Re: [Pen-l] Rick Kuhn on the economic crisis

[Doyle Saylor <doylesaylor@xxxxxxx>]

Greetings Economists,
On Oct 20, 2008, at 4:25 PM, Jim Devine wrote:

> My point was that we shouldn't fetishise crises as the cause of mass
> movements for socialism.  Crises can just as well produce right-wing
> mass movements.

Doyle;
I agree we should not fetishize crises.  In face it inclines me to say  
that only mass movements can authorize crises into progressive  
directions.  Historically left movements started before crises  
though.  Our present conditions are very different.  The hegemonic  
influence of the U.S. affected nations differently from the WWI crises  
that sparked global left movements of socialist and communist  
flavors.  I don't think fascism is a viable alternative for the U.S.   
Some other barbarity yes.  Fascism no.  Fascism has no use against  
fellow capitalist.  I don't see any other state willing to take on the  
U.S. in a brutal expansionist conflict like WWII.

So I would be a bit more precise now.  I see crisis happening.  I  
don't see a fascist movement likely to rise.  I see a national  
security state as a bulwark against social movements.  But that is not  
fascism.  I see the decline of U.S. power forcing reformism.  I guess  
a radical option might arise if the reformism does not stabilize the  
U.S. hegemonic power.  I'm pretty confident a left progressive  
movement arises out of globalist features of states combining outside  
of the U.S. orbit.  I don't see the U.S. able to fend off those ideas  
under the present regime of power.  I do think the next five years  
will give us insight into whether reforms are enough for the U.S.?  I  
would expect a new right wing set of ideas to supplant the failed neo- 
liberals, and if not successful fomenting a general left wave to come.
Thanks,
Doyle Saylor
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