Comments on: Death, with Compound Interest http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/death-with-compound-interest/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:16:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Gary Lapon http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/death-with-compound-interest/#comment-29492 Gary Lapon Wed, 08 Oct 2008 18:36:40 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=3700#comment-29492 States are still relevant BECAUSE they are the tools of capitalists (who, by the way, are not united on a global level...they use states to compete, hence the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, etc.). This article does a good job of addressing the argument: http://www.isreview.org/issues/24/empire_strikes_out.shtml And I wouldn't count America's ruling class out yet; they may have taken a hit, but so has the rest of the world and while the US is losing power and prestige, the ruling class here is still the most powerful and ruthless in the history of the world, with the potential to become even more dangerous in decline. All the more reason to build a Left to challenge them, both here and around the world. P.S. It's not so easy for capital to just pack up and go...although a lot of manufacturing can be easily outsourced, capitalists rely on the vast amount already invested in infrastructure and highly-capital-intensive industries in the industrialized countries of the Triad (US, Europe, Japan), which is not particularly mobil and not easily shipped overseas to the "periphery." States are still relevant BECAUSE they are the tools of capitalists (who, by the way, are not united on a global level…they use states to compete, hence the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, etc.).

This article does a good job of addressing the argument: http://www.isreview.org/issues/24/empire_strikes_out.shtml

And I wouldn’t count America’s ruling class out yet; they may have taken a hit, but so has the rest of the world and while the US is losing power and prestige, the ruling class here is still the most powerful and ruthless in the history of the world, with the potential to become even more dangerous in decline. All the more reason to build a Left to challenge them, both here and around the world.

P.S. It’s not so easy for capital to just pack up and go…although a lot of manufacturing can be easily outsourced, capitalists rely on the vast amount already invested in infrastructure and highly-capital-intensive industries in the industrialized countries of the Triad (US, Europe, Japan), which is not particularly mobil and not easily shipped overseas to the “periphery.”

]]> By: Linh Dinh http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/death-with-compound-interest/#comment-29450 Linh Dinh Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:10:42 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=3700#comment-29450 Hi David, As long as you can deal with the squatting loo, you're good to go worldwide! Hi David,

As long as you can deal with the squatting loo, you’re good to go worldwide!

]]> By: David http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/death-with-compound-interest/#comment-29449 David Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:57:44 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=3700#comment-29449 Linh; Thanks for the most interesting piece. I have one concern though. As I approach my golden years and arthritis finds its way ever more into my knees, does this mean that I will lose my American manhood fought for so courageously in latte bars and malls across this great land? Will my stooped, creaky form be the object of ridicule in sports stadiums and bars? And should I choose to flee this catalog of Chinese offerings, will I be rejected east of Italy and south of Spain, forever (at least until I croak or max out my credit cards) an expat Flying Dutchman, because I am unable to squat and thus become one with the Indegenes? Linh;

Thanks for the most interesting piece.

I have one concern though.

As I approach my golden years and arthritis finds its way ever more into my knees, does this mean that I will lose my American manhood fought for so courageously in latte bars and malls across this great land? Will my stooped, creaky form be the object of ridicule in sports stadiums and bars?

And should I choose to flee this catalog of Chinese offerings, will I be rejected east of Italy and south of Spain, forever (at least until I croak or max out my credit cards) an expat Flying Dutchman, because I am unable to squat and thus become one with the Indegenes?

]]> By: Linh Dinh http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/death-with-compound-interest/#comment-29390 Linh Dinh Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:55:13 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=3700#comment-29390 Hi Brian, I agree with you completely. These people could care less about any nation or people. After wreaking destruction, they'll move on, leaving their victims to KILL EACH OTHER. Hi Brian,

I agree with you completely. These people could care less about any nation or people. After wreaking destruction, they’ll move on, leaving their victims to KILL EACH OTHER.

]]> By: Brian Koontz http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/death-with-compound-interest/#comment-29388 Brian Koontz Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:37:13 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=3700#comment-29388 The destruction of America doesn't matter to those in power, since multinational capital largely controls America (and the world economy). The victims of the destruction of America are primarily American citizens, who are only *one* market for multinational capital, the loss of which is a splinter in the finger, painful for a short time but finally extracted and forgotten. Multinational capital, a Godzilla stomping America flat, will move on - to China, to India, to South Korea, to Africa, to the ends of the world, to the ends of their reach. While Americans wallow in misery the global shark will continue to find victims to feed on, continue to engage in orgies of blood and death. The left continues to make the error of believing in states. States are merely tools used by the multinationals. They are becoming less relevant and may soon be entirely irrelevant. When will we kill the shark? The destruction of America doesn’t matter to those in power, since multinational capital largely controls America (and the world economy). The victims of the destruction of America are primarily American citizens, who are only *one* market for multinational capital, the loss of which is a splinter in the finger, painful for a short time but finally extracted and forgotten.

Multinational capital, a Godzilla stomping America flat, will move on - to China, to India, to South Korea, to Africa, to the ends of the world, to the ends of their reach. While Americans wallow in misery the global shark will continue to find victims to feed on, continue to engage in orgies of blood and death.

The left continues to make the error of believing in states. States are merely tools used by the multinationals. They are becoming less relevant and may soon be entirely irrelevant.

When will we kill the shark?

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