Re: [Pen-l] Michael Heinrich versus the crisis-mongerers

[Carrol Cox <cbcox@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jim Devine wrote:
> 
> I tried to answer before, but I guess the browser on my cell phone
> doesn't allow that. It's more of an oral tradition than a specific
> person. I once read an academic ms. for a book that blithely linked
> the falling profit rate to crises to capitalism's end. I think it's a
> matter of "spontaneist" politics, i. e., hope that the FRP and crisis
> will automatically spark a prairie fire, i.e., mass opposition. No
> prior serious political work is needed. Just add a little propaganda
> and agitation.

That fits most of the posts on left-lists which proclaim various bad
things about capitalism or predict future  catastrophes of this or that
kinnd (e.g., global warming). All true, and all pretty much irrelevant
politically since there is no way to embed any of them in a concrete
mass movement. I'm at a loss as to strategy also, but this or that
catastrophe is not going to create a strategy for us. Economic
collapses, when they do occur, tend to dampen left activity because
everyone scurries for personal safety. The _recovery_ period from really
serious collapses may generate left movements. I see the upsurge that
started with quickened civil-rights activity in the mid-50s as grounded
in  the recovery from the pre-war depression. This aspect of those
movements was labelled "A Revolution of Rising Expectations." A
socialist world would probably deal better with the resdults of global
warming, but fear of global warming is not going to be much help in
achieving a socialist world.

Carrol

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