le Kapital est foncièrement impérialiste : non pas simplement au sens
où il a besoin d'écraser des peuples à sa périphérie, mais il a besoin
d'une périphérie en général, et il a besoin de la pomper, et ce, sans
le dire, i.e. de faire des prélèvements d'énergie où que ce soit dans
le système solaire, dans l'air et dans l'eau, de faire entrer dans son
propre circuit en faisant croire au miracle de la croissance autonome
de ce circuit. Ce qui est frappant, c'est que dans le sens de la
sortie, dans le sens de la jouissance, il va aussi y avoir quelque
chose : la perversion, c'est le détournement par rapport au circuit de
la reproduction.
Jean François Lyotard, seminário, 04/01/1973, publicado em Les Cours de Gilles Deleuze, webdeleuze
Hoje, a minha Justina está de rastos. Eu bem a tinha avisado que aquilo não ficava por ali, que a Dona Ermelinda tinha lá escarrapachado, pra toda a gente ver, um outlook negativo. Mas a minha Justina é toda reinação e é uma miúda bem formada e achou que se pagasse umas bejecas à Ermelinda dos jornais, a que vende lotarias no quiosque, ela começava a ver mais os pontos fortes do negócio e menos os remendos na canalização. Qual o quê! Hoje o pessoal que vinha do quiosque da Ermelinda era só que as meninas da Justina eram tão porcas como as universitárias gregas do Erasmo que fazem uns biscates prá Antonieta zarolha. Ainda pra mais, isto tudo no fim do mês, quando o pessoal vem aqui largar o guito. Estava eu com o Rebelo das obras, a engraxar-lhe o Benfica, que sim, que era uma fartura e que antes cá pra Lisboa que prós facciosos dos tripeiros (que a gente, quando é empresário, diz o que é preciso pra cativar o cliente) e que se fazia assim uma coisa em grande, já este fim-de-semana que vem, pra comemorar o europeu de salão - e os matraquilhos no Chico - mas, vai o Rebelo, que não, que não queria investir nisso, que, se calhar, não, que ainda ia ver, que os rapazes andavam cansados com as obras pró Papa, que o Terreiro do Paço tinha de estar acabado em menos de quinze dias, que o Braga ainda podia dar chatices... E eu a cheirar o ranço daquela merda toda. E digo-lhe assim: punhamos aí as meninas da Justina a noite toda a girarem umas mines, uma música daquelas pum-pum-pum toda às bolinhas, dava-se-lhes mais qualquer coisa e as gajas também davam mais qualquer coisa aos rapazes... E o Rebelo que ainda se ia ver. É pá! Disse logo eu ao Silva cauteleiro: anda aqui intriga da Ermelinda - e o gajo logo que sim, que a Ermelinda, depois da Antonieta, era a malhar na Justina, que aquilo era como os tigres da Malásia, pior que o Sandokan, que era no pescoço do mais fraco, despachava um e passava ao outro e que, depois da Justina, ainda ia ser a vez da Pilar, a espanhola da Pensão Vigo, que eram as leis do mercado e que um tipo não andava aqui pra ver passar combóios e ele até achava que a Ermelinda estava feita com o tipo da Remax, aquele com ar de paneleiro e gravata à BCP, e o que eles queriam era fechar aquilo tudo para depois se fazerem uns condomínios à maneira prós granfinos, daqueles com guardas e tudo, como nas novelas brasileiras. Aí é que está o quiproquó, ó Silva - a merda do busiles, o dedo na ferida. Eu bem avisei a Justina do outlook negativo, mas ela não, que não, que ia a falas com a Ermelinda e ia correr tudo bem. Até se pôs em cima do balcão e, de mine na mão, disse assim como quem vai apresentar um fadista de quem nunca ninguém ouviu falar: caros clientes, que são mais que amigos, são como família. (Houve uma balbúrdia de aplausos e de assobios e de bocas prá geral). E ela, embalada: amigos, vizinhos, gentes do meu coração, para que não haja dúvidas e ninguém fique a matutar, digo-vos aqui, d'alma escancarada e coração nas mãos, que a Albertina, apesar de não ter sido ela a pegar os chatos ao Manel da Famel, já foi posta na rua, porque ia lá pra trás mexer nos tomates do Carlos servente, que é um porco e só lhe pagava o que queria, quando queria e nós nunca víamos nada. A malta toda a aplaudir e eu mesmo ali a ver que aquilo já não era suficiente para acalmar a Ermelinda: era pouca coisa e tarde de mais. Por isso, quando, hoje de manhãzinha, me vem a Justina toda chorosa da padaria, a dizer que aquela puta da Ermelinda a tinha descido dois lugares no ranking e que ainda lhe tinha dito ó Sôdona Justina não fique assim, que ainda está muito bem colocada pra lhe mandar pra lá uns marinheiros turcos e uns rapazes ucranianos que estão ali a pôr um pládur no café do Senhor Sousa e que ela só não lhe foi às fuças porque, depois, é que nem aos reformados da Recreativa a Ermelinda recomendava o estaminé, quando ela me chegou neste estado, eu só lhe disse, ó Justina, faz-me aqui um broche, pra não ir assim prá casa de banho lavar a tromba. Mas, eu, o que queria, mesmo, dizer-lhe era: olha, filha, põe-te mas é a pau, que o outlook continua negativo e ainda vais pelo mesmo caminho da Antonieta zarolha e olha que vais de carrinho, nem que faças uma remodelação geral ao estaminé, lavabos incluídos e toalhinhas de turco grosso mudadas todos os dias. E a Justina fez-se ao pau, mas foi ao meu, e a Ermelinda não se vai ficar por aqui. Esperem pra ver e escrevam aí na agenda que fui eu quem vos disse - que eu, quando falo não é prá piça, por isso escrevam nas agendas, não ponham os colhões a gravar.
Reconstituição das páginas da edição angolana do primeiro caderno do semanário Sol de 12 de Fevereiro de 2010 que por cá andam esquivas, segundo afamado especialista estrangeiro em arqueologia industrial (que pediu anonimato: diz que não gosta de chocos com tinta)
A PARÁBOLA DO JUIZ E DA JORNALISTA
- A JORNALISTA O sôtor não acha que o primeiro valor de uma sociedade democrática é a liberdade de expressão?
- O JUIZ (do Norte) Não.
- A JORNALISTA ... a liberdade de pensamento?
- O JUIZ (do Norte) Não.
- A JORNALISTA ...a liberdade de opinião?
- O JUIZ (do Norte)
Não. Não. O primeiro valor é o direito à vida. E deixemo-nos de coisas, porque eu já ouvi dizer... que é... O único valor, o primeiro valor, o único valor que não tem limitações, em algumas sociedades, porque tem, por exemplo, nos sítios onde há pena de morte, é o direito à vida e à integridade física...
King Champ Gillette (1855-1932), World Corporation, Boston, New England News Company, 1910: "Man Corporate"
Under a perfect economical system of production and distribution, and a system combining the greatest elements of progress, there can be only one city on a continent, and possibly only one in the world. There would be outlying groups of buildings in different sections of the country for the accommodation of those who were, for limited periods, in the field of labor, and also others that would be occupied as resorts of pleasure in season; but the great and only "Metropolis" would be the home of the people. Having this idea in view, the location of the great city requires thoughtful and careful consideration, it being, in fact, the heart of a vast machine, to which over the thousands of miles of arteries of steel the raw material of production would find its way, there to be transformed in the mammoth mills and workshops into the lifegiving elements that would sustain and electrify the mighty brain of the whole, which would be the combined intelligence of the entire population working in unison, but each and every individual working in his own channel of inclination.
For many reasons I have come to the conclusion that there is no spot on the American continent, or possibly in the world. that combines so many natural advantages as that section of our country lying in the vicinity of the Niagara Falls, extending east into New York State and west into Ontario. The possibility of utilizing the enormous natural power resulting from the fall, from the level of Lake Erie to the level of Lake Ontario, some 330 feet is no longer the dream of enthusiasts, but is a demonstrated fact. Here is a power, which, if brought under control, is capable of keeping in continuous operation even manufacturing industry for centuries to come, and, in addition supply all the lighting;, facilities, run all the elevators, and furnish the power necessary for the transportation system of the great central city....
The manufacturing industries of "Metropolis" would be located east and west of Niagara River in Ontario and New York. The residence portion of the city would commence about ten miles east of Niagara River and Buffalo; and from this point to its eastern extremity, which would include the present city of Rochester in its eastern border, the city would be sixty miles long east and west, and thirty miles in width north and south, lying parallel with Lake Ontario, and about five miles from it.
King Champ Gillette, The Human Drift, Boston, New Era Publishing Co., 1894. Reprint: Delmar, N.Y., Scholars' Facsimiles & Reprints, Inc., 1976, pp. 88-112.
One of the richest and most eminent American merchants, a certain Edward AlbertFilene, Vice-Chairman of the International Congress of Chambers of Commerce, is now touring Paris, Berlin and other big European centres to make personal contact with the most influential people of the commercial world.
At the banquets arranged, as is fitting, by the richest people of Europe in honour of one of the American rich, the latter is developing his “new” ideas on the world power of the merchant. Frankfurter = Zeitung,[1] the organ of German finance capital, reports in detail the ideas of this “advanced” American millionaire.
“We are experiencing a great historic movement,” he proclaims, “that will end in the transfer of all power over the modern world to representatives of commercial capital. We are the people who bear the greatest responsibility in the world and we should, therefore, be politically the most influential.
