Re: imperialists unite against indonesian aggression

["Jordan D. Bell" <chanodin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'd find it somewhat contradictory for any imperialist power to lend
> support to a UN sponsored peace keeping mission to East Timor, especially
> as the Americans were the main source of military equipment for the
> Indonesian forces in East Timor, although I do not consider the objection
> to peace keeping (I have a dislike of that phrase, as it lends itself to
> peace making, which further lends itself to disrepute) on the grounds that
> it is simply masked aggression. As is illustrated beautifully in the video
> Manufacturing Consent, in the 1970s actions on par and in relative terms
> greater than those in Cambodia (which were sparked by unjustified American
> bombings) went on in Indonesian occupied East Timor (the invasion of
> which, incidentally, happened hours after Ford leaving Indonesia).

(Due to problems I have with deletion of text due to me using a text based
unix email client, ignore all following material)

>    CPP website URL
> >    Re: Forwarded from Andy G., the DSP'er
> >    (Fwd) pol-cien : Banco Mundial
> >    RE: 1900 [restored]
> >    India articles
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 08:51:39 -0400
> > From: Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Forwarded from Andy G., the DSP'er
> >
> > "Those who talk about revolution and class struggle without referring to
> > everyday reality have a corpse in their mouth." - mayjune '68 graffiti
> >
> > A question:  is it possible to *in general* be opposed to imperialism in the
> > way a communist ought to be? (ie consistent & clear opposition) but - due to
> > an analysis of the situation - call on imperialism to carry out a specific
> > task that will:
> >
> > 1. End the post-ballot "scorched earth" policy of the Indonesian
> > military-terror gangs, in other words 'genocide'
> > 2. End  Indonesian military occupation
> > 3. Reverse the Australian foreign policy relationship with the Indonesian
> > regime.
> >
> > ??? - can someone please respond on this important 'theoretical' question
> > (I'm serious), maybe we can call them an 'authority' on the subject (I'm
> > being nasty)
> >
> > for my mind its a choice between:
> >
> > 1. helping all world wide anti-capitalist activists keep a clear and clean
> > image of the true nature of capitalist imperialism
> > 2. helping the East Timorese anti-capitalist activists save their own lives
> > to be able to keep a clear and clean image of the true nature of capitalist
> > imperialism in the future.
> >
> > Andy.
> >
> > PS -- Yes, MacDonald the Aussies are still there but then again so are the
> > East Timorese (as we keep reminding over and over again) especially those
> > joining the fastest growing socialist party in the region, the PST
> > (Socialist Party of Timor) - they've even got a website address
> > http://www.pst-timor.org/ but it isn't real flash (for reasons I can
> > probably guess)
> >
> > - ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Julio Pino" <jpino@xxxxxxxx>
> > To: <marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 1:13 AM
> > Subject: Re: An inspiring trend
> >
> >
> > > Just to put the issue of Cuban support to the UN mission in East
> > > Timor(which I feel was/is a great mistake on their part).
> > > 1. The Cuban government originally opposed the sending of UN troops to E.
> > > Timor, and came under strong, and unusual(since the two parties are quite
> > > close in relations) criticism from the Portuguese CP in its paper,
> > > "Avante!" The PCP enthusiastically supported the Lisbon government's call
> > > for UN intervention, arguing that Portugal, as the former colonial power,
> > > had an extra "moral responsibility" to rescue E. Timor.It may have been a
> > > coincidence, but several days after the "Avante!" editorial Granma came
> > out
> > > in favor of UN intervention.
> > > 2. How do the Cubans square their backing of the UN mission in Timor with
> > > their stated opposition to the UN/US invasion of Haiti to "curb the death
> > > squads and restore democracy"? What's unique about this case?
> > > 3. At best, under the UN/Aussie flag Timor will be ruled by an
> > > "Aristide"-like figure, who will be paid to do nothing in office but talk
> > > the talk.(Several candidates are in the wings, waiting for this
> > > assignment). At worst, as MacDonald Stainsby asserts, Timor will be
> > > reincorporated into Indonesia on a neocolonial basis, or as an
> > > "independent" state totally subservient to the US, just like Kosovo.
> > > 4. Those who argue for the UN mission present us with a false dichotomy:
> > do
> > > nothing and watch while Timor burns, or cheer the US/Un/Aus.
> > > intervention.Anybody remember international labor solidarity? It's a tough
> > > task, but it beats asking the imperialists to live up to their promises,
> > > which we know they won't fulfill. Just look at Haiti today.
> > > Julio Cesar Pino
> >
> >
> > Louis Proyect
> > Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org/
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 09:40:15 +0700
> > From: Ashley Catherine Weber <weberash@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: unsubscribe
> >
> > Please take me off the mailing list
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 09:53:35 -0400
> > From: Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: unsubscribe
> >
> > In the future, please keep these instructions in mind. If you want to
> > unsub, send mail to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx with the message "unsubscribe
> > marxism" or "unsubscribe marxism-digest".
