Re: the political economy of oil; minor historical footnote

[dmschanoes <dmschanoes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've said just that at the time of OPEC 1.  But most of all the myth of oil
scarcity, and the reality of oil price rises, has been convenient in
hobbling the living standards of the working class.  1973 is marked by two
interlocked events-- OPEC 1 and the overthrow of Allende, both announcing
capital's offensive against the wage and welfare levels established from
1948-1973, and there is a quantifiable decline in the rate of profit
triggering both the specific and general maneuvers of capital.

I don't know if the debate about scarcity can be settled here.  But the
argument is repeatedly offered that oil is scarce, water is scarce, cities
are too large, industrial farming doesn't work, etc. etc., and I think it is
essential to clarify the issues and elements surrounding this debate, and
flatly oppose certain positions based on assumptions of scarcity.
Otherwise you get a discussion list that isn't, or becomes a billboard for
individuals to post their self-advertisements without engaging others,
without engaging in a real exploration of the social relations that make up
an economy, a history, a conflict.

Regarding water, 11/29/03 online issue of Economic and Political Weekly --
http://www.epw.org -- has a couple of interesting articles about the meaning
and history of water, scarcity, waste, and colonialism.

dms