Re: debating the World Bank

[Chris Brady <chris_brady@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Mine's critique of Doug Henwood's Nation piece gave the impression that
he favored the fired reformers at the World Bank at the conclusion of
his report. To give him his due however, Henwood had earlier mentioned
that these  "Two forced departures from the World Bank have made the
limits of reform irrefutably clear."  When I read his comment :
"Neither Stiglitz nor Kanbur is a radical by any standard; both are
humane reformers who sincerely care about the world's poor."  --I
interpretted it to mean more like the road to hell is paved with good
intentions.  There have been many well-intentioned gradualist
socialists, progressive liberals and other reformers who were confronted
by the education of their experiences with schmoozy cooptation or
vicious elimination of opposition in and to intractible capitalism.
Count me among those who have made the quantum leap to finally accept
that capitalism cannot reform itself and will swallow any brave attempts
to try it, one way or another, by any means necessary.  Nor is there any
reformist road out of capitalism; that's a detour ending in a cul de sac
littered with wrecks.  So there are "humane reformers" out there who
still don't get it.  If they really cared, if they really had the
altruism, or experience, or reasoning to drive to the truth, they would
realize that the solution is socialist revolution.  Just say NO! to
capitalism PERIOD.

Nestor may recall our discussions earlier this year about Ricardo Lagos'
"Socialist" victory in Chile.  I maintain my position on the utility of
reform but I regard it as a device that demonstrates its own
incompleteness through use.  We have to draw attention to this dynamic,
but also provide realistic arguments for the (revolutionary)
alternatives.  Otherwise we encourage cynicism, nihilism, defeatism,
reversions to selfism, etc.  Recent revelations regarding reports about
the World Bank and from the United Nations can provide valuable lessons
--if Marxists *capitalize* on them... :)

YFTR,
Chris Brady