We have -46- members.
So far, -24- members wrote posts in January, which began with
[OPE-L #3913].
TOPICS DISCUSSED THIS MONTH
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A. The threads discussed at *greatest* length (20 or more posts) were:
o DEPRECIATION [relates to previous discussions on moral
depreciation; includes "Manchester Spinner", "decennial cycles and
moral depreciation", "the sinking fund", "simultaneism in sheep's
clothing", "crying wolf", "dancing with wolves", "another
sheep?", "little lost lamb"] (-83- posts);
o NEGATIVE SURPLUS VALUE [continued from December;
includes "surplus-value vs. surplus product"] (-21- posts).
B. Other threads that we discussed *at length* (10-19 posts) included:
o CRITIQUING EXPLOITATION (17);
o EQUALIZATION OF PROFIT RATES [QUIZ] (14);
o FRANK THOMPSON'S THEOREM [began with Andrew K's #3944; includes
"capital-output ratio"; "Gil on successivism"; "what are
values?"] (10).
C. *Other topics discussed* included:
o CAUSES OF INFLATION [continued from December; includes "Marx's
'gold'"] (8);
o CRITIQUING EXPLOITATION AND NATURE (7);
o 102 YEARS LATER [related to previous discussions on the
6-book-plan and "extending Marx"; includes "Books 4-6"] (7);
o USE-VALUE AND VALUE [arose out of "equalization of profit
rates" thread] (7);
o ARE CAPITALISTS HUMAN? [arose out of "technical change &
competition ..." thread; related to previous discussions on
subjectivity; includes "The wolf's mask" and "Falada's last
interview"];
o ALTHUSSER [QUIZ];
o NATIONWIDE STRIKE IN S. KOREA AGAINST NEOLIBERAL POLICIES [see
Chai-on's #3929, #3933 and Seongjin's #3930];
o MEASURING THE VALUE OF MONEY [arose out of "Givens" thread];
o GIVEN'S IN MARX'S THEORY [continued from December];
o THE RAILWAY OF CAPITAL [concerns competition, monopoly,
oligopolies and technical change];
o ADVANCING MONEY CAPITAL [arose out of equalization of profit
rates thread];
o TECHNICAL CHANGE & COMPETITION IN REGIONAL & WORLD MARKETS
[arose out of depreciation thread].
D. Also worthy of note:
o THE YEAR IN REVIEW (1996), [#3913, sent on January 1].
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OVERALL, January was a *focused* month -- on depreciation (beginning on
the 15th), negative surplus value (early part of the month), and
critiquing exploitation (beginning on the 9th). Other threads were
discussed to a lesser degree. As we proceeded with the discussion of
depreciation, volume increased somewhat (with a dramatic increase on
the 29th) but participation decreased. Perhaps we can return to some of
those important topics such as "Causes of Inflation", "102 years later",
"Books 4-6", and "critiquing exploitation" next month. Volume and
participation were relatively high given the fact that many members were
unavailable due to the holidays and semester break and there was a power
outage at listproc for over 3 days (1/18 - 1/21).
What should we discuss in February? For those who prefer not to
participate in the depreciation thread, what would you prefer to
discuss? Please make suggestions.
In solidarity, Jerry