[PEN-L:1878] Re[2]: miscellaneous comments

[JDevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (James Devine)]

Among other things, Louis P writes: >>But the idea that the
average person could make heads or tails out of PEN-L chit-chat
is a delusion that Jim [meaning me]... seems to find useful.
However, for "socialism from below" to have any meaning, you have
to be able to reach people who are actually "below".<<

Louis, you're confusing my statement of what I want pen-l to be
with what it actually is. (I also think you put down URPE camp
too much, but that's another issue.) Notice that I said that I
thought pen-l could help the Left. Well if that Left stays in
academia, it's lost. I push to drive people away from
totally-abstract theorizing as much as I can (as with the
Roemerians who think that Walras + unequal wealth ownership +
game theory = the rational core of Marx).

I think that pen-l should be at several levels, from Bhakshar to
base communities. (You'll notice that Sid Schniad regularly posts
current events stuff, for which I thank him.) "High level"
discussion should be used to inform "low level" discussion and
_vice-versa_.

If I had the time, I would be on the Marxism list, too. But I'm
on the verge of cutting off all e-mail...

in pen-l solidarity,

Jim Devine   jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ.
7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950
"Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way
and let people talk.) -- K. Marx, paraphrasing Dante A.