So What's Neoliberalism?

[Staunton 18]

 

Without a thorough analysis of the malign mechanisms of neoliberalism it is impossible to make sense of the dramatic rise of nationalist politics that has occurred during the last ten years. Though the UK's withdrawal from the European Union and the success of Donald Trump's US election campaign in 2016 are counter to the general doctrines of neoliberalism, they were nevertheless made possible by the neoliberal project to erode social relations and dismantle those fragile democratic impulses which once facilitated the hope for a better future for all.

 

For a comprehensive analysis of neoliberalism's corrosive influence on politics and society see Wendy Brown's Undoing the Demos, Zone Books (New York, 2015). Her In the Ruins of Neoliberalism: The Rise of Antidemocratic Politics in the West, Columbia University Press (New York, 2019) outlines how neoliberalism has adapted to the current nationalisms in order to continue its attack on democratic and social values

[Anna B 1,414]

1 hour ago, Arnold_Lane said:

Fascism is a form of authoritarian ultranationalism.   That's not neoliberal, so your final sentence makes no sense in the context of everything else you have claimed in this thread.

 

Perhaps other people don't think they are voting against their best interests - or that the alternative would be worse?  

 

And anyway, after the 2008 crash, the public had a chance to vote against the incumbent Labour government and did.  

Indeed, because the Conservatives deliberately and erroneously set the ridiculous mantra that the economic crash 'was all the fault of the Labour party.' They used this phrase at every opportunity and it stuck. Of course people knew little of the machinations of the banking industry at the time, or of Free market economics which had brought about the crash in the first place. They were gulled by this barefaced lie, and the Conservatives won the election on the strength of it, but only with help of the Lib Dems, who they then sold up the river over the PR /AV vote - so another piece of Tory double dealing...  

If ever a group of politicians got into office via overt deception this was it. They haven't changed. Deception is still their modus operandi, aided and abetted by the media, oligarchs and the establishment.

 

When an electorate cannot get past an ideology they don't agree with via the ballot box, when the media is controlled, the population controlled by fear, and protest 'discouraged,' eventually you are left with the extremes; either communism or fascism. That is the stage we are in danger of moving into now, and we are just sleepwalking into it..

 

Edited February 9, 2021 by Anna B

[andyofborg 11]

5 hours ago, Anna B said:

 

Professional Home care is also very expensive and restricted, a large part of the cost going to management, rather than the minimum wage carer. Family may well fill the gap but if a family member gives up a full time wage to provide full time care, they are rewarded with a carers grant of £60 a week, and poverty.  

have you any evidence that a large part of the cost does go to management?

 

there will be things like rates, food, utilities, rent/mortgage, insurance, equipment, maintenance etc. to cover before anything goes to management and shareholders

 

[Staunton 18]

Neoliberalism is an ideology and it's champions prefer to work quietly behind the scenes. It's what Philip Mirowski called a 'thought collective' in his Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, Verso (London, 2013). In order to understand politics today it is essential to be fully aware of the ideology known as neoliberalism. In fact everyone should seek to acquaint themselves with the phenomenon of neoliberalism and it's influence on politics and society, and take time to understand how it's malign doctrines operate.

[Delbow 704]

7 hours ago, Anna B said:

 

 

The governments have constantly kicked the can down the road regarding the care of the vulnerable (not just elderly) and the system is a mess. They have regularly promised to sort it, but it never happens. We are still waiting.

 

 

To be rational about it, the initial plans touted by the Tories in the 2017 general election were actually quite progressive, but were shamefully branded the 'dementia tax' by Labour in a bit of cheap point scoring. Not that May's car crash of a government would have got anywhere near implementing them, but the proposals were actually fairly decent.

[apelike 10]

5 hours ago, Anna B said:

When an electorate cannot get past an ideology they don't agree with via the ballot box, when the media is controlled, the population controlled by fear, and protest 'discouraged,' eventually you are left with the extremes; either communism or fascism. That is the stage we are in danger of moving into now, and we are just sleepwalking into it..

Don't be daft, how many people do you think are against this so called new ideology? Judging by this thread and from what I have read very few know much about it to be against it and those that do just want to complain or write about its evils. In any case its up to those that are against Neoliberalism or Capitalism to come up with a better idea than what we have now and sell that to the electorate. There seems to be a minority out there that are against it and yet cannot say what should replace it.

[Mister M 1,625]

6 hours ago, Anna B said:

I am quite frankly amazed that after the economic crash, the dismantling of public services for privatiisation, and 10 years of Austerity, people continue to vote against their own best interests. If that isn't brainwashing, I don't know what is...

 

Unfortunately the ballot box is no longer the answer. We are moving inexorably into a fascist state.

I think when things are bad in the economy for people, people become insular. Perhaps that's just how it is.

The opposition Conservative Party were very effective in blaming the Labour Government as being the cause of the banking crash, and many of the public were convinced so voted accordingly.

