Political Economy in Practice

[don]

Below is a detailed "insider" rundown, even if he is a PhD, on the ongoing events in Oakland, Cal. Here's my iTulip question, after reading the piece.
If we are entering a second Great Depression, what role or roles will African Americans play, especially those who have already been in their own economic depression for some time. In the first Great Depression, many African Americans were still in agriculture (share cropping, etc) in the Deep South, as well as urbanites in Harlem, a northern migration during WW1 to factory work, though much smaller than WW2, and so on. Most general histories of the Depression treat them as invisible. Will that be the case this go round. There's a number of factors here, not the least of which is growing multi-ethnicity in general, black-led youth culture, an African American President, the old divide-and-conquer mojo, etc.

I do feel the recent events in Oakland stand outside the general economic meltdown. Is that a consensus conclusion?

Here's George Ciccariello-Maher, (and he's a candidate for his Ph.D.) He lives in Oakland.

Oakland's Not for Burning?

By GEORGE CICCARIELLO-MAHER
Oakland.
In 1968, Amory Bradford penned a volume entitled Oakland’s Not For Burning, documenting the tinderbox that the city had become, and the lamenting the inevitability with which it would explode. But the assertion contained in the book’s title was hardly credible, coming as it was from a Yale-educated former Wall Street lawyer and New York Times general manager whose only business in Oakland came via the U.S. Commerce Department. Some forty years later, in the early hours of this year of ostensible hope, the reality of the persistence of racism in Oakland became devastatingly clear, sparking a powerful response the likes of which this city hasn’t seen in years. But luckily, the condescending voices of moderation, like that of Bradford a generation prior, seem have little traction with those who have seen enough police murder.


http://www.counterpunch.org/maher01092009.html

[metalman]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

first of all, the jury's still out on whether the cop meant to shoot the guy. the latest videos show a moron firing what he thought was a tazer not a racist executing a man in front of a crowd based on the skin color.

second, during the great depression the pres wasn't black.

my fave article today...

Market analysis: Obama's honeymoon over?
NECN, MA - Jan 8, 2009
(NECN) - Analysts keep a close eye on profit warnings - and consumer confidence. Stocks end mixed. The Dow Jones industrial average is off 27 points - three ...

guy hasn't even been sworn in yet and the honeymoon is over.

if you got an eye for racism, watch these reports and sources and reporters. keep a very close eye on these fuckers.

[don]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

My question in a nutshell is what, if any, role do you see African Americans playing in our 2nd Great Depression? Keeping in mind the class divisions, etc within that community. As varied as what is now called the White community, and the roles it played in the first Great Depression. Production workers organizing efforts (strikes, factory sit-downs, etc), small business owners (shopkeepers, tradesmen), etc. Most of these are missing in the new Depression that's unfolding. There will be new players. Who will they be? I guess that's at the heart of what this thread is asking.

[don]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

"some of the looting was indeed the work of hungry crowds, Greek for the most part. “It’s a new phenomenon,” said one student. “In protests in the past you’d get students and trade unions at the front, then political parties with Syriza at the back. Behind them would be the anarchists and, when things kicked off, they would move among the ranks of Syriza… and everyone would get beaten up. But now, behind the anarchists there’s a new bloc – the hungry."

Some remarkable parallels and differences.

http://www.counterpunch.org/kaimaki01092009.html

[c1ue]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

You know, Oakland is an unfortunate focal point for the article.

In this one area you have a microcosm of what hasn't gone right: monstrous income differential. municipal incompetence AND corruption. downward spiraling economy.

I'm not sure how any lessons regarding Obama can be drawn from that mess.

[Sapiens]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

We are about to find out what happens when the sheeple discovers that they have been programmed and not educated.

If the status quo is to remain, the Internet will need to be highly censored and the nonconformist eliminated.

Otherwise the birth of the new Property Law is imminent, it has long been recognized by those in privilege that privilege can only be had by the consent, delusional or not, of others.

[don]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

Here's my take on Oakland:

One, we don't get to pick where things like this occur.

Two, the media-wide covered event drew its own reactions, from jail the BART cop to why didn't he shoot a few more. I've heard both at first hand.

Three, what impact will it have on the national subconscious on how the authorities deal with Oakland's situation, when and if whites reach a boiling point over an increasingly draconian economy.

The great Fitzgerald line (paraphrased) that was recently posted on iTulip:

"How did you lose your fortune?"
"Slow at first, then all at once."

Applies here as well. Social change is seldom linear.

Another two appropriate "Tender" quotes:

"We own you, and you'll admit it sooner or later. It is absurd to keep up the pretense of independence."

Or will it be

"England was like a rich man after a disastrous orgy who makes up to the household by chatting with them individually, when it is obvious to them that he is only trying to get back his self-respect in order to usurp his former power."

I expect a measure of each.

[Sharky]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

My question in a nutshell is what, if any, role do you see African Americans playing in our 2nd Great Depression? Keeping in mind the class divisions, etc within that community. As varied as what is now called the White community, and the roles it played in the first Great Depression. Production workers organizing efforts (strikes, factory sit-downs, etc), small business owners (shopkeepers, tradesmen), etc. Most of these are missing in the new Depression that's unfolding. There will be new players. Who will they be? I guess that's at the heart of what this thread is asking.

Here's my guess (I'm a middle-aged white guy, but I have a few old and deep ties into black communities in California): At the moment, there's a lot of hope being put on Obama. I remember seeing a black woman on TV, interviewed after Obama won, saying something like "finally, we'll get what's owed to us." I don't think it will take too long before that hope is destroyed. What will replace it is likely to be anger, possibly even rage.

Once that's happened, it seems likely to me that Black America is well-positioned to be a trigger for government-fueled violence. They are certainly one of the groups that suffer the most at the hands of government thugs: everything from high incarceration rates to civil rights and other government programs that do the opposite of what's advertised to prejudice in the workplace, etc, etc. If you combine that history with job loss and a little hunger or fear (particularly if families are threatened), on top of what is seen as bailouts for rich white bankers, it's a recipe for riots and a lot more. I suspect that a lot of white Americans will share their anger, but with emotions already running high, it seems possible to me that blacks might act on it sooner -- particularly if provoked by something like a police shooting (not unlike the recent situation in Greece).

[strittmatter]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

We are about to find out what happens when the sheeple discovers that they have been programmed and not educated.

If the status quo is to remain, the Internet will need to be highly censored and the nonconformist eliminated.

Otherwise the birth of the new Property Law is imminent, it has long been recognized by those in privilege that privilege can only be had by the consent, delusional or not, of others.

Internet censorship - final straw of straws, catalyst of all catalysts? No?

[Sapiens]

Re: Political Economy in Practice

Internet censorship - final straw of straws, catalyst of all catalysts? No?

Remains to be seen... For the Orthodoxy actions, have you seen this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interne...p_in_Australia

In 2008, the Australian Labor Party introduced a policy of mandatory filtering of the internet for all Australians. While the policy has not yet come into force, it has generated a groundswell of opposition from almost all segments of society, with only a few groups in support.