i've seen so far is mostly geared around trying to get things back to a sense of normal--but normal is already 30 years fucked up, so i don't see the point in doing that in principle. in pragmatic terms, which for better or worse we have to think in terms of, i don't see a real alternative IF you accept the idea that a central driver behind all that's been happening is panic. and panic appears to follow from folk having to think too much about the possibility that this, "the best of all possible worlds" is a Problem. so the administration has to play softball with folk. and it's doing it. i just don't think that's a good idea. manufacturing for example--there's no way back from the just-in-time type system for the strata of corporate entities that have adopted it short of massive state funding for the transition. that ain't happening--so the alternative is seeding new manufacturing--which requires a plan. protective tariffs aren't going to do anything because in the present system "made in america" is functionally meaningless, except in the context of medium-to-small scale firms. there are alternatives--but they require a plan. one thing the administration is starting to move toward that's maybe interesting is eliminating tax havens. an effect of this would be to slow down something of capital movements. the intent that's been stated is tax revenues, but the idea goes beyond that in principle. again, same problem. no plan really. __________________ a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite