Hi Jerry and Paul, Yes I think the term 'collective ownership' might better be treated as acceptable. Then the question of the actual social form... socialist... communist.... can then be decided by the working classes in the process of getting rid of the wretched system presently in place. With regard to the USSR it is ever necessary to stress that since 1917 it never ceased being attacked by imperialism in every way... and that the key failure was that of the working classes in the imperialist states to fight these attacks effectively. It is a wonder to me that the horrific nature of these unrestrained assaults (the loss of life due to western intervention after the WW1 alone was greater than that during WW1 -- the Whites exterminated one third of the Finnish working class for example) that the USSR lasted so long! Lets get some perspective on Imperialism. Regards Paul Bullock -----Original Message----- From: Jerry Levy <jerry_levy@usa.net> To: ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu <ope-l@galaxy.csuchico.edu> Date: 18 January 2001 14:05 Subject: [OPE-L:4781] Re: state ownership >In [OPE-L:4780] Paul C wrote: > >> I am infavour of >> state ownership of the means of production. > >OK, I'll bite: >-- >Several questions come to mind (generally in reverse order of >importance, imo): > >1) Is this position, which you identify as the "orthodox" communist position, >the same as that held by Marx? > >2) Does the distinction between state ownership and control vs. >workers' ownership and control have any special significance from >your perspective? > >3) When you assert state ownership, who controls the state? The >"Party"? The working class? The "people"? > >4) Has the failure of "socialism" (NB: quotation marks)in various countries >(e,g, the former USSR) been at all connected to the issues suggested in #2 and >#3? > >In solidarity, Jerry > >____________________________________________________________________ >Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1 > >
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