Can there ever be economic freedom without socialism, without an end to economic exploitation? Over and above reformism what is economic freedom in a capitalist mode of production? Is it true we have political freedom in SA? Can there ever be political freedom without the working class being the ruling class and organised as the state?
In the article Value, Price and Profit (pardon me if I didn't properly capture the title of the article. The last time I read it was in the late 1990s) Marx in advance deals a blow with the arguments on wages as advocated by "DHM" (called so by the VC). Marx concludes in the article that the structural limitation of trade unions (the ones he observed) was to make raising the level of wages the main content in the context where there's in science what we called an 'inverse relationship' between wages and profit. The conclusion Marx points out, which "DHM"'s logic contradicts, is that the wages system must be abolished. Actually, "DHM"'s argument is an argument for building capitalism, so long as there are so-called good wages to facilitate market buying and selling (what Marx in Vol. I and II of Capital represents with the formula M-C'-M'). This logic by "DHM" represents complete contradiction to what Marx analyses as exploitation in Capital Vol. when dealing with the production of surplus value. Regardless of wage levels there's exploitation of labour when a capitalist appropriates the surplus value created by labour. The silence of "DHM" about this point indeed must be assuring to capitalists that the Limpopo's Finance MEC is championing their programme. What must come to an end, is exploitation. In Capital Vol. Marx addresses the issue of wages and crisis of capitalism. We hear nothing from "DHM" about this. There are many things missing in "DHM"'s article, but some of these reflects inexperience in trade union work. He call on the left, progressive trade unions included, to condemn clothing and textile workers union. What's this? I wonder if "DHM" wondered to contact the union to gain clarity. The arguments by "DHM" on the union are not only abstract, they are just empty of both experience and appreciation of the work by the union in a sector for over the past 17 years. It's said it's easier said than done. It's easy to promote personality cult and factionalism with phrases such as there's lack of political will. It's easy to abandon class analysis (scientific) in favour of personality cult, factionalism and associated forms of liberalism. What's missing too, from "DHM" is the Leninist part of our Marxism, i.e. Marxism-Leninism. There's absolutely no analysis of imperialism, for intance, in "DHM"'s work. The impact of imperialism is not seen, "only lack of political will". We who are in unions know we made some achivements, but after that a company shut down and went to another country. These are the challenges we are dealing with, presently. I don't want to express any view at the moment on the clothing and textile union. It's best to continue working by being in contact with the union. Let's all read Marx. Otherwise we will be taken advantage of. Empty talk is cheap! Let's continue to mobilise for the overthrow of capitalism, let's use every battle workers have, including on wages, against capitalists, to press ahead our struggle to have capitalism overthrown. And let's respect, especially those of us who are in or work with unions, workers' mandates and the principle of worker control. Empty talk is cheap! AlexM Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: "Setja Diphoko" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:35:11 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the key to economic expansion Requesting permission to engage Lesetja Diphoko "Sent via my BlackBerry" -----Original Message----- From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 16:19:50 To: [email protected]<[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the key to economic expansion Hands off David Masondo Sent from iPad -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sent: 15/10/2011 11:11:17 Subject: Re: [YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the key to economic expansion Haai VC, but some r kicking the man not the "phony" presentation and erich it to the right direction... Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -----Original Message----- From: Dominic Tweedie <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2011 11:07:34 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the key to economic expansion We are engaging. With heavy artillery. If you are afraid of artillery, stay under cover. VC On 15 October 2011 11:01, <[email protected]> wrote: > Will be it wrong of us to engage the subject, regardless??? > > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > ------------------------------ > *From: * <[email protected]> > *Sender: * [email protected] > *Date: *Sat, 15 Oct 2011 05:07:28 +0000 > *To: *<[email protected]> > *ReplyTo: * [email protected] > *Subject: *Re: [YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the > key to economic expansion > > "The state and business elite", so says a member of the state elite > responsible for money, defining own duties. But are these the duties of > every one in the state? > > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > ------------------------------ > *From: * [email protected] > *Sender: * [email protected] > *Date: *Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:33:16 +0000 > *To: *<[email protected]> > *ReplyTo: * [email protected] > *Subject: *Re: [YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the > key to economic expansion > > Once again Masondo is using his pseudo communist politicking 2 score cheap > political goals and this appease capital that has co-opted him 2 its fold. > He abuses the marxist knowledge with impunity whilst he partakes in the same > exercise of conspicuous consumption either directly or indirectly. Despite > the truth inherent in his article I can state his conclusion is driven by > hate and a shameful exercise on his part 2 deface the SACP of its > revolutionary disposition. He has no moral authority 2 raise the some truths > found in his article at all. Mr Masondo cannot re-write history regardless > of his influence n money due 2 his alligience 2 da limpopo mafia, historory > can be re-written, the apartheid regime failed despite the trillions of > rands it invested 2 re-write history simply because the facts of life are > just so stubborn. The fact is that SACP has a role to place in the > transformation on the country's economy no matter what our bankrolled > scholar and friends may wish! Cde George > > Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! > ------------------------------ > *From: * "Trevor Kekana" <[email protected]> > *Sender: * [email protected] > *Date: *Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:48:43 +0200 > *To: *<[email protected]> > *ReplyTo: * [email protected] > *Subject: *[YCLSA Discussion] DAVID MASONDO: Equality of income the key to > economic expansion > > Please note the closing remark..**** > > [image: Business Day]**** > > ** ** > > LEVELS of income inequality are rapidly growing in SA. About 48% of the > population earns less than R11 a day, while whites earn eight times more > than Africans.**** > > A Gini coefficient of zero signifies perfect equality. The South African > Gini coefficient is 0,69, while Brazil’s is 0,56. This clearly shows S A is > drifting towards perfect inequality.**** > > Surprisingly, the recent 5% salary increase for public representatives and > judges, and textile union Sactwu’s concession of a 30% wage cut for new > labour entrants into the textile industry, did not attract much outrage from > the left. **** > > Entrepreneurs produce for the market to earn a profit. South African > entrepreneurs largely earn a profit by selling raw materials and some > manufactured goods for export to developed and developing countries with > lower production costs, such as China and India. In turn, we import > machinery, semifinished and finished goods.**** > > The state generates revenue from taxation, part of which pays high salaries > to politicians and bureaucrats. **** > > High-income inequality in the context of a small industrial base constrains > the ability of the South African market to widen. The expansion of the > market is determined by demand from wages and profits. The higher the profit > and wage rates, the more entrepreneurs are likely to expand investment , > thus buying more inputs and labour.**** > > Higher wage rates increase workers’ consumption, thus providing positive > feedback for entrepreneurs to invest in production. In the long run, this > may lead to economic development.**** > > State and business elites tend to spend their high incomes on luxurious > consumption, while the majority of our population cannot afford this. **** > > Low wage rates imply a lower demand for mass consumption, hence low > production. Since the elites are few, entrepreneurs are likely to produce > fewer products because the market is small.**** > > The luxurious consumption patterns do not manifest only in differential > sources of income and inequality, but are also a reflection of the state’s > inability to discipline luxurious consumption. Measures that discourage > luxurious consumption in favour of mass consumption can grow the economy and > improve the living conditions of the poor.**** > > Higher wages will inevitably lead to mass consumption as opposed to elitist > consumption of luxurious goods, thus widening the market. This will increase > the economic incentive for business to invest, thus growing the economy.** > ** > > Policy instruments to curb high levels of income and luxurious consumption > among elites may also generate a sense that the burden of the economic > crisis is not placed on the shoulders of the poor. **** > > Strict control of capital outflow is also necessary to ensure that the > investable surplus stays in the country. In South Korea, international > financial transactions are made through state banks. SA does not take > extreme measures such as those in South Korea, where illegal capital flight > is punishable by death. But policy sticks to keep the investable surplus in > SA must be found.**** > > Locking investable surplus into the national economy will not inherently > lead to productive consumption. Applied on its own, this instrument will not > curb the elites from engaging in luxurious consumption within the nation > state. This is why there is a need for anti-luxurious consumption tariffs > and domestic taxes, as well as investment imposed through an interventionist > industrial policy aimed at bolstering economic development.**** > > Income earning is determined by ownership of economic and political assets. > The principal assets that enable the state and business elites to maintain > these income inequalities are economic power and incumbency of state office. > **** > > The only asset that workers have in order to claim the surplus they produce > is their ability to organise and fight for their interests. It remains to be > seen if the leftist organisations are up to the task of organising not only > against income inequalities, but also for the working people to win > political power and for the equitable redistribution of strategic economic > assets. **** > > The economic crisis requires bold leadership, political will and militant, > working- class movements to tackle the structural inequalities rooted in the > unequal ownership of the key strategic resources. **** > > *Unfortunately, we do not have all these in SA. So business can relax. * > > • Masondo is a South African Communist Party central committee member and > Limpopo treasury MEC**** > > ** ** > > http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=155840**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > http://www.investec.com/en_group/#home/legal/email_disclaimer.html > > The disclaimer also provides our corporate information and names of our > directors as required by law. > > The disclaimer is deemed to form part of this message in terms of Section > 11 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002. > If you cannot access the disclaimer, please obtain a copy thereof from us > by sending an email to: [email protected] > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to > this message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery > options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected]. > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to > put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to > this address (repeat): [email protected] . > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to > this message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery > options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected]. > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to > put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to > this address (repeat): [email protected] . > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to > this message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery > options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected]. > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to > put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to > this address (repeat): [email protected] . > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to > this message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery > options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected]. > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to > put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to > this address (repeat): [email protected] . > -- The Communist University *Blog* is at: *http://domza.blogspot.com/*<http://domza.blogspot.com/> *Mail Subscription*: *http://groups.google.com/group/Communist-University/*<http://groups.google.com/group/Communist-University/> CU Site for *downloads*: *https://sites.google.com/site/communistuniversity/ * The *CU Africa* blog is at: *http://cuafrica.blogspot.com/* (Subscribe *here<http://groups.google.com/group/CUAfrica> *) The *SADTU* PolEd blog is: *http://sadtu-pol-ed.blogspot.com/* (Subscribe * here <http://groups.google.com/group/sadtu-political-education-forum>*) The *old CU site* is: http://amadlandawonye.wikispaces.com/ Subscription/unsubscribing *difficulties*? Mail *[email protected]* -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
