Re: pen-l masochism revisited

[Ian Murray <seamus2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Devine, James" <jdevine@xxxxxxx>

> Of course, one of the points of "free trade" agreements is to undermine
the
> bargaining power of workers in the richer countries. This promotes
profits
> (all else equal) and protects businesses from workers being paid
decently,
> but I wouldn't call this "rent seeking." The latter term seems a bit
> over-used on pen-l.

===================

To the extent the capitalist ability to undermine the bargaining power of
workers in order to increase profits is secured via the State, it is rent
seeking. Do you really want to engage in hair splitting?


> Cutting wages (getting rid of unions, etc.) might be seen as a form of
> rent-seeking, since it can give special advantages. But when
generalized, as
> by a "free trade" agreement, it doesn't involve capitalists fighting
over
> the distribution of the pie. Instead, it raises the over-all volume of
> profits (all else equal, of course). It's more of a matter of a
one-sided
> class war by capitalists.

=================

And class war is never over the distibution of rents. And it's always one
sided. Please.



Ian