[OPE-L:1285] weakness and vulnerabilities

Michael Perelman (michael@ecst.csuchico.edu)
Sun, 3 Mar 1996 11:26:26 -0800

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In raising the question of weaknesses and vulnerabilites, I was thinking of
following Marx's approach to look at the nature of the capitalist system to
see where its weakest points might be. Certainly, the credit system
makes capitalism vulnerable. I have not looked at the numbers, but merely
drawing our money out of the banking system within a short period of time
could set off a crisis, except that the Fed would obviously take counter=
actions.

On a broader level, I think that the concept of fictitious capital, and I
would suggest that it could be extended to what me might call fictitious
value, represents a broader approach to this subject.

I would also suggest comparing Marx's analysis of universal labor with the
current attempt to put "intellectual property" up on some some sort of sacred
pedestal.

-- 
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929

Tel. 916-898-5321 E-Mail michael@ecst.csuchico.edu