Re: [Marxism] Immigration in the Australian Economy

[Ben Courtice <benj2006@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Calvin wrote
"Australia is more like Nazi Germany before the war, where German
workers were encouraged to, and did, look down on the cheaper lives,
labor and wares of conscripted Eastern European slave labourers."

Well, the second part is true in the sense that it's the normal ideology
of imperialism, bolstered by the secure situation afforded sections of
the imperialists' working class.

Comparing Australia to Nazi Germany is otherwise silly.

"Certainly the white Australian working class know it. That's why they
try and beat blacks down wherever they raise their head."

Well, as has been pointed out, this is not nearly the whole story,
although I'll testify that racism is pretty strong among large parts of
the white working class. Others have pointed out the huge protests for
reconciliation and so forth.

"Australia *is* an imperialist country. Its citizens are rich
(Australian GDP per capita $33,629, Lebanese GDP per capita $5,434),
and, furthermore, enjoy a far higher degree of income inequality than
the Lebanese (Australia with a Gini coefficient of 35 and Lebanon with a
Gini coefficient of 56)"

Yes, but the Lebanese youth in question are Australian citizens too. Of
course the Sydney suburban income differentials have been posted in more
detail by Nick.

The general point Calvin makes about combating the racists, the
pro-imperialists and so on (including those among the working class) is
fine with me, but his invective is a little sloppy I believe.

Ben

________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism