Graeme Imray wrote:

>Dear All
>
>I have read so many analyses just like the one on this list under this
>heading  which treat capitalism as an 'objective' system 'out there' doing
>all these terrible things to us. Indeed for a long period in the 70s that
>is just how I conceived it. Workers, it seemed, were simply the 'blind
>beasts of revolt', forced into a reaction by the terrible effects of the
>system.

Although "blind beasts" etc. is a gross caricature, I think there is some
truth in the reactionary accusation. For many workers, content with their
lot - or at least TOLERANT of it, it can be a rude shock to find that their
place in the scheme of things, their way of life, SECURITY, is suddenly
snuffed out. This has been the fate of very many in recent years and for
those who have not been involved in struggle and have not therefor had the
opportunity to gain an understanding of how the system works, it is common
to react wildly. This takes many forms - religion, extreme politics
(fascist, leftist or sometimes just loopy), the only defence and the only
cure is to gain an understanding of what is going on and what can be done.

Here in Australia at the moment we are going through what is known as the
"Pauline Hanson phenomenon", an upsurge in reactionary xenophobia focussed
on a new independant member of parliament who blames everything on
Aborigines, migrants, multiculturalism, blah, blah. Basicly many people,
especially in rural and regional areas are getting pretty unsettled about
continuing change and constant erosion of their security and standard of
living and as soon as a politician came onto the stage who was obviously
not part of the 'system'. ** PS: We knew that because she was dis-endorsed
as a Liberal party candidate for speaking out against the "privilege"
enjoyed by aborigines in this country.** She promptly won election to a
safe-as-houses Labour federal seat and, reminiscent of Chance the Gardener,
has taken the country by storm. It seems clear that, although even her most
loyal supporters acknowledge her complete lack of any idea as to what to do
about the country's problems, that is EXACTLY what they like about her.

Maybe there's a lesson for us all there - in fact I'm sure there is - I
just wish I knew what it was.

Anyhow, I might respond to Brian Ashton's article later, but first I have
to try to get my head around this "objectivist" thing. Frankly its new to
me, although I remember that leninists did used to go on about the
"inevitability" of something or other, I think I must have gotten hold of
the wrong end of the stick. I always conceived of the overproduction thing
being a REASON to get rid of capitalism, not something that would
AUTOMATICALLY do it for us.

Now you've dashed that optimistic thought before I even got to understand it!

Bill Bartlett
Bracknell Tasmania