Ordering Jim Stanford's Book

You can visit the web site for "Economics for Everyone" by clicking here. At the link to the Pluto web site you will find an order form.

The cover looks like this ...

Understanding Economics Can be Fun: Read Jim Stanford

Yes, it's hard to believe but it's true, there is an economist who talks and writes about what is happening in the economy in a clear and often amusing way. His name is Jim Stanford and he works as National Research Director for the Canadian Auto Workers Union. Jim also writes a regular column for the Globe and Mail and an email post called Facts From the Fringe. For a taste of his no nonsense and humour laden style that cuts into neoliberalism's nonsense try this: Facts From the Fringe.
His latest and very powerful effort is a new book, "Economics for Everyone: A Short Guide to the Economics of Capitalism."
I am a largely self taught, kitchen table economist, randomly learning economics as I go, and after 30 odd years of this, still struggling with a lot of what is happening. So this book has 2 big advantages for me: it can be read front to back and, also dipped into at chapters (and sometimes some sub sectors of chapters) that are relevant or most intersting relative to what is happening in the society that needs some economic explanation.
So, for example, Prime Minister Rudd has initiated a major review of Australia's taxation system in response to "pressure" - "requests" from Australian big business. Chapter 20 on "Spending and Taxing" is an excellent 13 page, plain language guide to help understand and critique the media reporting and government documents on this issue. If you want to prevent a tax system that gives even more favours to the rich and powerful in both personal and business taxation this chapter is a good step in the process.
Some important features of this book are:
- it examines the economy through the eyes of working people;
- it is supported by a still to be developed web site of resources, teaching materials and commentary: Economics for Everyone
- it starts from the obvious - we live in a capitalist society, therefore let's understand capitalism;
- it's often funny, supported by some excellent cartoons;
- it shows the links between economics, politics and society;
- it's Canadian focus still connects to the Australian and other capitalist society;
- it's left wing and hip, taking us through and past social democracy perspectives;
- it defines and explains in plain language a lot of the conomic jargon we hear and read every day;
- it builds a basic picture of what an economy is and then steadily and systematically builds on more complex layers of understanding that are not overwhelming;
- it restores the possibilities of an alternative to capitalism that learns the most important lessons of socialist societies that have been attempted;
It's written for non economists who are working out that leaving the economy to coprorations, governments and economists is very dangerous.
This book is great for activists of all ages.
It is not yet widely available in Australia, but soon will be.
Since finishing the book Jim has also written a shorter primer for activists on UNderstanding the Global Financial System and Its Current Crisis.

Unions and the Internet

I spent most of the day learning about the latest developments in how unions are using the internet and some of its applications for their activities, especially on line campaigning. The seminar was run by Eric Lee from Labourstart. Eric spent a long time critiquing current and recent union practice, especially looking at common weaknesses in the design of union web sites. We also learned about and discussed the ways in which employers had learned how to neutralise many union campaigns that are based on tools and techniques developed several years ago. The workshop then turned to new, easily accessible and common tools that can take union campaigns to a new level. My main interest lies in understanding how to link on line tools to traditional, face to face meetings and other union activity: that is, how to make sure members and potential members can get important information, share it with others, discuss and analyse it, and work out the actions they want to take