15 years ago John Ralston Saul wrote a book in which he proclaimed neoliberalism dead. He argued we were in a brief interregnum while we awaited the next great thing. Unfortunately that didn't happen. We stayed in that rut. Our political caste, the same bunch that steered us into this rut had no ability, perhaps not even the will, to get us out of it. We were left to endure a period of rot. People became frustrated to the point where they were eager for some messiah figure to throw the money-changers out of the temple and reinstate the "good old days."
Chomsky believes the culmination of neoliberalism is authoritarianism that we see today in the rise of the radical rightwing from Poland and Hungary, the Philippines, Egypt and, of course, the United States.
For the cowed rank and file, neoliberalism begets neofeudalism.
Trump promised his base so much. He would make the rich pay. There would be jobs and prosperity for everyone. Well, everyone making a high six-figure income or better anyway. The rubes, not so much. Trump has slashed taxes for corporations and the rich. He promised to slash America's deficit but it has instead swelled. The federal debt is now well above 23-trillion and it's accelerating. Federal debt to GDP was 34% in 1980. It's now at 106%. Trump's latest budget proposal adds massively to military spending but slashes funds for medicaid, food stamps, etc. House Democrats will block it but the people they're defending will still vote for Trump. By the time they realize why their butts hurt, Trump will be gone. They'll still be suckers. Suckers become serfs.
15 years ago John Ralston Saul wrote a book in which he proclaimed neoliberalism dead. He argued we were in a brief interregnum while we awaited the next great thing. Unfortunately that didn't happen. We stayed in that rut. Our political caste, the same bunch that steered us into this rut had no ability, perhaps not even the will, to get us out of it. We were left to endure a period of rot. People became frustrated to the point where they were eager for some messiah figure to throw the money-changers out of the temple and reinstate the "good old days."
ReplyDeleteChomsky believes the culmination of neoliberalism is authoritarianism that we see today in the rise of the radical rightwing from Poland and Hungary, the Philippines, Egypt and, of course, the United States.
For the cowed rank and file, neoliberalism begets neofeudalism.
Trump promised his base so much. He would make the rich pay. There would be jobs and prosperity for everyone. Well, everyone making a high six-figure income or better anyway. The rubes, not so much. Trump has slashed taxes for corporations and the rich. He promised to slash America's deficit but it has instead swelled. The federal debt is now well above 23-trillion and it's accelerating. Federal debt to GDP was 34% in 1980. It's now at 106%. Trump's latest budget proposal adds massively to military spending but slashes funds for medicaid, food stamps, etc. House Democrats will block it but the people they're defending will still vote for Trump. By the time they realize why their butts hurt, Trump will be gone. They'll still be suckers. Suckers become serfs.
Without an engaged and thinking citizenry, Mound, the sad spectacles we see today will only continue and worsen.
Delete.. pretty sure I saw him on air - Fox TV - he hammered Tucker Carlson - no mercy
ReplyDelete