> From: Thomas Kruse <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >In general I see a tendency to let capitalism's
> >moral crimes and despoilation of the environment
> >obscure the advances it brought in terms of
> >productive capacity. The latter doesn't justify
> >the former, but the former does not negate the
> >latter either.
> >
> >MBS
>
TK:
> OK, yes. But why the fetishization of "productive capacity". Here, the
Well, obviously the distribution of economic well-being--the ends
you refer to--is not capitalism's long suit. It's simply a matter of
noting the limits but also the extent of accomplishment.
> means seem much more important than the ends. Means: capactity; ends:
> humans, qulaity of life, etc. (sorry for the lapse into moral philosophy).
Sure.
> But, one must not assume (you weren't, I suppose) that:
>
> - in all places in the colonies/neocolonies such "advances" were actually
> occuring
> - or if they were occuring they were doing ANYTHING positive for anyone
> ouside of the enclaves, or even within the enclave in certain instances
> - even as they did occur, they weren't bringing with them horrendous
> externatilities for "the rest", that is those not "advanced" or benefitted;
> in the hinterlands of the enclaves. Example: when the hinterlands
> (containing ayllus, etc.) for colonial mines were reorganized to supply the
> mines, the people often saw a fall in food security.
I don't disagree with any of this.
Without claiming any expertise, I would venture the suggestion
that the diversity of outcomes in all of the terms you raise cut
against a theory that capitalism uniformly loots colonial areas
to make possible its survival, as per baby Marxism/Leninism.
> Negate the latter (advances) no; but what the latter were good for in the
> short or long run is open to question.
Nor with this, though I lean to the skeptical on the
'sustainability' critique.
Incidentally, I enjoyed your travelogue a great deal.
MBS
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Max B. Sawicky Economic Policy Institute
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