> Louis Proyect asked: Why does the ruling class in the USA seem so > incapable of acting in its own class interests?
There seem to be two complementary answers: first of all, they can _get away with_ acting like a bunch of greedy toddlers who test every limit (natural and social) in order to satisfying their Ids' desires. There is no "countervailing power" to force them to think about their long-term class interests. The US labor movement and various social movements played this role decades ago (though they paid for it by making compromises, as with the AFL-CIO's endorsement of the Cold War). Second, individual capitalists can so far afford to insulate themselves from the effects of other capitalists' schemes. Pollution? lets move to Switzerland! etc. Those who do get burned -- e.g., by biting Madoff's bait -- are "losers" and to be spurned. -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
