neoliberal non-sense

Thoughts inspired by George Monbiot in the Guardian

Neoliberalism (new freedom) is an economic theory based on the thoughts of Frederick Hayek.

The theory is that human nature is competitive but some people (entrepreneurs) are more creative and hard working than others.

In a free market cream rises to the top where the elite becomes obscenely rich and some of the wealth trickles down to the relatively impoverished masses. 

Neoliberal objectives include:

• ·         massive tax cuts for the rich
• ·         crushing of trade unions·          
• ·         reduction in public housing
• ·         deregulation
• ·         privatisation
• ·         outsourcing and competition in public services

·          

Some notable variations on the theme:

• ·         Washington consensus – the same agenda but for the third world poverty reduction strategies
• ·         The Third Way – half way between neoliberal (right wing) and social democrat (left wing)
• ·         Austerity - cut back on public spending

There is the concept of the undeserving poor. The masses are work-shy, wasteful and need to be kept in their place. The fact that the rich are rich is a sign that God approves of what they are doing. There is an invisible hand that ensures that market forces result in neoliberalism. There is no alternative.

So what is to be done?

• ·         Promote and increase neoliberal agendas – promote globalisation and transnational corporations.
• ·         Promote the more centrist social democrat agenda
• ·         Promote a socialist agenda with more power to the people. (subsidiarity)

·          

OR!!!

“Those who tell the stories run the world.

Politics has failed through a lack of competing narratives.

The key task now is to tell a new story of what it is to be a human in the 21st century. It must be as appealing to some who have voted for Trump and Ukip as it is to the supporters of Clinton, Bernie Sanders or Jeremy Corbyn.

A few of us have been working on this, and can discern what may be the beginning of a story.

It’s too early to say much yet, but at its core is the recognition that – as modern psychology and neuroscience make abundantly clear – human beings, by comparison with any other animals, are both remarkably social and remarkably unselfish.

The atomisation and self-interested behaviour neoliberalism promotes run counter to much of what comprises human nature.

Hayek told us who we are, and he was wrong. Our first step is to reclaim our humanity.”

Yoh

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/14/neoliberalsim-donald-trump-george-monbiot?CMP=share_btn_fb