JClark96
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Good Morning,
From what I have read so far this piece by Elson is more of a theoretical discussion regarding the Theory of Value, perhaps laying the theoretical foundation to bring TOV into feminism?
The sections I have read present a critique of mainstream interpretations of Marx’s Labour Theory of Value. Firstly she states that accounts which use LTOV as a proof of exploitation, as bulwark that only labour contributes value and exchange value. Elson argues that this conflates surplus labour and surplus value, i.e. capital did not invent exploitation via surplus production. Elson argues these accounts conflate labour time with value.
It appears Elson is arguing that the form taken by labour is the focus of Marx’s TOV rather proving exploitation per se. It is the form of exploitation, why Labour must express itself as the commodity that is Marx’s focus, rather than an attempt to derive price (in the sphere of exchange/circulation) from value producing labour (Bohm Bawerk said labour and the commodity came first to “rig” the debate of price, according to Elson).
Elson seems to be arguing that the Marxist economists spend most of their time trying to prove Marx’s value theory as a theory of price (almost as a “proto-mathematician”), whereby production is the domain of value, and exchange of price (as a result see all the time spent on the “transformation problem). All in all, Elson is arguing that these accounts conflate value with exchange value. Another account criticises from the perspective of abstract labour, i.e. that these accounts are only focussed on use values, but Elson says this is not a suitable account as price based accounts do include abstract labour as the embodiment of labour, and Marx does not treat them as opposites. As such the critique needs to be in the method and in the fact that price based accounts are largely apolitical.
Elson argues that seeing the TOV as a theory of price renders Marx as merely another political economist like Ricardo or Smith, and indeed that many Marxist authors like Sweezy and others do see Marx primarily as having refined and improved the discipline of Political Economy, ignoring it’s radical political objectives.
We should see labour as more than just an embodiment of price according to Elson. She even criticises the popular accounts of Rubin and Althusser who also take forward Smith esque arguments that TOV is a method of distributing labour amongst the production process. Where one branch of production has greater “material-technical” productivity, labour will drift from here to more intensive sectors, ensuring labour is appropriately distributed relative to productive inputs, resulting in an equilibrium of price and so on. Rubin argues he is different to Smith as Labourers are forced to move between productive sectors, Elson contests this. To Elson these distributional accounts are also obscuring Marx’s political message.
Elson is now moving on to the indeterminate nature of labour, and how it becomes determinate under the commodity form. I’ll write more as I read.
Hi,
Newport Pagnell is a town off the M1 yes. I may be able to get the train down and do some more, but I opted for Wolverton with the leaflets I had. It’s an area of MK, a “new town” with an actual industrial past in the railways.
I leafletted multiple terraced roads around a primary school (which will be the polling station), as well as some flats above shops/houdes on the high street. The old railways working mans club also received a leaflet.
James
Have some leaflets. Going to put some through the door. Narrowed down by council ward a couple of places to target:
Newport Pagnell South: 36.06%
Nigel Birrell (UKIP) 331
William Davies (C) 645
Paul Day (L) 502
* Douglas McCall (LD) 1,766
Wolverton: 30.45%
Jennifer Marklew (G) 447
* Norman Miles (L) 1,851
Shouket Mirza (C) 616
Chris Thompson (LD) 343
What do we reckon?
https://socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2019/04/meat-and-two-veg.html?m=1
My take on Veganism under capitalism
In all honesty I can’t say I’ve ever spoken with a Maoist. I wouldn’t be very sure on where their line differs Stalinists and Leninists.
“James, the nearest part of the South East electoral region to you is Banbury, 40 miles down the M40. A further 28 miles brings you to Oxford. We have members and sympathisers in both places. The idea would be for West Midlands branch to cover these places (leafletting, street stalls). Details haven’t yet been finalised but will be this weekend.”
Does Milton Keynes come under the South East, as part of Bucks? It’s close to my family home and I know people there, so I could be of use there too. Either way Banbury is on the line from where I live in Brum, so certainly could help there.
Also, I have spoken to a friend and Marxist who lives in between Birmingham and Burgess Hill in the South East. His main bug bear is determinism and having spoken with him about the party he has said we can count on his vote.
James
“IMHO, our hostility clause does not apply to campaigning groups such as ER. I view them as I see trade unions, a much needed counter-weight to the actions of the capitalist class”
Interesting, but as you last comment implies it seems that race has been run, perhaps its more likely that it never started…
Extinction Rebellion are almost as typical as they are difficult for socialists. Theres no doubt they’ve raised awareness, and money , but ultimately their stance seems to be for “leaders to do more” and to “declare a climate emergency”. I’m not really sure what they mean by “system change not climate change” and I’m sure neither are they. All in all its a question of whether the awareness they are raising is the right message.
Their decision to stand as independents shows the anarchist theoretical underpinnings of environmentalism, aka the avoidance of being in “a party”. As they aren’t a party though, does this mean SPGB members can engage with them, or even vote for their candidates if there are no better options (this is not a question raised as I want to, its just a question of parties v social movements. Excuse any ignorance, my member pack still needs to be collected from the local royal mail depot).
Another point I’d make though is about the bourgeoise separation of social disciplines. It appears XR may be doing an ok job of making the environment a political issue, but political issues are only the whole too “politicised”, that is seperated from their economic and structural context. Without Marx it’s hard to challenge this, and this is where XR are limited. I suppose it’s all about how we try to tap some of this energy, sadly I think a lot of the donations they have received are akin to donations to UNICEF.
James
Appears to me that no other minor socialist parties are standing full stop?
Presume they are supporting Labour? Socialism must be their priority huh?
Hi guys, unfortunately I was unable to attend conference today. I came down with food poisoning, and my partner then cut her hand on a smashed bowl – spent yesterday evening in A&E…
So Extinction Rebellion are standing as independents? They must have some financial backing. Are they doing it to just make the ballot look clogged and ridiculous?
Hello,
“and West Midlands branches”
As a new member living in Birmingham I have just joined this branch, how would I be able to help? As would love to get involved.
What areas come under the West of the South East Region?
James
Depends on whether I can free up the Sunday, will have to play it by ear. Also a bit wary on the train back with the Marathon. But it’s still open ended
