Tuesday, October 10, 2006
(5:15 PM) | Anonymous:
The Revolution Needs Accountants, Too
The responses to my last post got me thinking: who counts as a real leftist? Of the various things that people do with their time, which activities are consistent with leftist principles? The question my commenters ask me after every post - or rather, tell me the answer to - is: is investing consistent with leftism?In the absence of any viable international (or even national) leftist organization, I am content to give my surplus value to the charities and NGOs that do the best work. If Anthony, or Pat Rock, or whoever can point to some revolutionary group that I have overlooked, great. If they want to start one, I'll help however I can.
But do people really mean to suggest that giving money to African children with AIDS is inconsistent with leftist principles simply because the aid money was obtained by investing; specifically, by profiting from the misfortunes of Exxon and Halliburton?
Puh-leeze. Revolutionary purity is a luxury most of the world doesn't have right now.
