Louis Proyect wrote:.
Friedman is not really to be taken seriously. The main threat to the environment today is unregulated capitalist growth, which is certainly his main objective.
==================== Friedman's casual attitude about the emergence of a third party is what interested me. It would seem to indicate a high degree of confidence by the American bourgeosie that, in current conditions, such a party could be contained and coopted and even, as Friedman suggests, perform a necessary function as gadfly and critic of the two major parties which he and a growing number of others close to the centres of power think have become too complacent about the need for serious environmental, social, and foreign policy reform. The NDP is patronized in a similar way in Canada. In a social crisis, of course, Friedman and those he represents would fear the uncontrollable dynamics of a third party and would hardly be as blase about its appearance, but right now there is no open crisis and he is enough at ease to fire the threat as a warning shot across the bow of the Democrats.