> >
> > At 09:40 AM 4/15/00 +0700, you wrote:
> > >Please take me off the mailing list
> > >
> >
> > Louis Proyect
> > Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org/
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 10:10:42 -0400 (EDT)
> > From: Les Schaffer <godzilla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: Elian, Gloria and Andy
> >
> > Jose said:
> >
> > > It is this mindset that led to Elián's kidnapping. These Miami
> > > relatives and the right-wing exile groups could not possibly
> > > conceive of sending the child back when he made it to Miami, in
> > > fact, it must have been God's Will that he BE in Miami otherwise he
> > > wouldn't have saved him
> >
> > i am trying to piece together in my mind the first few hours of this
> > kidnapping. how did Elian go from swimming in salty water to this
> > particular single story house in Miami? i assume the Coast Guard fits
> > in here somewhere, but there must be several pieces to this puzzle.
> >
> > les schaffer
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 09:31:37 -0500
> > From: Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: 1900 [restored]
> >
> > Sam,
> >
> > Your post gives no information on the availability or
> > non-availability of the movie.
> >
> > Carrol
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 12:54:03 -0400
> > From: Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: The conjuncture
> >
> > The conjuncture of a sharp decline in the US equity markets, weekend
> > protests in Washington DC against the IMF and World Bank, and the
> > continuing battle over custody of Elian Gonzalez raises interesting
> > questions about the class struggle.
> >
> > Marxism, especially of the academic variety, tends to lag behind changes in
> > the objective conditions. This was most obviously the case with the market
> > socialist trend popular about a decade or so ago, which took as an
> > operating principle the utopian beliefs of the Eastern European
> > intelligentsia of the previous decade.
> >
> > While it is not meant to provide a crystal ball for the future, it is
> > imperative that Marxism stay focused on current realities with the hope
> > that underlying dynamics might be identified. Understanding such dynamics
> > helps us make battle plans for the future.
> >
> > LATIN AMERICAN and the CARIBBEANS:  The G-77 conference held in Havana last
> > week, which provided a venue for Fidel Castro's stinging attack on the
> > World Bank and IMF, was notable for the obvious close links between the
> > Cubans and the Venezuelans. While pressure is being applied to drive a
> > wedge between the two countries, it has not succeeded as yet. The Financial
> > Times reported on March 24:
> >
> > >>However, the depth of last year's recession, and the slow expected pace
> > of recovery, are also down to a collapse in private domestic and foreign
> > investment because of concern over the direction of government policy,
> > analysts say. Televised speeches by President Hugo Chavez on the barbarism
> > of "savage neo-liberalism" and the merits of the Cuban model of development
> > have prompted the private sector to suspend investment plans.
> >
> > "The frequent rejection by Mr Chavez of liberal policies and sympathy with
> > Fidel Castro conspire against a recovery of the Venezuelan economy," said
> > Mr Ochoa. Non-oil private investment is expected to reach no more than
> > Dollars 2bn this year, or about 2 per cent of gross domestic product.<<
> >
> > Meanwhile, OPEC has elected a Venezuelan government official with a
> > background in the country's 1960s guerrilla movement to head the cartel.
> > This was to a way of thanking Venezuela for its role in stiffening the
> > resolve of the oil-producing countries to cut back on production. This
> > generated higher prices and revenues. It was exactly the fear of higher
> > prices that supposedly led to the swoon on Wall Street this month.
> >
> > It is the Cuban role in providing a pole of resistance against imperialism
> > that makes Washington hesitant to extend the same kind of trade relations
> > that it has extended to China in the past. The Heritage Foundation has an
> > interesting paper making these points that is available on their website
> > (www.heritage.org) that I urge people to study.
> >
> > The fact that Janet Reno is dragging her heels can only be partially
> > explained by her roots in Miami's reactionary political culture. More
> > importantly it reflects an ambivalence about Cuba's role in world politics.
> > For all of the talk about the "new Cuba", there is still a draconian
> > Helms-Burton act in place that punishes any country or corporation that
> > sells medical goods to Cuba among other things. Furthermore, Al Gore has
> > staked out a position on the custody battle that is virtually
> > indistinguishable from the gusano community. And this slug is going to be
> > the next president of the USA in all likelihood.
> >
> > Cuba can not be tolerated by Washington particularly at this time because
> > there are obvious signs that the Latin American revolution is in a upswing.
> > We have had reports this week directly from Cochabamba, Bolivia's second
> > city, and center of the rebellion against a rise in water prices (!). While
> > I tend to be leery of James O'Connor's "second contradiction" theory, if
> > there ever was a case to be made for it, it is in Bolivia.
