re: economic strategy and the state

[Doug Henwood <dhenwood@xxxxxxxxx>]

The state is contested terrain, as the saying goes - in a democracy,
even one as flawed as ours, it's no simple tool of the bourgeoisie by any
means. But the balance of forces within the state generally reflects the
balance of forces in society, and right now the balance of forces is
decidedly in favor of the bourgeoisie. Even a centrist to moderately
liberal fellow like Clinton is having the damnedst time getting his weak
agenda through Congress; all his compromises so far have been with the
right. This is partly due to his own instincts, history, and base in the
right wing of the Democratic party, but it's also the result of the
weakness of forces to his left, who are largely silent, and who refuse to
pressure him in any significant way.

Given this picture of massive weakness, not to mention lack of political
imagination,  how the hell can we seriously talk about taking on the IMF?

Doug

Doug Henwood [dhenwood@xxxxxxxxx]
Left Business Observer
212-874-4020 (voice)
212-874-3137 (fax)