“Democracy is growing, the power of the masses is growing,” argued Mr. Filene (rather inclined, it seems, to regard those “masses” as simpletons). “The cost of living is rising. Parliamentarism and the newspapers, distributed in millions of copies a day, are providing the masses of the people with ever more detailed information.
“The masses are striving to ensure for themselves participation in political life, the extension of franchise, the introduction of an income-tax, etc. Power over the whole world must pass into the hands of the masses, that is, into the hands of our employees,” is the conclusion drawn by this worthy orator.
“The natural leaders of the masses should be the industrialists and merchants, who are learning more and more to understand the community of their interests and those of the masses.” (We note in parenthesis that the cunning Mr. Filene is the owner of a gigantic commercial house employing 2,500 people, and that he has “organised” his employees in a “democratic” organisation with profit-sharing, etc. Since he considers his employees hopeless simpletons, Mr. Filene is sure that they are completely satisfied and infinitely grateful to their “father-benefactor” ....)
“Wage increases, the improvement of labour conditions, that is what will bind our employees to us,” said Mr. Filene, “that is what will guarantee our power over the whole world. Everybody in the world who is at all talented will come to us to enter our service.
“We need organisation and still more organisation—strong, democratic organisation, both national and inter national,” the American exclaimed. He called upon the commercial world of Paris, Berlin, etc., to reorganise international chambers of commerce. They should unite the merchants and industrialists of all civilised countries in a single, mighty organisation. All important international problems should be discussed and settled by that organisation.
Such are the ideas of an “advanced” capitalist, Mr. Filene.
The reader will see that these ideas are a paltry, narrow, one-sided, selfishly barren approximation to the ideas of Marxism propounded over sixty years ago. “We” are great masters at upsetting and refuting Marx; “we”, the civilised merchants and professors of political economy, have refuted him completely!... And at the same time we steal little bits and pieces from him and boast to the whole world of our “progressiveness”....
W. [V. I. Lenine], "The Ideas of an Advanced Capitalist", Rabochaya Pravda, No. 4, July 17, 1913. Tradução de George Hanna, Lenin Collected Works, Moscow, Progress Publishers, 1977, volume 19, pages 275-276.
"We are watching the rebirth of colonization and a colonial mentality of a new type represented by the ‘human rights’ brigades and their friends in Le Monde and Libération, of which the war in Iraq and the failure of the West to force Israel to retreat from its colonial positions are good examples. And tied to that is the process of neo-liberalism and the neo-liberal economy, which makes democracy itself into a very hollow shell"
Just as Jean Baudrillard long ago warned, the hyperreal, simulational world of derivatives, credit swaps, and mortgage backed securities long ago blasted off from material reality, reaching escape velocity, and then orbiting the world as star-like high finance satellites -- purely virtual satellites which have no real meaning for the rest of us as long as they stay in space as part of the alienated, recursive loops of advanced capitalism. But when the meltdown suddenly happens, when that immense weight of over-indebtedness and toxic mortgages and credit derivates plunge back into the gravitational weight of real politics and real economy, we finally know what it is to live within trajectories of the catastrophic. Economists are quoted as saying the financial crisis effects "everyone on earth." Is this Virilio's "global accident?" Quite certainly it is panic finance: that moment when the credit mechanisms necessary for capitalist liquidity slam shut, a time made to measure for Virilio's brilliant theory of bunker archeology, with each bank its own toxic bunker of junk assets, each banker a born again socialist. For example, always vigilant automatic circuit breakers working in the darkness of night recently prevented a global plunge of the futures market. Allan Greenspan throws up his hands, exclaiming "I'm in shocked disbelief."
Francis Bacon (1909-1992), Painting, 1946, óleo sobre tela, 198cm × 132 cm cm, Museum of Modern Art
IT IS a melancholy object to those who walk through this great town or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads, and cabin doors, crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers, instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in strolling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants: who as they grow up either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes.
I think it is agreed by all parties that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom a very great additional grievance; and, therefore, whoever could find out a fair, cheap, and easy method of making these children sound, useful members of the commonwealth, would deserve so well of the public as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.
But my intention is very far from being confined to provide only for the children of professed beggars; it is of a much greater extent, and shall take in the whole number of infants at a certain age who are born of parents in effect as little able to support them as those who demand our charity in the streets.
(...)
I shall now therefore humbly propose my own thoughts, which I hope will not be liable to the least objection.
I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.
I do therefore humbly offer it to public consideration that of the hundred and twenty thousand children already computed, twenty thousand may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle or swine; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fruits of marriage, a circumstance not much regarded by our savages, therefore one male will be sufficient to serve four females. That the remaining hundred thousand may, at a year old, be offered in the sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom; always advising the mother to let them suck plentifully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends; and when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and seasoned with a little pepper or salt will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especially in winter.
I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, increaseth to 28 pounds.
I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.