> >
> > The Peruvian elections and the recent rebellion in Ecuador also reflect
> > many of the same forces at work in Bolivia. Peasant farmers of Incan
> > descent find themselves thrust into an untenable economic situation. The
> > very forces that are being protested against in Washington this weekend are
> > behind the unrest in the Andes. Capitalism, as one might expect, is pushing
> > ahead with the very economic changes that are radicalizing indigenous and
> > agrarian peoples. How appropriate for the gravediggers to be of Incan
> > descent, the very first group to suffer genocide at the hands of the
> > European plunderers. When the popular masses begin to defend their struggle
> > with arms, there will most certainly be a military showdown such as the
> > kind taking shape in Colombia.
> >
> > Turning to Colombia, we learn that the US is fully committed to delivering
> > a multibillion dollar aid program to "fight drugs". Everybody understands
> > that this is a counter-insurgency program that might lead to the
> > introduction of US troops if it can not eliminate the FARC and the ELN.
> > Just to refresh peoples' memory, this combined 20,000 guerrilla army,
> > fighting separately but against the same enemy, are inspired by the Soviet
> > Union and Cuba respectively. The FARC was formed as the rural detachment of
> > the CP of Colombia, while the ELN was a conscious attempt to emulate the
> > July 26th movement. For all of the talk about the "death of Communism", it
> > seems alive and kicking in what might turn out to be the next Vietnam.
> >
> > Venezuela is considered to be friendly to the guerrilla movements,
> > although, like Cuba, it has avoided providing direct support for the
> > combatants.
> >
> > AFRICA:  During the financial euphoria that existed prior to the Asian
> > meltdown, this continent was expected to be the next hot spot for
> > investors. The Oct. 31, 1994 Financial Times reported: "'The situation is
> > looking better now for Africa than at any time in the past 30 years, and
> > there's real potential for growth,' observes one analyst who recently
> > started assessing African stocks."
> >
> > What a difference a few short years can make. The African economies are
> > failing, while ambitious plans to create an intra-African trading network
> > remain unfilled. Rather than cooperation for the benefit of the masses, the
> > regional states are at war with each other over the spoils of Mobutu's
> > former homeland. While all nominally committed to anti-imperialist
> > policies, South Africa, Angola, Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia cynically
> > choose sides on the basis of whether the winner can deliver momentary
> > commercial gains.
> >
> > Neither the fall of Mobutu, nor the ouster of Portuguese colonialism, nor
> > the end of apartheid have resulted in new social relations on the
> > continent. While it is possible to understand the failure of Africa to
> > usher in socialism during the epoch of the collapse of the Soviet Union, it
> > is more difficult to understand how each of the "revolutionary" regimes has
> > failed to even muster the sort of egalitarian standards set by Thomas
> > Sankara in resource-meager Burkina Faso twenty years ago.
> >
> > The most recent symbol of ineptitude is Mugabe's cynical use of land
> > occupiers as pawns in his battle with the electoral opposition in Zimbabwe.
> > In the 20 years of independence, Zimbabwe has failed to attack inequality
> > in land. The white settlers own nearly all of the fertile land and Mugabe's
> > land reform program--such as it is--has proceeded on the basis of cash
> > compensation to the owners, who seized the land illegally to begin with. To
> > pay the settlers, Mugabe has been reliant on stipends from Anglo-American
> > imperialism. In order to receive cash, the Zimbabwean government has bent
> > over backwards to adopt structural reforms proposed by the IMF and the
> > World Bank. These "reforms" are propelling the landless masses in Zimbabwe
> > to attack the white farms. All in all, Zimbabwe's problems can not be
> > resolved within the framework of capitalism. For new forces for political
> > change to take shape, it will be as a side-effect of the land seizures
> > rather than any conscious effort by the discredited bureaucracy.
> >
> > CHINA: One of the interesting aspects of the latest Socialist Scholars
> > Conference in NYC last month was the heavy participation of Chinese
> > Marxists, both from within the mainland and in the émigré community. For
> > example, Paoyo Ching, a professor from Mount Holyoke, spoke at one panel on
> > Maoist development strategy. Her analysis of the Maoist approach was laced
> > with pungent and correct observations on the global economic crisis. She
> > predicted that moves away from the Maoist self-reliance model, while
> > addressing the need for technology and investment capital on one hand, will
> > lead to problems in other areas, particularly foreign debt. She said that
> > as soon as Mexico started to produce fruit for the foreign market instead
> > of corn for domestic consumption, the price for imported food began to
> > impoverish the rural masses. The same process is unfolding in China today,
> > as rice farmers now produce silk for the export market.
> >
> > It is difficult for many of us in the United States who first learned about
> > Chinese Marxism through intermediaries like the deranged Maoist sects to
> > appreciate the depth of the revolutionary transformation that took place.
> > This transformation affected not only the material conditions of life for
> > the desperately poor, it also inspired a generation of intellectuals to
> > embrace Marxist thought. Unlike the Soviet Union, Marxism remained more
> > than a ritual incantation.
