Re: Rosser, computers and socialism

[boddhisatva <kbevans@xxxxxxxxx>]

        First, some teasing.



The place: Washington state, near Seattle.

The people: Computer software engineers at one of America's most successful
high-tech industrial giants.

The occurrence: Panic, sheer panic as men squeal like weasels in frustration
or moan like yaks in despair.  They sit at terminals staring blankly, or
scurry into small groups guzzling coffee.  Their faces are alternately
flushed and bloodless as the new control system is moved to operate and like
a dead tree in a forest, shows a hideous infestation of bugs underneath.  The
showcase technology is failing its first, and most important deadline.  The
huge brains are reeling with exhaustion, their Mensa belt buckles cinched
tight over guts that haven't been filled with a home cooked meal in days.
The showcase project will be delayed, and their technology is the S.N.A.F.U..

The company: Boeing

The project: The 777

The task: To move a crane to lift an airplane wing a matter of yards.


        The engineers ask themselves: "Why can't we just be planning a large
industrial economy?".



        That aside, I accept Mr. Proyect's point that computerization negates
a great deal of what Nove conjectures.  Now the question really has to turn
to the Marxian analysis of whether central planning or market socialism fits
best into the next phase of the revolution, to what degree and how.


        I believe this also bears on the current fractiousness discussion.



        peace




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