Re: AUT: questions

["Carlos Timonero" <carlostimonero@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Nate and everyone.

I can't follow this list, but have to delete most of it without reading.

But I just saw your questions. And your third one hits something, that I
tried to say some month ago.

>Last- One of the things we've been facing here in the US is continued
>erosion of 'welfare' programs. In 2002 my state, Illinois, cut 350 million
>dollars from the Medicaid program, a health program for the very poor that
>pays for healthcare provided by a public or private medical clinic or
>hospital. The reason given was a shortfall of the state budget. As the US
>government gears up for war even more funds will be diverted away from
>needed programs and the trend of cutting services will accelerate.
>My question is this - what will the impact on the economy be of cutting
>services? I realize that the main concern is the human cost of this, but
>I'm interested to know what this will mean on the terms of mainstream or
>government economists. I don't know much about economics but my guess is
>that cutting this program will first reduce revenue to state and private
>facilities that served Medicaid recipients. Second, many of the people who
>were dependent on Medicaid to finance their healthcare will be forced
>(after their health deteriorates) to resort to emergency rooms and free
>clinics, which will also impact public and private budgets. Does this line
>of reasoning seem sensible? If so, does this mean that even on their own
>terms the government's response to present conditions will fail? (ie, 'the
>economy' generally will be harmed not benefited.)
>
>Any input is much appreciated.
>
>Nate

Well here is what I mailed earlier:
___________
Hello there

I don't know if this is 'off-list', but I think that the question of the
present war-mobilization of the US against the Iraq should be investigated
in a more 'marxist' manner  -  i.e. from a critical observation of the
current problems and perspectives of capitalist economy.

We all know that this is about global oil resources and US imperialist
efforts to stabilize and secure US interests in a very important market of
raw materials, in order to control and keep prizes as low as possible here.
Perhaps the US government could even install some of its own oil-compagnies
to control and profit from this second largest field of production.

But this is only headlines and of no use.

What we need is a more closer observation of the actual economical relations
and inner contradictions of US capitalism in this situation.

Here is one thing that might be of some use:

William D. Nordhaus: The Economic Consequences of a War with Iraq -
http://www.econ.yale.edu/~nordhaus/iraq.html

This article tries to estimate both the immediate costs and the possible
gains of a coming US war against Iraq.

And from here you may make your own conclussions or further analyses as to
the effects, that this war will have on US economy. From here you may also
make further conclussions and analyses conserning the prospects of social
effects and political implications of such an US foreign action.

We know that the US is in a growing social 'crisis', but that is has also
been able so far 'officially' and from 'the top' to 'hide' this tendency. On
the very immediate level the increased imperialist efforts towards war may
even seem to 'strengthen' the US more.

But will the experiment hold ? And if it does: For how long ?
__________________

Well - and now:

You observe cuts and setbacks in US social/economic conditions. One
interpetation is that excactly this is what the war-psycosis is supposed to
cover. Another question is exactly for how long they can get away with it.

So to all of you from the US: observe and inform us about the conditions and
reactions of the working class during this period.

Greetings
Carlos

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