tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post8256883660960943710..comments2023-09-25T04:26:51.568-06:00Comments on The Barefoot Bum: Reform, subversion and revolution, part 1Larry Hamelinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-30991966725338377262008-11-07T11:01:00.000-07:002008-11-07T11:01:00.000-07:00By "tyranny of the majority" I was just referring ...By "tyranny of the majority" I was just referring to criticisms of democracy by advocates of laissez-faire capitalism. To radical republicans, they see the "tyranny of the majority" every time the democratic party passes a bill. And visa versa for radical democrats. <BR/><BR/>As far as Obama fixing the economy. It's a shot in the dark. But he has a real incentive to try. And that incentive is both selfish and socially grounded.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930279484815540663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-5107930159208311272008-11-07T05:45:00.000-07:002008-11-07T05:45:00.000-07:00Except that democracy is not checking capitalism, ...Except that democracy is <I>not</I> checking capitalism, and capitalism is checking the <I>legitimate will</I> of the majority.<BR/><BR/>Obama voted for the bailout as Senator, and if you think as president he'll solve the current financial crisis to the benefit of the people, then I have a bridge to sell you.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-87995563886318076352008-11-06T18:29:00.000-07:002008-11-06T18:29:00.000-07:00As long as we have freedom of speech and freedom o...As long as we have freedom of speech and freedom of the press, I think we'll have democracy checking capitalism and capitalism checking the tyranny of the majority. <BR/><BR/>Socialism always seems to be brought in as a republican trump card when democrats speak of more taxes. But the truth is that the power of a state to tax is essential to democracy and freedom. When a state needs to tax, it incurs sovereign debt from the people, and is therefore held responsible to the people's demand for policy reform, etc. Every single state with an abundance of natural resources, and virtually no tax on the populous is NOT a democracy. Why? Because they don't need the public's favor when the money pours directly into the state (from natural resources), and no need for public finance.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10930279484815540663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-19790078465667798402008-11-06T05:39:00.000-07:002008-11-06T05:39:00.000-07:00The ground has to be prepared politically and prac...The ground has to be prepared politically and practically as well. You have to have a good ideology; you have to sell that ideology to the masses of people; and you must be prepared to handle the practical problems of governance.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28755195.post-73750715921169451042008-11-06T03:00:00.000-07:002008-11-06T03:00:00.000-07:00"Capitalism has been shaping people's values and e...<I>"Capitalism has been shaping people's values and ethics for hundreds of years, and ruling class/working class politics have been doing so for thousands — perhaps tens of thousands — of years. Not even the most brutal ideological repression can erase this millennial influence in a generation.<BR/>"</I><BR/><BR/>This is exactly my understanding as well. This is why I believe that a revolution without a ground prepared ideologically is bound to fail.<BR/><BR/>I believe we should start with Subversion and Reformation and go for Revolution when finally the gears of capitalism get so much friction from these movements that they either have to break or crush us all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com