Made in USA

What Zinn fails to take into account adequately is the gradually rising levels of prosperity, and longevity, for the average American citizen and the benefits that other countries too have achieved by constructive partnering w the U.S. ...  Why would he?  He'd have to then acknowledge the superiority of capitalism over his obvious Marxist bent.

Note that his book is not widely assigned in even the predominantly left-leaning institutions of "higher learning"... and it's also finally being acknowledged that Marx himself made up "fictional historical facts," for lack of better term - including a bizarre fantasy of how great life was in the Eden of some non-existent fictional perfect barter system before the greedy rise of private property - to fit his ever-changing theories, rather than making the theories fit the facts, which is ironic because Marx claimed to be offering a "scientific" look at economic history.  Nevertheless, Marx, like Zinn, is a stimulating and provocative writer, and worthy of being read at least for the challenges laid down.

Zinn did write a good book though, and food for thought.  Does remind one of the nastiness and brutality of which the human race is capable.  Met him once.  

What Zinn fails to take into account adequately is the gradually rising levels of prosperity, and longevity, for the average American citizen and the benefits that other countries too have achieved by constructive partnering w the U.S. ... Why would he? He’d have to then acknowledge the superiority of capitalism over his obvious Marxist bent.

American longevity has gone up for those making over $400,000 a year and has gone down for those making under. We’ve had the largest drop in life expectancy since the 1920s.

As for calling Zinn a Marxist, they don’t quite see it that way:

All the best,
Nonoise

as for longevity, Zinn's book came out by 1980, which is when your chart starts.  The period that he covers, longevity had a steady upwards rise.  And, even with your chart, "comparable countries" also would be capitalist countries... and yes Sweden is a capitalist country.   That U.S. longevity has dipped recently, that's only recently and is no indication of the long-term trend.

As far as those particular Marxists are concerned, they characterize, reading the article, that Zinn claims economic exploitation as some sort of "happy accident," which he certainly does not claim.  

Zinn is not a "pure" Marxist - which actually is impossible to define, as Marx himself constantly shifts about throughout his writing career, an uncomfortable fact that many avowed "Marxists" avoid - and I did not claim he was one; but he does have the Marxist bent and is not a fan of capitalism (though I'm sure he enjoyed the royalties from the marketing and sale of his book...).

No doubt he enjoyed the royalties as anyone rightly would. They helped to keep him going, getting out his message, and probably feathered his nest egg some. 

I seriously doubt anyone is a pure anything nowadays and just an amalgam of various disciplines. Take economist Richard Wolff for instance. An American economist of good standing with Marxist underpinnings who believes in a better form of capitalism for all. 

I always hated pigeonholing people. 

All the best,
Nonoise

Buy USA.

Joined the USN in 1959, dumbly unknowing, between the Korean and Vietnamese wars.

Fortunate to have visited virtually all of the Mediterranean countries of Europe, plus some of the Asian and Middle eastern countries as well.

A decade and a half after WWII, German pill boxes and the ruins of the war were still quite evident evident and profoundly impressive for a 17 year old "Warrior". Not.

Quite amazing for a city slum kid, who 8  years old, impatiently watched  "Industry on Parade" and war newsreels from the Pacific, Europe and Africa while waiting for the 17 cent Saturday cartoon show to start.

So after a peaceful enlistment I return home (quite hung ho) to start college on the GI Bill and to be frustrated by naive 18 year olds burning flags and protesting the Vietnam War.

My first Eco 101 course taught me one basic rule that I have never forgotten.

Every dollar spent is a vote for what you personally believe in - taught not in a political sense, but an economic sense.

So I to have read Zinn nearly twenty years ago and like any person of average intelligence, I compared what he states as fact and how he writes it to my own evaluation and understanding of history based on what I have learned before Zinn.

What Zinn has to do with the quality of sound through variously sourced audio equipment?  I dunno. Don't care.

But when I cast MY dollar votes I try very hard not to support a non-democratic, tyrannical, radical or American hating country.  I don't care what their stuff sounds like.  I will do nothing to contribute to the success of such a country.

If you seek refuge or comfort from Zinn, if you do not believe in supporting the industry and workers of your country and the friends of your country as best you can, if you just do not care about anything except how you brain interprets the sound your ears collect, by all means cast your dollar votes as you see fit.

Please also remember you can still vote with your feet.