[IMC-Process] Re: [Imc-finance] IMC West-Vlaanderen on Imc-Finance and TMF - english.

[frank]

OK, I've been biting my tounge for a while on this, waiting for the Atlanta,
Georgia, USA IMC to have a full statement.  That process seems to be
happening very slowly (actually, not at all), so I just want to throw out a
couple ideas.

> Having said that, and in the context of our discussion about money, this
> problem exists for any currency introduced into indymedia, whether it is
> from malevolant sources such as Ford, or friendly ones such as
Chumbawamba.

I think it's very important to remember that the money from Chumbawumba was
money from an exploitative international car manufacturer.  Just because it
was funnelled through Chumbawumba, doesn't change its origin.

As far as 'non-exploitative based labor systems' goes...  I think that would
limit our financial possibilities to an extremely small number of groups
that actually have no money.  All labor systems that involve money are
exploitative in one way or another.

For Indymedia to decide to work totally outside the institution of capital,
we would have to manufacture our own computer chips (all the way down to
making our own resistors and transistors, etc), or just revert to handmade
paper and ink.  This is an unfortunate reality.

It is important for us to realize that the *true* source of real *value* --
that is, 'capital' -- comes directly from the international labor force.
Corporations would not have any capital/value were it not for their direct
and indirect (in the case of international investment bankers, like Soros)
exploitation of this labor force.  Therefore, all money, regardless of whose
hands it was last in, is most fundamentally/originally from the
international labor force.  If we can agree on this, then would it not be
right and just for us to get as much money BACK from these institutions that
have stolen it and redistribute it to those that it was stolen from??  I
dare say that if someone stole $50K from FF or OSI and redistributed the
wealth among the needy, that many among us would smile (if only privately).

So, if 'their' money comes no-strings-attached (given your exceptions,
Evan), how does it then become a bad thing?  Why/How is stolen capital made
'clean' when it's laundered through the likes of an "anarchist pop band"?

> That is why my main point has always been that the distinction between
Ford
> vs. Chumbawamba, or capitalist vs. non-capitalist, or good vs. bad money
is

Please explain to me what non-capitalist money is.  Also, how does money
from Ford differ from money from GM-via-a-pop-band?

> I think it is incumbent on all indymedia activists, north or south, east
or
> west, that participate in any capitalist economic system, for whatever
> reason, to find ways to work with others to build barriers against the
> social behaviour that money was designed to introduce, regardless of the
> messengers that deliver it.

I agree with this statement completely.

Love & Solidarity!
Frank
Atlanta IMC