[Mister M 1,625]

2 minutes ago, apelike said:

Don't be daft, how many people do you think are against this so called new ideology? Judging by this thread and from what I have read very few know much about it to be against it and those that do just want to complain or write about its evils. In any case its up to those that are against Neoliberalism or Capitalism to come up with a better idea than what we have now and sell that to the electorate. There seems to be a minority out there that are against it and yet cannot say what should replace it.

I don't think the debate is that binary, or it needn't be.

Britain, post war, up until the 1970s had a 'Butskellite' consensus on social democracy. Where there seemed to be an agreement on various economic and social matters. 

[Anna B 1,414]

4 hours ago, andyofborg said:

have you any evidence that a large part of the cost does go to management?

 

there will be things like rates, food, utilities, rent/mortgage, insurance, equipment, maintenance etc. to cover before anything goes to management and shareholders

 

An elderly relative paid £22 per hour for basic home care. The carer was paid minimum wage and was not paid for travel time between  clients, so relative only ever got part of an hour, usually less than half. 

Carer was not allowed to do certain things alone like lift her up  the bed, she was told she needed to employ an extra carer for that, doubling the cost. When the invoice came, usually a month later, she had no records or recall of how long the carer attended so had to pay it in full. 

I'm not blaming the carers who were kind but always rushed off their feet, and rarely the same one twice.

Needless to say she changed companies. The next one was a bit cheaper but not much  better, and we were given a 'friendly' warning that if we changed again, we might be blacklisted.

 

[Anna B 1,414]

4 hours ago, apelike said:

Don't be daft, how many people do you think are against this so called new ideology? Judging by this thread and from what I have read very few know much about it to be against it and those that do just want to complain or write about its evils. In any case its up to those that are against Neoliberalism or Capitalism to come up with a better idea than what we have now and sell that to the electorate. There seems to be a minority out there that are against it and yet cannot say what should replace it.

You're right, which is why I started this thread. Not enough people know about it and they really should.

There is an awful lot of dissatisfaction out there but people haven't yet managed to join up the dots and put a name to it. They can see the results; the growing wealth gap, homelessness, food banks, unemployment, debt, the blatant unfairness and the myriad injustices. They don't like it and don't really know what's causing it, and as a result they're being fobbed off with propaganda and lies which they are in no position to dispute. There is a very palpable undercurrent of discontent and disquiet rumbling through society. In fact I believe it was this general sense of dissatisfaction and political impotence that gave rise to the Brexit vote as people struggled to try and change things. 

 

Unless things change, this economic implosion is going to creep up the social scale and embrace more and more people.  Actually it's all ready happening with the young unable to afford rent, mortgages,or education and unable to get the careers they think they're entitled to, and many middle class are coming up against the iniquities of claiming Universal Credit for the first time. The irony is that they are failing to realise that the cuts they probably voted for are now stopping them from being entitled to claim UC. However instead of blaming the government/neoliberalism they blame the poor! (just read the comments on facebook.)

 

That's why they need to care.  As for better ideas, well, Jeremy Corbyn had them; a decent honest man who was totally smeared and destroyed for his pains. The powerful elite with a vested interest in keeping the gravy train on the rails will see this happens to anyone of whatever party who doesn't tow the Neoliberal line.

So we are subject to a covert regime most people don't even know about, didn't vote for, doesn't do us any favours, and can't be got rid of via the ballot box.  

And that's called fascism. And fascism can only end in tears.... 

 

 

Edited February 10, 2021 by Anna B

[apelike 10]

So Anna, what do you have or can put forward that will or can replace the current structure?

 

When it comes to business and politics unless you have something better to offer, that the masses will go for, then its bound to fail just like a new product will.

[Mister M 1,625]

On 08/02/2021 at 21:09, apelike said:

I think it does but just because some disagree with a government and their policies they then get trashed for upholding them. People also seem to forget that governments aren't imposed on people but voted in democratically and usually on those very policies they represent, the 2019 GE is a classic example. Its a case that just because a minority don't like it, take this thread for example, its up to that minority to force change or live with it. As the saying goes "you cant please all of the people all of the time."

 

No, we pay taxes for the government to spend on what it thinks is right for all and parliament are the arbitrator on that. If people are unhappy with that system then they can vote the government out and fight for change. 

 

But why is granny in that care home to start with? And do the staff just get paid minimum wage?

 

And just what percentage has the NHS been privatised? Taking into account that NHS privatisation figures usually include GP's as they are private entities as well.

I don't know about care workers who work in nursing homes, but some of the many domiciliary care staff who have been working their butts off during the pandemic, have rung into shows on LBC complaining that they don't get paid  for time spent travelling between people’s houses, despite the staff having to get from one home to the next to complete their job. This means that such workers will be earning well below the minimum wage.