> >
> > Some economists predict a 5 percent unemployment rate as China evolves
> > toward a full scale capitalist system. In a country that has a population
> > of one billion, this means 50 million unemployed. This is a formula for
> > social dynamite. It will be important for Marxists in the western world to
> > extend solidarity to those forces in China who are fighting against
> > capitalism. As a part of this process, it will be necessary to dispense
> > with prejudices against Maoism which will no doubt influence the shape of a
> > Marxist renaissance to some extent.
> >
> > UNITED STATES: Key to the success of revolutionary transformation overseas
> > is the state of the revolutionary movement in the United States. For the
> > first time in years there are signs of an incipient radicalization as
> > thousands of youth join in campaigns to fight against sweatshops and
> > ecological despoliation. This takes place in the context of a changed
> > environment in the trade unions, as the hard-core anticommunism of the old
> > guard no longer exists.
> >
> > As one might expect in the early stages of a radicalization, the class
> > lines are not clearly delineated. This is reflected most clearly in some of
> > the troubling aspects of the new movement around trade with China. Although
> > the anti-sweatshop movement involves some of the most dedicated new
> > radicals on campus, the fact remains that the nationalist bureaucracy of
> > UNITE, the textile workers union, provides funding for most of the groups.
> >
> > It would be a sectarian mistake to condemn this new movement as a
> > conspiracy of the nationalist sectors of the trade union movement. Instead
> > Marxists must find a way to propose concrete alternatives to trade barriers
> > that would lead to better working conditions and higher wages for workers
> > employed by Nike, etc.
> >
> > The answers to these sorts of questions require a deeper engagement with
> > Marxism. In the past decade or so, Marxism has had to confront challenges
> > on many fronts. From within the academy, it has had to answer the arguments
> > of postmodernists who question the validity of revolutionary change as a
> > project. While cast in all sorts of philosophical gobbledygook, the
> > objections are no different than they were in the 1950s, another period of
> > deep reaction. They all boil down to the same thing, namely that attempts
> > to transform society along the lines of a "utopian idea" (ie., grand
> > narrative, etc.) lead to gulags and Pol Pot. Politically there is very
> > little to distinguish between Hannah Arendt and Baudrillard, although
> > Arendt made her points with much more clarity and conviction than the
> > wisecracking carnival barker Baudrillard.
> >
> > If the period we are on the precipice of turns out to be something like the
> > 1930s and 1960s combined, Marxism will find that most of the answers to its
> > opponents are contained in objective reality itself, which will be much
> > more radical than anything we can dream of.
> >
> > As we enter that period, it will be very important for Marxists to be very
> > open-minded and generous with those we have debated with in the past. A
> > united front against the ruling class can not be made on the basis of some
> > litmus test which requires all of the "politically correct" answers to a
> > battery of questions. In general, actions will speak louder than words. It
> > doesn't really matter what one thinks of Derrida as long as one understand
> > that it is necessary to demonstrate against the IMF.
> >
> >
> > Louis Proyect
> > Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org/
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 14:02:17 -0300
> > From: "Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: Elian, Gloria and Andy
> >
> > Shame on me, it is my impression that Andy García has done some
> > excelent actoral work, and worse yet, I like Gloria Estefan's music.
> > But wasn't Balzac monarchic?
> >
> > The explanation by José is outstanding, in that it reveals the kind
> > of émigré morality (a name must be put on that) that the United
> > States of America have FOSTERED in the Miami gang. The terrible thing
> > with all this is that Miami has become a relay station for Latin
> > American non-socialist (not always necessarily reactionary)
> > politicians in their vinculation with the USA. It thus becomes a
> > structural necessity for the Empire in the shaping of a Latin
> > American policy, and of course this gives them a position from which
> > they can ensure their interests are duly met by the all too eager
> > American bourgeois.
> >
> > But Elián will not stay in the USA for long. The Cubans are winning a
> > battle!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
> > gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 15:22:14 -0300
> > From: "Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: 1900 [restored]
> >
> > En relación a 1900 [restored],
> > el 15 Apr 00, a las 0:53, Sam Pawlett dijo:
> >
> >
> > A stunning and chilling perfomance is
> > > given by Donald Sutherland as the fascist leader/foreman of the
> > > estate. Only an old Marxist like Sutherland could play a fascist
> > > leader so convincingly,  bringing out in hideous detail the
> > > psychopathic nature of that particular movement and the personalities
> > > that constitute it.  Sutherland's performance grows more satirical and
> > > ironic each time I see this film.
> >
> > I did not know that Sutherland was an old Marxist. But this helps to
> > explain the greatness of his performing. His Fascist is, actually,
> > what "everyone wants to know about Fascism but did not dare to ask".
> >
> > If 1900 had no other merit, that character would make it a must.
> >
> > ...
