My "Meltdown III" Post
From: "Loren Goldner" […]
Date: Sun May 14, 2006 6:11am (PDT)
Subject: Andrew Kliman Replies to Jerry Levy (Preface by Loren)
Dear Meltdowners,
On May 4, Jerry Levy posted a completely "off-subject" blast at another Meltdown member, Andrew Kliman. I decided that since Andrew had been unfairly attacked once, he should have one chance to reply, after which case closed.
I have sent everyone the Meltdown ground rules and am taking the liberty (given this rather unprecedented situation and as discussed in my previous post) of adding a rule that after one warning for tasteless off-topic posts (which Levy has now received), a Meltdowner can be expelled. This has never happened before and I hope it won't start now. Once again, I invite anyone concerned about this addition to the rules to make their concerns known to me off-list if possible, or if you feel strongly about it, on-list.
Loren
[emphases added]
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Kliman Replies to Levy
Recently, on this list and elsewhere, Jerry Levy launched an attack against me, part of a longstanding campaign to destroy my reputation. But this is a "personal matter" *only* in the sense that he has chosen to resort to personal attacks in order to accomplish his aims. His character assassination in fact arises out of the broader effort of the "Marxist economists" to suppress Marx's critique of political economy in its original form, and the attempts by myself and others to end that suppression.
This is why I consider it crucial to respond. As Brian Martin, who has courageously fought all kinds of suppression of dissent for more than a quarter-century, writes: "It is vitally importantthat action be taken against suppression. This is because the most important effect of suppression is ... on others who observe the process. Every case of suppresson is a warning to potential critics not to buck the system. And every case in which suppression is vigorously opposed is a warning to vested interests that attacks will not be tolerated" (from his Suppression of Dissent website, http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dissent/).
I condemn Levy's exploitation of this and other e-mail lists by using them as weapons in his campaign of vilification. It is particularly shameful, dishonest, and cowardly to exploit e-mail lists in order to sling accusations at people. The person or persons accused cannot defend themselves properly (if at all), there is no panel of disinterested individuals empowered to decide the matter on the basis of careful deliberation and study of the relevant evidence, and no sanctions are imposed on those who improperly vilify others.
I understand that listmembers are smart enough not to accept unsubstantiated allegations at face value. But a person who sets out to destroy another's reputation does not need his allegations accepted in order to succeed. He succeeds whenever others conclude that "the truth issomewhere in the middle," or "where there's smoke, there's fire," and he succeeds even if, in order to avoid controversy and unpleasantness, they stay clear of the accused and the causes with which he's associated. In other words, successis almost certain -- IF he is permitted to get away with character assassination. This is why a concerted campaign of character assassination cannot be ignored as a mere annoyance, but must be stopped.
I shall not demean myself, nor be forced onto the defensive, by responding to Levy's latest accusations here. On my website
(http://akliman.squarespace.com/stop-character-assassination),
I will demonstrate his reckless disregard for the truth, and demonstrate that his actions serve the interests of the "Marxist economists" who seek to continue the suppression of Marx's critique of political economy in its original form. In contrast to Levy, who attacks people in situations where they cannot defend themselves, I will publish any and every reply of his, on the same page of my website (unless it defames an individual, engages in redbaiting, or is diversionary, racist, sexist, or homophobic).
For pluralism,
Andrew Kliman
BACK TO MAIN "STOP CHARACTER ASSASSINATION" PAGE
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