A Political Programme
76
The measures suggested here would bring us up against the real power of the plutocratic oligarchy that rules the world. Lobbies are its most obvious expression. Authorities, administrations and even research centres are all to a greater or lesser extent controlled by what is now a global complex. It should be recalled that many of the alarm bells sounded by scientists (asbestos, aflotoxin, fiprolnil and imidacloine, heparine, electromagnetic fields, dioxin and chemicals affecting the endocrinal system. . .) have been silenced by government agencies because of the pressure of economic interests. The laboratories concerned have lost their funding and in some cases scientists have been removed from their posts (sometimes with the collusion of unions trying to 'protect' jobs) (Cicolella and BenoîtBrowaeys 2005). A programme for a national policy of de-growth seems paradoxical. The implementation of realistic and rational proposals has little chance of being adopted and still less chance of succeeding unless the entire system is subverted. Its subversion presupposes a change in the imaginary, and the only thing that can bring that about is the realization of the fertile utopia of a convivial and autonomous society. There is, then, no shortage of proposals or Solutions, but the preconditions for their implementation are not there. There are several possible scenarios for a gentle transition and very gradual measures could begin to implement the cuts that are needed. The important point is that a radical change of direction is needed. We therefore have to create the preconditions for that change of direction. The goal of a more sophisticated project is of course to create those preconditions.
Jobs
for All in
a
De-Growth Society
The harshest criticism from de-growth's opponents 'on the left' has to do with the abandonment of full employment