> >
> > >     The film ends on an ambigious note, suggesting that there is much
> > >     to
> > > be done. Alfredo announcing that "the padrone lives" suggests that it
> > > will be business and exploitation as usual. The "Committee for
> > > National Liberation and Reconciliation" arrives and demands the
> > > worker's weapons. They bitterly hand in their guns amongst murmurings
> > > of ?sell out' and the ?same old story.'
> >
> > This is one of the most striking features of the film, and it also
> > portrays with a bitter acidity the basic meaning of Italian politics
> > after 1945, where the Communist Party and the popular masses
> > neglected a golden opportunity to seize power. Thus, Alfredo and Olmo
> > can just keep hitting each other to the end, in an endless merry-go-
> > round of political impasses.
> >
> > Gramsci would have been proud to watch this film, but he would have
> > certainly been more proud to have seen an Italy where such a film had
> > never been shot.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
> > gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 15:58:14 -0300
> > From: "Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: The conjuncture
> >
> > En relación a The conjuncture,
> > el 15 Apr 00, a las 12:54, Louis Proyect dijo:
> >
> > >
> > > Cuba can not be tolerated by Washington particularly at this time
> > > because there are obvious signs that the Latin American revolution is
> > > in a upswing. We have had reports this week directly from Cochabamba,
> > > Bolivia's second city, and center of the rebellion against a rise in
> > > water prices (!).
> >
> > The "(!)" may well deserve a comment. Water provision in Cochabamba
> > was handed over to a private consortium of foreign capitalists that
> > included the Impregilo company, a gang of bribe snatchers who
> > probably carry the largest share of blame in turning the Argentine-
> > Paraguay dam at Yaciretá a "monument to corruption" (words of an
> > Argentinian official so that guess...).  I am trying to get direct
> > reports from Bolivian Marxists of my acquaintance, but they seem too
> > busy as yet. The Impregilo issue, however, was commented by their
> > delegate in Argentina, who added: "Impregilo believed they could
> > behave in Bolivia the way they behaved among us".
> >
> > At the same time, we are witnessing a rise (with an increasingly
> > against-the-model, that is against the only capitalism possible here,
> > bias) politization of Argentinian unions and labor movement, and
> > protests in the provinces such as the one in Corrientes a few months
> > ago, and now in Resistencia, Chaco, where the unemployed entered the
> > provincial Capitolium on horseback and destroyed anything they could
> > take hold of!
> >
> > In fact, I delightedly discovered with the students of a course I
> > give at the University of Buenos Aires (translated to American
> > standards it would be called Geography 101, that is I have an
> > audience of people around 20-22 years old!) that the new generation
> > is already ripe for new messages, unlike their predecessors of four
> > or five years ago. The lessons to be taken out of the experience of
> > "actually existing capitalism" seem to be beginning to take shape in
> > the minds of the young Argentinian university students. Of course,
> > the whole intellectual structure of the University will soon try to
> > deform their minds, so that I deliver my teachings with a delighted
> > hope in that with "my girls and boys" they will not be able to deal!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
> > gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 15:58:14 -0300
> > From: "Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: (Fwd) pol-cien : Cuentito
> >
> > Un cuentito muy simpático y tremendo. Dardo Scavino escribe desde la
> > Argentina, pero tengo la sensación de que muchos se verán reflejados.
> >
> > Y el Titanic, como dijo Fidel, marcha derechito hacia el témpano...
> >
> >
> >
> > - ------- Forwarded message follows -------
> > From:               "amendez" <amendez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To:                 <pol-cien@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject:            pol-cien : Cuentito
> > Date sent:          Sat, 15 Apr 2000 15:26:40 -0300
> >
> >
> > > =======================================================
> >
> > > Hace unos años, un científico japonés explicaba en una
> > > publicidad de coches como el planeta se estaba
> > > recalentando debido, según el, al llamado efecto
> > > invernadero. Los gases emitidos por los propios autos
> > > no son, como se sabe, ajenos a este fenómeno. Y sin
> > > embargo, la publicidad no promovía un dispositivo anti
> > > polución sino un nuevo sistema de aire acondicionado:
> > > Qué importa que el planeta se recaliente, si usted
> > > puede viajar fresco en su coche!
> > > Esta manera de ver las cosas, por supuesto, es
> > > completamente ilusoria, dado que si ese fenómeno
> > > climático progresa, el conductor de ese vehículo no se
> > > salvará del desastre por mas aire acondicionado que
> > > tenga. Y sin embargo esa lógica aberrante rige, en la
> > > etapa actual del capitalismo, nuestra vida cotidiana.
> > > Nuestra existencia depende no solo del estado de la
> > > atmósfera, de la fertilidad del suelo o de la pureza
> > > del agua, sino también, y antes que nada, del trabajo
> > > de los otros, ya que una sociedad, no hace falta
> > > decirlo, es un vasto sistema de cooperación colectiva.
