Re: Marxian Economics: An Intensive Introduction - Session 1

I have 2 questions....you mention a reading list that was on this site (rdwolff.com) but I can't find it. Can you point me to it? Also, it seems that you are oversimplifying the beginnings of the Soviet Union and workers control...I believe your point was the workers never had control of their factories from the beginning. From my reading, that is not correct...the soviets were started by workers and they actually ran the factories...it may be fair to say that the Bolsheviks took over and the workers lost control....it is also fair to say that the militant workers were brought into the party...it is also fair to say that many of the militant class conscious workers died defending the nascent workers state from the capitalist invaders. It also seems that they were having problems keeping the production up to get the supplies needed to the front for the fighters. They opted to use managers to run the factories to keep things going. Getting from "here" to "there" even if you have the best marxist analysis is not simple... I am looking forward to the other "episodes" in the lecture series. I am sure you cover this more in your book: Class Theory and History: Capitalism and Communism in the USSR but it is about $40 ...looking forward to your comments.

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Christopher Kavanaugh commented 2017-02-16 22:14:47 -0500
Steve, My comment was not intended as personal insult, but rephrasing a well known adage that ignorance is indeed expensive. I am a luddite and did not realise these are ebooks. My library is analog with old girlfriend’s phone number’s as bookmark. In my avocation many books were prohibitive because of low printings. I bought them somehow, usually consuming lots of bulk bought beans: which my peers claim I am full of when predicting a revolution.
Steve Shapiro commented 2017-02-16 02:50:29 -0500
Christopher
I find your comment that not spending $40 on this book implies ignorance very insulting. There are a lot of ebooks that are around $10-15. There is so much to read and I’m already spending lots on books. This is a ebook. They are difficult or impossible to share.
I would suggest that you ask Rick if there is anything he can do to help out his supporters.
I do like the idea of sharing hard copy books btw.
Steve
Steve Shapiro tagged this with bad 2017-02-16 02:50:28 -0500
Christopher Kavanaugh commented 2017-02-15 22:27:42 -0500
Ignorance is a lot more expensive than $40. May I suggest a reading co-opt? You find a few like minded people and pool your resources. 8 people make each book cheaper, and more palatable than a Carl’s Hamburger. Each person places $40 as collateral to buy 8 books and is given access to a new text once finished and returned the first. You can have discussions and gain more insights. When the book is fully digested, and it may weigh heavily on your mind but not stomach like that cheeseburger; donate the book to a public library or learning institution.
Christopher Kavanaugh tagged this with good 2017-02-15 22:27:42 -0500
Steve Shapiro published this page in Ask Prof. Wolff 2017-02-15 18:50:01 -0500