Re: European Union

[Andrew Wayne Austin <aaustin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Mon, 1 Jun 1998, Dennis R Redmond wrote:

> On Sun, 31 May 1998, Andrew Wayne Austin wrote:
>
> > I oppose the devolution of the present social welfare
> > structure, and would have preferred it stay at its peak level of social
> > expenditures, and I will always support increasing social expenditures. So
> > I don't know where you are drawing these wild ideas from my arguments. It
> > is simply a matter of fact that the same structural modifications that
> > strengthened the ruling class also benefited the masses greatly.
>
> Wild ideas? But here you're saying (1) you support the welfare state, but
> (2) the welfare state "strengthened the ruling class". How so? Countries
> with the weakest welfare states -- the US, the UK -- generally have the
> most hideous, barbaric, and militaristic bourgeoisies.

Let me put it in the form of two simple questions:

	(1) Do you think that the modifications made to the US economy
	following the Great Depression, and institutionalized following
	World War Two, strengthened or weakened the position of the US
	ruling class and the capitalist mode of production?

	(2) Do you think that the modifications made to the US economy
	following the Great Depression, and institutionalized following
	World War Two, raised or lowered the living standards of US
	citizens in general?

Andy