> > > Necesitamos a los obreros que hornean el pan, a los
> > > trabajadores que mantienen las redes de electricidad,
> > > a los albañiles que construyen casas, a los médicos
> > > que curan achaques, o a los docentes que forman, como
> > > necesitamos el agua, la tierra y el aire.
> > > en fin, somos seres colectivos porque somos
> > > interdependientes. Y sin embargo, pensamos que la
> > > suerte de los otros no es asunto nuestro. Y cual es
> > > nuestro problema? Que ganamos cada vez menos y que las
> > > cosas cuestan cada vez mas. Pero que son estas cosas
> > > sino el trabajo de los otros? Y como puede ser que el
> > > trabajo de los otros nos salga cada vez mas caro y que
> > > cada uno de ellos gane al mismo tiempo menos?
> > > Alguien se queda con la diferencia.
> > > Alguien nos compra el trabajo mas barato y nos lo
> > > vende mas caro. Alguien se apropia, pues, de la
> > > cooperación social, y no es, seguramente, quienes
> > > vivimos de un sueldo. De quién se trata entonces?
> > > Consúltese las estadísticas y se verá que un
> > > porcentaje mínimo de la población se apropia la mayor
> > > parte de la riqueza, es decir, del trabajo de la
> > > mayoría.
> > > Se encontrará entonces a quien le interesa que los
> > > problemas de los otros no sean asunto nuestro, que la
> > > salud, la educación, la vivienda y la producción en
> > > general no se conviertan en un problema público. O
> > > dicho de otro modo: que la comunidad no se re apropie
> > > de su cooperación colectiva. El individualismo,
> > > indisolublemente unido a la economía de mercado, es
> > > una estrategia de poder: mientras cada uno se ocupe de
> > > lo suyo, nadie se va a ocupar de lo que ocurra con la
> > > sociedad. El individualismo no es la consecuencia de
> > > una crisis moral, sino de una desaparición masiva de
> > > la política. Porque, quién es el "animal político"
> > > sino aquél que piensa que los problemas de la
> > > comunidad son, justamente, "asunto suyo"?
> > > Pero ya sabemos cuales fueron las condiciones
> > > históricas de esta desaparición: La eliminación del
> > > estudiante que no se contentaba con estudiar, del
> > > trabajador que no se limitaba a trabajar, del profesor
> > > que no se conformaba con enseñar, de todos quienes se
> > > "metieron en cosas raras" o se pusieron a "hacer
> > > política", en lugar de ocuparse, como todo el mundo,
> > > de "lo suyo".
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dardo Scavino
> >
> >   Filósofo
> >
> >
> > - ------- End of forwarded message -------
> >
> >
> >
> > Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
> > gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 16:09:53 -0300
> > From: "Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: The conjuncture
> >
> >  A united front against the ruling class can not be made on the
> > > basis of some litmus test which requires all of the "politically
> > > correct" answers to a battery of questions. In general, actions will
> > > speak louder than words. It doesn't really matter what one thinks of
> > > Derrida as long as one understand that it is necessary to demonstrate
> > > against the IMF.
> >
> > "A single step ahead in the real movement is worth a hundred
> > programs"
> >
> > You are a plagiary, Lou, but one of the best in the bunch!
> >
> > Congratulations for your posting!
> >
> >
> >
> > Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
> > gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 22:27:59 +0100
> > From: communistaction <communistaction@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: CPP website URL
> >
> > Has anyone got an up to date URL for the Communist Party of the Philippines?
> > The one Ihave bookmarked (www.geocities.com/~cpp......) not longer works. 
> > Have
> > they moved?
> >
> > Jim H
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 16:30:47 -0500
> > From: Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Re: Forwarded from Andy G., the DSP'er
> >
> > Andy G wrote:
> >
> > > "Those who talk about revolution and class struggle without referring to
> > > everyday reality have a corpse in their mouth." - mayjune '68 graffiti
> >
> > Everyday reality in the present case, of course, includes the fact that
> > the action of the imperialist powers in East Timor would have been
> > exactly the same if the DSP had not existed. Their activity around
> > that event resembled exactly the activity of the astronomer in Johnson's
> > *Rasselas*, who believed that his predictions caused the sun to
> > rise each morning and was concerned to recruit a replacement so
> > that the sun would continue to rise after his own death.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > A question:  is it possible to *in general* be opposed to imperialism in 
> > > the
> > > way a communist ought to be? (ie consistent & clear opposition) but - due 
> > > to
> > > an analysis of the situation - call on imperialism to carry out a specific
> > > task that will:
> >
> > It depends on the concrete situation. There must be an agent, with concrete
> > features, operating under concrete conditions. The question above ignores
> > this -- hence ignoring the fact that within the actual situation existing in
> > the world today voices supporting imperialism are only that -- voices
> > supporting imperialism. Any qualifications they may add to their support
> > merely put them in the category of Johnson's astronomer.
