[Marxism] A modest proposal [was: RE: The Earth as a whole]

[Joaquin Bustelo]

Sartesian objects to my  "modest proposal" because he didn't get it.
Thankfully, a more detailed explanation of my (hardly original) proposals is
available on the web. Top avoid further false and sterile polemics,
including about whether I'm American or whether Spain is in Europe, please
consult the following:  <http://art-bin.com/art/omodest.html>.

*  *  *

As for those who like their posts more straightforwardly: 

I agree with Louis that in some overall calculation certainly we would
discover that there are "too many people," especially if we aspire to each
and every person having a decorous standard of living and a multisided human
experience, including a rich intellectual and cultural life. 

But I believe that what is driving the current ecocide is not just and not
mainly the total number, but the fundamentally unsustainable life style of a
small fraction of that number, the population of the imperialist countries,
and most of all the United States. 

This life style is characterized not just by excessive consumption, but
absolutely bulimic pointless consumption that tends to transform those of us
subject to these cultural pressures FROM human beings INTO machines for the
purchase and disposal of commodities. [Hence, I will add for Sartesian's
further benefit, the distinction I made in my original post between human
beings and homo capitalistis, i.e., white people and the "pitiyanquis" in
the Third World. And my modest proposal to begin population reduction
efforts where they would do the most ecological good.]

So while I did not want to seem to join those trying to frame Louis up on
"Malthusianism" with some big critique, I did want to make comrades reflect
on the idea that the way he formulated the issue in that post was too
abstract and therefore one-sided.

Joaquin