Sebrof
There are many different interpretations and solutions to the transformation problem (how are values "transformed" into prices). They range from ignoring it, making it more qualitative, reworking the math or definitions of value, etc. I'm not versed enough in all different interpretations, but one that I feel that I "get" and could explain is that offered by Ian Wright. Though his politics are too Trot for me, his correction of the transformation problem makes sense to me and I've wondered about doing a write up on it. It is under the framework of Input Output analysis with natural prices (equilibrium prices that act as an "gravitational attractor" for long term prices, this is also in the sphere of work done by economists such as Sraffa and Pasinetti), and he effectively takes Anwar Shaikh's critique of Sraffa's students (the Neo Ricardians) and applies this critique to their own model to show how the labor values of a good gives you natural prices but it requires care to ensure one is using the appropriate commensurate measure of labor in a commodity.
Effectively his response, and that of Shaikh from what I can tell, is that the profit of capitalists appears as if it comes out of nowhere and can't be explained by the standard definition of labor value in Sraffa's economic model. But the profit that capitalists make (after spending on means of production) get spent back into the economy (in the sphere of circulation) on real use values (say for their class consumption) which have a labor content due to being products of labor. If you "complete that path" of capitalist consumption goods back to their source (labor) and add that labor back into the labor content of a commodity, then boom - labor values march natural prices in Sraffa's own model.
In other other terms: the standard view of a labor value is the amount of labor needed to create one unit of net output (the quantity of goods available for consumption after reinvesting some portion of them as materials for production). So this is labor that's directly required for the production of the unit net good plus labor for the materials required for the unit net good. But, capitalists consume part of this net product and laborers only consume part of it. If the prices of the unit net good matched this measure of labor then prices would be low enough that workers could theoretically buy back with their money-wage their entire net product - leaving none for the capitalists. Some "markup" appears to exist and classical Sraffian model couldn't explain this markup in terms of labor.
But if you measure a "non-standard" labor value (a la Wright) as the amount of labor needed to produce the commodities that only the working class consumes then you get a labor value that also explains this mysterious "markup".
A non-standard labor value counts the amount of labor that is directly and indirectly required to produce a good due to technical conditions, but also the amount of (surplus) labor that is socially/institutionally required by workers to create their real wage (i.e. their consumed product)
I don't claim to understand all of it, or be the best at explaining it. So my apologies for the difficulties. But it is an explanation that meshes with me, and my math-brain seems to get it (the original papers require knowledge of Linear Algebra). It also "cleans up Sraffa's and Pasinetti's economic work and brings that back into alignment with Marx.
Wright also has a dynamic version of this description which better gets at what is usually meant when people say a labor theory of value (the feedback loop between prices, values, and social division of labor)
There is the movie Godless: The Easfield Exorcism where the horror is that Christians are exorcising a women who isn't actually possessed but is instead having a mental health crisis. It's based off a real story too. Not exactly what you're saying, but at least along the lines.
I also agree with this post, I'm tired of Satanic and Demonic imagery in horror. It does nothing for me.
That's upsetting. The background levels of anti communism is so frustrating and I'm sorry it's impacting people you used to work with. People can be odd :/ I imagine the anarchist-ish people I'm around would react the same way. Frustrating.
I hope PSL works out for you! I was somewhat involved with them years ago, but life events, moving, etc caused me to.. well sorta flake or drop out. I'd like to get involved again but I guess I'm intimidated. I want to make sure I can and will commit. I don't want to repeat what happened before. So getting in that position's a goal of mine.
They weren't Trots, but behaved just like them (there was another group in the city that was a Trot group, and they may as well have been the same). They were pro Stalin, anti-revisionist. And they were pro China before the 60s (interestingly I don't think their break with China was due to Deng).
I think they just evolved into leftcoms. They didn't like the Black Panthers, National Liberation movements, etc. because of 'Nationalism'. They didn't like that the USSR, China, and AES had money, so they were actually capitalist imperialist states. There is no transition period for them, we'll just go straight to communism and if a society doesn't do that then they are capitalists. They phrases everything, EVERYTHING, as a battle between workers and 'the bosses'. They didn't really think through any particular contradictions (they were pretty lazy lol). They always talked about how post Apartheid South Africa is in a worse state now because they didn't push the communism button. Their writings from the 60s gloat about Che being murdered because he deserved it for spreading imperialism (Cuban imperialism anyone?).
Shit tier.
Yes ... yes it is. This group bit off more than they could chew. Had good intentions, but no structure. No delegation, no accountability. Then it all fell apart when SA happened with one of the members
Around that time I also joined another group that was actually an ML group, or call themselves one. They were ultras though. Ended up being very chauvinistic and had juvenile takes. Like not believing in settler colonialism, saying the Palestinian and Israeli proletariat should join together, making blanket condemnations of nationalism and even the Black Panther Party, the USSR and China, and other horror stories. I've complained about it elsewhere here lol. I've had shit luck with groups where I'm at. I wish I had some actual advice, but I can definitely commiserate lol.
I still passed the course but definitely failed the paper. I thought it was harsh too :( I can relate with its misery, but you'll get it and be so happy to be done with it! I've since moved on with other interests and haven't looked at it since, but I'm glad I got it finished at least.
Israeli occupation fighter jets strike several locations in Lebanon
Article
Israeli occupation forces strike multiple locations across Lebanon resulting in multiple injuries as tension along the northern occupied Palestine border intensifies.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon reported that four people were injured in an Israeli airstrike on a detergents factory in Wadi Jilou, southern Lebanon.
Hours before that, the correspondent had confirmed that seven people were injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting Beit Yahoun near the city of Bint Jbeil, also in southern Lebanon.
Moreover, our correspondent reported that Israeli airstrikes also targeted the towns of Siddiqin, Adchit, Odaisseh, and Kounine.
These attacks followed Israeli warplanes breaking the sound barrier over several areas in southern Lebanon around midnight
In response to the Israeli aggression, said the correspondent, a military target in the settlement of Metula came under direct fire from Lebanon around midnight.
Significantly, Israeli media reported that a suspicious object was intercepted in the sea off the coast of Nahariya in northern occupied Palestine, without the sounding of sirens.
The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon issued its first statement for Thursday announcing the targeting of the al-Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kfar Chouba using rocket-propelled weapons, confirming a direct hit.
Hezbollah's Military Media also released footage of the Islamic Resistance targeting an Israeli military vehicle and its crew at the Adather site in northern occupied Palestine, as well as footage of targeting an Iron Dome platform at the Ramot Naftali barracks
I, tend to, do the same thing, when writing. I still remember, in high school, getting a failing grade on my paper because of those commas. The rules, make no sense to me!
Also congrats on your dissertation! I wrote mine during the COVID lockdown. Lol fun times.
Gross. Also, an aside, I hate this type of horror subgenre. The Catholic Church are always the good guys, or at least flawed but good. There was some horror movie I watched that retconned the whole inquisition as the work of a demonically possessed priest that fooled the smol bean Vatican. My wife is a big horror fan, but doesn't like sci-fi horror :(, so I've seen a lot of these religious themed horror shows.
Isn't that why they're planning on holding it (or parts of it?) virtualy?