Noam Chomsky: Plutonomy and the Precariat (On the History of the U.S. Economy in Decline)

[marmar]

from TomDispatch:



Plutonomy and the Precariat
On the History of the U.S. Economy in Decline

By Noam Chomsky


The Occupy movement has been an extremely exciting development. Unprecedented, in fact. There’s never been anything like it that I can think of. If the bonds and associations it has established can be sustained through a long, dark period ahead -- because victory won’t come quickly -- it could prove a significant moment in American history.

The fact that the Occupy movement is unprecedented is quite appropriate. After all, it’s an unprecedented era and has been so since the 1970s, which marked a major turning point in American history. For centuries, since the country began, it had been a developing society, and not always in very pretty ways. That’s another story, but the general progress was toward wealth, industrialization, development, and hope. There was a pretty constant expectation that it was going to go on like this. That was true even in very dark times.

I’m just old enough to remember the Great Depression. After the first few years, by the mid-1930s -- although the situation was objectively much harsher than it is today -- nevertheless, the spirit was quite different. There was a sense that “we’re gonna get out of it,” even among unemployed people, including a lot of my relatives, a sense that “it will get better.”

There was militant labor union organizing going on, especially from the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations). It was getting to the point of sit-down strikes, which are frightening to the business world -- you could see it in the business press at the time -- because a sit-down strike is just a step before taking over the factory and running it yourself. The idea of worker takeovers is something which is, incidentally, very much on the agenda today, and we should keep it in mind. Also New Deal legislation was beginning to come in as a result of popular pressure. Despite the hard times, there was a sense that, somehow, “we’re gonna get out of it.” ........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175539/tomgram%3A_noam_chomsky%2C_a_rebellious_world_or_a_new_dark_age/

[Speck Tater]

1. The Occupy Movement? Is that still happening?

I figured they just faded away. I haven't heard a peep about them in ages.

[TBF]

3. You can find them

here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1252

(or at least DU'ers interested in Occupy)

[Speck Tater]

5. That's my point...

If you have to go looking for them, then they aren't delivering their message.
That being the case, even those who are paying some attention the news never hear about them anymore.

[TBF]

7. Look, this is the socialist progressives group

This is our TOS:

Welcome to the Socialist Progressives Group. Posts in this group should generally be supportive of socialism and socialists. We are largely anti-capitalist and will not tolerate red-baiting. We welcome leftists of all persuasion as allowed per the admin's TOS. Democratic (ballot box) socialism, revolutionary socialism, Syndicalists and autonomists are all ok. Pure black flag (as opposed to red/black) anarchists who would rather organize with any anarchist than socialists, including anarcho-capitalists and libertarians, will not be welcome. If you don't know what kind of anarchist you are, cool, so long as you don't hijack and red-bait. This includes no "you're a dictator-lover" if you support the Russian Revolution. CPUSA members, please chime in.

Social Democrats are welcome with the explanation that if someone believes in "regulated" capitalism and social programs, they're a Keynesian, not a socialist. We welcome your questions as long as you're pleasant and don't red bait or shift the discussion away from socialism. You'll find many of us support Obama and his re-election given our two-party system, but this is not the forum to talk about the intricacies of elections - see Politics 2012 for those conversations. We are more concerned with safe-guarding the working class gains we've made in this country thus far and encouraging the peaceful transition to socialism. Please no Trotsky or Stalin baiting, we've all seen it fracture groups and do not want to fight that battle again.


If you want to take pot shots at Occupy go talk to the folks involved - that is why I tried to politely provide a link for you. Your snarkiness may be welcome there, who knows. You're certainly not adding to the conversation here.

[Speck Tater]

8. Sorry. I only ever read and post to "Latest Threads"

I never visit groups or pay any attention to which group a message is posted in.

[pscot]

2. Good article

Chomsky is always worth reading.

[socialist_n_TN]

4. Workers taking over the factories that close..........

is something that should happen every time one closes. Even if it's only for a few hours.

I'd like to see a lot of that happen in Greece. It would force the hands of the left leadership to lead, follow or get the hell out of the way. And apparently there are a LOT of shuttered factories in Greece. And a lot of unemployed that could be doing the occupying.

[limpyhobbler]

6. Rec'd this in good reads earlier, then came in here to click rec again.

That's how much I liked it.