Discussion: The Current Economic Situation April 7 2023

On Friday, April 7th, 2023, there was a live-streamed panel discussion hosted by The LaRouche Organization and co-promoted by the Liberty Speaks, Inc.

Promotional material for the discussion

The positions represented on this panel were as follows:

• Center for Political Innovation representing the Communist, Marxist-Leninist position
• The LaRouche Organization representing the LaRouche position
• The Libertarian Party representing the Austrian economics position

Despite their different positions, these groups were brought together in common interests against war by the Rage Against the War Machine rally.

LaRouche People Remarks

• Christopher Sare
  • notes that war and economic collapse are intertwined
  • BRICS+ nations are resisting this cannibalistic system by creating a productive economy
  • Chris mentions LaRouche's Four Laws: (1) immediate restoration of Glass–Steagall policies (2) Hamiltonian National Bank (3) creation of a federal credit system through the national bank (4) adopt a Fusion Energyindustrial policy
• Cade Levinson
  • recommends that we build Special Economic Zones like in China.
  • According to Tim Cook, Apple isn't in China because of cheap labor, they're there because of the incredibly high levels of skill of the workers.
  • Mentions General Welfare as a means of finding common-sense policies

Libertarian Remarks

• Jorge Besada
  • Discussion of how information is evolutionary, advocates for economic competition
  • Speaks against the creation of money through the Fed's infinite money printer which is debasing our currency
  • Speaks against the evils of war, especially in that it's a degrowth agenda of crushing economic productivity.
• Mike ter Maat - Austrian school of economics
  • Argues that China and Russia are examples of "governments backing off and allowing their economies to grow"
  • Raises the point of Federal Government insolvency risk. (Sovereign defaults tend to result in currency collapses)
  • The American public is ready for a serious anti-war message
  • Speaks against Central Banking, advocates for hard money, not necessarily the gold system
  • Doesn't believe the USD is at risk of being replaced within the next decade. (see: Dedollarization)
  • Advocates for the reduction of government bureaucracy
  • Decentralize power to local communities

Communist Remarks

These will be given by two members of the Center for Political Innovation.

• Caleb Maupin
  • S/o to all the Abrahamic folks in the audience (Today is Good Friday, etc.)
  • In a way, Communists are indeed Libertarian (From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs)
  • Scarcity is what stands in the way of this libertarian utopian future.
  • Humanity is always trying to raise the productive forces, reaching higher modes of production.
  • Capitalism (in its modern form of monopoly imperialism) produces poverty amidst plenty, crisis of overproduction
  • Technological leaps tend to create crises, because the relations of production are out of sync with the mode of production
  • Tendency of the rate of profit to fall
  • Lists the successes of socialist states
  • Mentions the CPI's Four Point Plan.
• Sam Bismuth will participate in the response section

Responses

LaRouche

• Mentions Agapic love which is the basis of civilization
• Government of, by, and for the people — a Republic
• The United States unfortunately lacks a mission during this period of global collapse
• The financial economy is collapsing and the physical economy is going down with it
• Money and credit are expressions of intention
• America no longer produces anything, we must return to this, we need to reindustrailize the United States

Libertarian

• Mike claims that the Chinese market reforms were not carried out by the Chinese government, perhaps this statement sounds so silly because invisible hands are, by definition, invisible!
• Mike rejects Caleb's claim that Communists are Libertarians

Communist

• Sam Bismuth argues that any rational approach can arrive at a correct orientation towards reality, calls for unity of action despite disagreement
• Sam dispels some myths about communists, for example "communists don't want to get rid of competition" (mentions Socialist emulation)

A Message from the Sponsors

• Register for the upcoming conference here

Q&A Period

• Q: Who created the the current state of affairs in the United States?
• A: Jorge argues that this is a collective failure whereby the public believes falls for fake economics
• Jorge incorrectly accuses Caleb of "wanting to abolish technological progress"
• Caleb is given the chance to directly respond
• Chris argues that the USA has lost its way and modeled itself after the British Empire
• Chris says the answers to our problems lie in the American System
• Special guest question: Irene (the co-founder of Liberty Speaks) Speak to specific policy areas where the most changes are necessary
  • First: Communists: Sam argues the biggest area of policy is foreign policy, we need to stop the endless drive for war and death
• Chris argues that we need to get away from zero sum games (and negative sum games!) we need to move towards positive sum games
• Mike wants to clarify that he's not a supporter of China
• Mike accuses China and Russia of imperialism
• Diane Sare asks "can we abolish poverty without violating individual country's sovereignty?"
  • Chris mentions John Quincy Adams' "Community of Principle" between Sovereign Nations
  • Mike argues that the only way to eradicate poverty is to move towards a Westphalian peace
  • Mike argues that the Belt and Road Initiative is a "step backwards"

Closing remarks

• Caleb
  • the only socialism we'll have will be uniquely American, we need to study our own traditions of struggle
• Mike
  • Argues that FDR and Lincoln were bad presidents from an economic perspective (lol! citation needed)
• Jorge agrees that FDR and Lincoln were bad presidents, finishes with a Hayek quote
• Cade
  • A new system must be in harmony with the interests of the commoners

Editor's note

These are additional remarks by the founder of InfraWiki: Perhaps some common ground between the Communist and LaRouche and Libertarian positions could be found in the thoughts of Deng Xiaoping such as his emphasis on raising the Productive forces and Huey Long who put forth the motto: "Every Man a King"