Re: Interesting exchange on overproduction (from psn-l)

["dmschanoes" <dmschanoes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Those interested in the interesting exchange of overproduction can access
Clarke's book at:
 http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~syrbe/mst/MST2003.htm.

But regarding underconsumption--  The weakness in the argument about
underconsumption is that is at core an argument of supply and demand and has
nothing to do with the historical development of overproduction and why it
ever occurs, must occur, with such important consequences for capital.

Capital cares nothing for consumption.  It produces for the production of
exchange value, for profit and not with consumption or use ever in mind.
The problem then for capital becomes one of expanding reproduction,
expanding the social relationship of production that animates the means of
production through the aggrandizement, the expropriation, the alienation of
labor.  It is in the alterations of that internal relationship that we can
find the surest evidence and meaning to overproduction.

Brother Melvin has been hitting on the proportionatal reduction of labor
power in the production process towards zero, and the tremendous impact this
has for the continued survival of the system as a whole.  I think he is
right on it. This manifestation of overproduction rages through the system
internationally, eliminating cost advantages in variable capital even as it
seeks them out as the capital to be reproduced and expanded has made the
wage proportion in the production process so "underweighted," undervalued.
Thus overproduction hits China as it hit the NICs in 1997-1998.  It is the
immensity, the unprofitability of reproduction that causes capital to
contract, to turn upon every manifestation of its previous social
development-- Brother Melvin points to the issue of medical care-- as
kindling for the furnace of deconstruction.

dms



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