> >
> > The remainder of Andy G's arguments need not be responded to, since
> > they bear on a world that does not exist -- a world in which DSP support
> > of Australian imperialism would make a material difference -- a difference
> > other than contributing to the self-righteousness of Andy G and his
> > comrades, that is.
> >
> > Carrol
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 19:20:17 -0300
> > From: "Nestor Miguel Gorojovsky" <gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: (Fwd) pol-cien : Banco Mundial
> >
> > Comrades,
> >
> > Two things are important on this mail. In the first place, the
> > contents, which of course is available to any Grawdian reader, and in
> > the second place, the sender.
> >
> > Patricio Garrahan is no Marxist nor radical, he is a mainstream
> > Argentinian scientist, who directs a children's hospital in Buenos
> > Aires that carries the name of his father.
> >
> > He is an able administrator and a midstream progressive. But, at
> > last, the hardships of the De La Rúa regime (P.G. must have certainly
> > voted him) are beginning to put people nervous. Who knows...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > - ------- Forwarded message follows -------
> > Date sent:          Sat, 15 Apr 2000 17:30:12 -0300
> > To:                 pol-cien@xxxxxxxxxx
> > From:               PATRICIO J GARRAHAN <garrahan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject:            pol-cien : Banco Mundial
> >
> > Este comentario que puede ser pertinente para nuestro pais aparecio
> > en
> > el Guardian de UK el 13 de abril del corriente.
> >
> >
> >
> > TO KEEP THEM DESTITUTE AND STARVING
> >
> > The World Bank's practices allow the rich to steal from the poor
> >
> > George Monbiot
> > Thursday April 13, 2000
> > The Guardian
> >
> > The impoverished people of Zambia may have noticed a certain
> > discrepancy between what the World Bank says and what it does. The
> > state, the bank's officials insist, must reduce its spending, and
> > Zambia's people must pay for health and education out of their own
> > pockets. Yet the same officials, as well as enjoying some of the most
> > lavish public sector salaries on earth and generous "relocation
> > allowances", have free use of the best hospitals and the best schools:
> > the taxpayer meets their private health and education costs.
> >
> > As the researcher Mark Lynas has shown, the World Bank's "reforms" are
> > directly responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Zambian
> > people. Most cannot afford to buy their own medicines, so they die of
> > easily treatable diseases. Partly as a result, infant mortality in
> > Zambia has risen by 25% since 1980, while life expectancy has fallen
> > from 54 to 40. The cuts have forced Zambia's Siavonga Hospital to
> > merge its obstetrics and tuberculosis wards, with predictable results.
> > The government has also been forced to slash its spending on
> > education, from £40 per primary school pupil in 1991 to £10. Enrolment
> > has fallen from 96% in the mid-1980s to 77% today.
> >
> > On Sunday, thousands of people will converge in Washington to protest
> > against the World Bank's policies. There will be plenty to keep them
> > busy. For the World Bank is not, as it pretends to be, the saviour of
> > the world's poor, but their most deadly enemy.
> >
> > Every one of the bank's policies is beset by contradictions. It
> > claims, for example, to be the champion of free choice, yet its
> > prescriptions are resolutely Maoist. It promulgates precisely the same
> > approach to development everywhere on earth, regardless of
> > circumstance. It rules not by science but by slogan: the great leap
> > forward will be achieved by means of "comparative advantage",
> > "privatisation" and "trade liberalisation". It keeps pursuing its
> > crazy schemes even in the face of repeated failure: the bank is still
> > funding hydroelectric dams all over the developing world, for example,
> > despite scores of social and environmental catastrophes.
> >
> > The World Bank assures us that it is now the champion of female
> > education, having launched a handful of high profile schemes to
> > provide schooling for girls. But every year its "structural
> > adjustment" policies force millions out of school. Like the
> > International Monetary Fund, it uses third world debt to extract
> > concessions from developing countries, obliging them to cut their
> > spending and hand the public sector to foreign corporations. As
> > schooling throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa is now available only
> > to those who can pay, the girls are dumped.
> >
> > The bank claims to be fighting corruption. Yet it is one of the most
> > corrupt and corrupting institutions on earth. It lent Indonesia's
> > President Suharto a total of $25bn, much of which was stolen. Bank
> > staff knew this was happening and colluded in the theft, covering up
> > for the government in order to save face. In Washington the World Bank
> > is enmeshed in a sticky web of crony contracting, as large US
> > companies lean on their government to persuade the bank to give them
> > work. Last month, it demonstrated that it had picked up a few tips
> > from the corrupt regimes with which it cheerfully does business, by
> > appointing as its chief economist the brother of one of its
> > vice-presidents.
