ATDTDA (5): The American Corporation

[Paul Mackin]

On Apr 4, 2007, at 2:50 PM, robinlandseadel at comcast.net wrote:

>        mikebailey:
>
>        . . . .he obviously has the understanding to
>        appreciate the "good" side of corporations, how
>        they allow great projects to be undertaken and
>        how they are a superior form of enterprise...how
>        stock markets allow many to participate...
>
>        but in focusing on the untold story of the preterite,
>        yet writing in a style aimed at the elect, has he
>        chosen a strategy that might be a reminder of
>        the improvements that need to be made before
>        capitalism can be truly proud of itself?  because
>        come on, it's a darn sight better than the feudal
>        system or the Roman Empire, isn't it?
>
> I think the author's an Anarchist, and it's possible to read  
> Against the Day and
> come out with a paean to Anarchism.


About as much as it is a paean to Time Travel.

Mike Bailey has to be correct about one thing.  What  Pynchon  
"obviously has the understanding to appreciate" about Capitalism is  
that, as flawed as it is, it--like the Roman Empire and Feudalism in  
their time--is at least capable of actually existing in the real  
world as a social system.

To me, Anarchism can be thought of as a  social mathematics--worked  
out by Brother Chomsky and others--that is similar in some ways to  
the math Kit runs up against at the Scottish Cafe--no real world  
application (as pointed out the other day by Daniel). Kit seems to  
have the sense to see it for what it  is.

Monte talks about weird science in Pynchon. Anarchism is weird social  
science. Well, it's not actual presented as a science, more as a  
religion.

Naturally I'd like to be proved wrong, just as I'd welcome a little  
Time Travel now and then to break the monotony.

Been full of impure thoughts today.