More on Market socialism

[Justin Schwartz <jschwart@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, 28 Jan 1996, boddhisatva wrote:
>
> JKS: "2. To the extent that markets do nonetheless create unemployment and
> inequality an MS system has to ensure full employment and a strong welfare
> safety net. Again, there are no systematic interests in opposing these,
> unlike in capitalism."
>
>       There is, in fact a large systematic interest in opposing welfare
> under socialism.  This is one of the legitimate objections to market
> socialism.
>
>       It seems clear that when the proletariat are making their own
> economic decisions, they will, unfortunately, take on the logic of  the petit
> bourgeoisie.  The meritocracy that they were force-fed under capitalism  -
> they will now be able to embrace and sooth the collective damaged ego with
> self-congratulation for economic success.  Under this condition, victims of
> downturn can easily be labeled as "slackers."

This is less than certain, although there's some evidence for it, e.g., in
Greenberg's (?) book on the plywood coops. ALthough that may be a US
phenomenon. In any case what the ideological shape of a postrevolutionary
socierty would be is very hard to surmise. I was talking, however, about
economic incentives. In capitalism a large group benefits by unemployment
and impoverishment. In MS no one would.

>
> important argument against a land of the petit-bourgeoisie - is the fact of
> the organizations that will get them to their rightful place.  Broad-based
> organizations, using mass action, require people to view their fates as
> interconnected with those of former strangers turned comrades.

Absolutely essential, unions in particular.

  Also
> ideologues such as you, I and our CP detractors, can create an enlightened
> political climate.  Hence the Communists are essential to decry both the
> present and the next phase, and keep crying and decrying until their
> end-state is reached.

Of course we need critics under any system. I don;t believe that histiory
has an end state, though.

--Justin




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