Reply to Bill Mitchell from Phil O'Hara

[NOHARAPA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

dear Bill and others:

I have a lot of enpathy with you re your comments on the commodification of
life, Marx, and Xmas. Also re the problems of bloating on food and drink when
there are millions starving.

As to the ideological basis of life, you say that you are a marxist economist,
and that Marx was the most important economist for the evolution of non-
orthodox thought in pol economics; with Keynes coming a distant second. I
think you are probably right. Nevertheless, something is to be said for a
grand synthesis and eclectical transformation beyond the works of the great
masters: namely, Quesnay, Marx, Malthus, John Hobson, Thorstein Veblen, Keynes,
and Schumpeter, as well as many others of historical nintage and presently
living (Myrdal, Boulding, Bowles, Baran, Paul Bush and so on and on). What
do you think of the possibility of an eclectic heterodox tradition (linking
the material from the JEI, the JPKE, the RRPE, the CJE, etc.)??

As to soaking up the sun and the beauty of nature, I'd like to join you, but
unfortunately I live in Perth, Australia (and will soon be in the USA/England).
But next time I come to Newcastle I'll call in to see you if you like. Why
don't some of the PKTers from the USA and England and elsewhere come and visit
us in Australia?? You are welcome!

If you are interested in nature and the environment, then the journal called
Capitalism, Nature and Socialism might be rewarding to read. Edited by James
O'Connor from the Centre for Political Ecology at the Uni of California (Santa
Cruz): email cns@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

fraternally and best wishes for 94!

Phil O'Hara, Economics, Curtin Univ, Perth, Australia