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I trust that my characterization of the U.S. ruling class' strategy is understood to be clinical and contemporaneous. In my old-style Marxist rhetoric - I think that the 'contradictions' will just about bury them. Despite the paranoia that simmers here in the left community concerning takeover by a mercenary army (Blackwater, of course), I doubt that their gamble will be sustained domestically, let alone in the wider world.

Of course, WW IV is possible, but, so far, it looks like Russia and China are just playing the U.S. like a crawdad on a piece of bacon. The stupid crawdad just won't let go of the bacon, as long as you haul him in sorta slow-like.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Mon Oct 29th, 2007 at 10:58:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Bush appears to be another monkey caught in a "Gumption Trap" by "value rigidity".

All kinds of examples from cycle maintenance could be given, but the most striking example of value rigidity I can think of is the old South Indian Monkey Trap, which depends on value rigidity for its effectiveness.

The trap consists of a hollowed-out coconut chained to a stake. The coconut has some rice inside which can be grabbed through a small hole. The hole is big enough so that the monkey's hand can go in, but too small for his fist with rice in it to come out. The monkey reaches in and is suddenly trapped...by nothing more than his own value rigidity.

He can't revalue the rice. He cannot see that freedom without rice is more valuable than capture with it. The villagers are coming to get him and take him away. They're coming closer -- closer! -- now!

What general advice...not specific advice...but what general advice would you give the poor monkey in circumstances like this?

From "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", of course, if you hadn't guessed...

"Any economic unit can emit money. The serious problem is to get it accepted" Hyman Minsky

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Mon Oct 29th, 2007 at 11:07:51 AM EST
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