:: blame the extended gestation.... ::

:: Wednesday, October 22, 2003 ::

From: "Pete Smith"
>
> Noam,
> Paul Krugman in his book " The Great Unraveling" say's
that
> (using a term from one of Kissinger's early books) " a
revolutionary
> force" has taken over Washington. He explains that the radical
right
> "revolutionaries" do not see the system as legit and so they will
break
> any rule or law to accomplish their revolutionary goals which
partially
> are militarism, destruction of social programs (society?),
regressive
> taxation and Wealthy Class control.
> In other words the Bush Gang and the Ultra Right are taking
> actions that are Not Accepted by the Political powers of the US.
> Do you think that the radical ultra right are a revolutionary force
> that
> is surprising or conquering the establishment?

Reply from NC,

One can debate terminology, but his basic observation seems to me
correct. That's why there has been such extraordinary elite
opposition
to
the national security strategy and the "test case" in Iraq, to the
fiscal
policies designed to drive the country to a fiscal train wreck so as
to
unravel the hated progressive legislation of the past century and
leave
a
super-powerful state committed to the interests of those who require
and
deserve protection and welfare: the rich and the powerful.

On the other hand, even elite elements that fear the consequences of
the
statist reactionaries who have a very narrow grip on power are likely
to
support them in a showdown -- an election -- putting aside
longer-term
concerns (like whether the species will survive very long, or there
will be
an economic catastrophe) in favor of shorter-term gain, thanks to
lavish
tax cuts for the rich, sharply regressive taxation, cut back in
social
services for most of the population, etc. Nothing new about that.

Noam Chomsky

:: Jim Nichols 10/22/2003 08:33:00 PM [+] ::
...