Naming & Shaming Neoliberalism

[jesse_the_k]

I like to think of myself as "politically aware." Yet this kick-ass editorial in The Guardian (UK) opened my eyes to the continuity of "neoliberalism."

begin quote

---

Imagine if the people of the Soviet Union had never heard of communism. The ideology that dominates our lives has, for most of us, no name. Mention it in conversation and you’ll be rewarded with a shrug. Even if your listeners have heard the term before, they will struggle to define it. Neoliberalism: do you know what it is?
[...snip...]
Neoliberalism sees competition as the defining characteristic of human relations. It redefines citizens as consumers, whose democratic choices are best exercised by buying and selling, a process that rewards merit and punishes inefficiency. It maintains that “the market” delivers benefits that could never be achieved by planning.

---

end quote

That's George Monbiot, a leftish advocate, neatly summarizing the shit we're in.

TL;DR The systematic destruction of government responsibility & support for citizens; privatization; deteriorating mental health; support for demagogues; outright denial of environmental disasters.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem-george-monbiot

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

Glad you liked it. It put the pieces together for me (and the whole picture is fucking scary).

[laurashapiro]

Agreed, 100%. It's also a great reminder of how important it is to name things.