> >
> > About once a year, the World Bank admits that it has erred, and
> > promises that it has learnt from its mistakes. And every year it
> > immediately repeats them. When the massive migration schemes it funded
> > in Indonesia and Brazil led, predictably enough, to the displacement
> > and murder of indigenous people, the bank acknowledged that it should
> > not have provided the money. Today, however, it is investing in an
> > almost identical scheme in western China. In 1991, it conceded that
> > its forestry programmes were a disaster, and claimed to have changed
> > its approach. Two months ago the bank admitted that the new policy is
> > just as bad as the old one. It's not hard to see why the World Bank is
> > destined to sow destruction wherever it goes. The "disciplines" it
> > imposes are not, as it claims, market disciplines, but political
> > disciplines. It has just one true mandate: to engineer a neoliberal
> > world order so that first world countries can seize third world
> > resources. It will stop at nothing to achieve this end. It helped, for
> > example, to arrange both the 1998 re-election of Brazil's President
> > Cardoso and the collapse, in 1999, of the Brazilian currency. It
> > handed the first world a tame neoliberal regime, in other words, whose
> > assets became available at bargain basement prices to foreign
> > corporations.
> >
> > The World Bank has become the means whereby the rich are empowered to
> > steal the incomes of the poor. It claims to be defending the world
> > from disasters. In truth its purpose is to promote them.
> >
> > comment@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >                           © Copyright Guardian Media Group plc. 2000
> > - ------------------- Patricio J Garrahan Lab: Iquifib, Junín 956, 1113
> > Buenos Aires Lab Voice Phone +5411 4 962 5506, Fax Phone +5411 4962
> > 5457 Home: Posadas 1488 Segundo piso 1011 Buenos Aires Phone +5411
> > 4813 2298 -------------------
> >
> > - ------- End of forwarded message -------
> >
> >
> >
> > Néstor Miguel Gorojovsky
> > gorojovsky@xxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 21:38:54 -0300
> > From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Julio_Fern=E1ndez_Baraibar?= <julfb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: RE: 1900 [restored]
> >
> > Excellent post, Sam Pawlett.
> > I only will add this.
> > > > Only an old Marxist like Sutherland could play a fascist
> >  > > leader so convincingly,  bringing out in hideous detail the
> > > > psychopathic nature of that particular movement and the personalities
> > > > that constitute it.  Sutherland's performance grows more satirical and
> > > > ironic each time I see this film.
> > >
> > > I did not know that Sutherland was an old Marxist. But this helps to
> > > explain the greatness of his performing. His Fascist is, actually,
> > > what "everyone wants to know about Fascism but did not dare to ask".
> > >
> > > If 1900 had no other merit, that character would make it a must.
> >
> > I either knew that he was marxist. But I know, because I saw him in a TV
> > interview some years ago that he admired Peron and Eva Peron. It sounded so
> > strange for me that an American (or canadian) would express some admiring
> > judge about Peron and his regime that I thought Donald Sutherland was some
> > kind of populist-fascist. I apologize.
> > >
> > > ...
> > >
> > > >     The film ends on an ambigious note, suggesting that there is much
> > > >     to
> > > > be done. Alfredo announcing that "the padrone lives" suggests that it
> > > > will be business and exploitation as usual. The "Committee for
> > > > National Liberation and Reconciliation" arrives and demands the
> > > > worker's weapons. They bitterly hand in their guns amongst murmurings
> > > > of 'sell out' and the 'same old story.'
> > >
> > > This is one of the most striking features of the film, and it also
> > > portrays with a bitter acidity the basic meaning of Italian politics
> > > after 1945, where the Communist Party and the popular masses
> > > neglected a golden opportunity to seize power. Thus, Alfredo and Olmo
> > > can just keep hitting each other to the end, in an endless merry-go-
> > > round of political impasses.
> >
> > And the absolutely last scene of the film: The mole of the History that
> > comes in its cave, for appearing who knows when... Bertolucci's film is
> > great indeed.
> >
> > Julio FB
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 21:04:52 -0400
> > From: Richard Fidler <rfidler@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: India articles
> >
> > Just a note to thank our Indian correspondent Ulhas Joglekar
> > for drawing our attention to the article from The Hindu on
> > "Balance Sheet of the Left" (April 13 posting).
> >
> > I found both that article and the earlier one on
> > "indiaserver.com" quite insightful. Perhaps Ulhas could
> > enlighten us on who the author, Aijaz Ahmad, is.
> >
> > I think his explanation of the objective difficulties facing
> > the Soviet Union is illuminating although it largely
> > overlooks the negative role played by Stalin and Stalinism.
> >
> > But this view from the Indian subcontinent on the "short
> > 20th century" offers some perspectives with which those of
> > us in the imperialist countries are not sufficiently
> > acquainted.
> >
> > Let's have more of these postings!
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of marxism-digest V1 #2103
> > ******************************
> >
> >
>
> "There are no facts, only interpretations."
> -Fredreiche Neitzsche
>
>

"There are no facts, only interpretations."
-Fredreiche Neitzsche