In These Times

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• • 14 Apr 06
  • 9:04 pm

  Slavoy Zizek’s caustic, carelessly argued piece reminds one of the Stalinist denunciations of social democrats, Western Marxists and all those other “accommodationists” who for some strange reason lost faith in the dogmatic pursuit of violent revolution. Soros, Gates, et al, are guilty of “liberal communism” because, he says, “The ruthless pursuit of profit is counteracted by charity.” Here, one might well ask: As opposed to being counteracted by what? The relentless purchase of leisure islands and private jets? Such reasoning puts him comfortably in bed with right-wing republicans who hate nothing more than rich people (Warren Buffet, Hollywood, Silicon Valley and …

  Posted to The Liberal Communists of Porto Davos

• • 18 Apr 06
  • 1:02 pm

  Re: The previous posts. Revisiting the old capitalism versus socialism smackdown is fruitless for a variety of reasons. Principally because any discussion pitting market efficiencies versus public goods is inherently country-specific. Cultural nuances, geographic limitations, historical legacies and geopolitical constraints all play a role. For the record, the U.S. could use a little more socialism (understood as a state-controlled allocation of resources toward the public good), and Europe could use a little less – overly-rigid labor laws and tax policies have hampered growth; a mediocre, underfed public health and education system are now less than a shining exemplars of egalitarian ideals. …

  Posted to The Liberal Communists of Porto Davos