Is Neoliberalism Finally Running Out of Tricks?
Published on Dissident Voice, by Robert Hunziker, July 9, 2015.
Neoliberalism, the privatization and commoditization of everything that moves, has experienced a great run over the past three decades, jump-started in the 1980s by PM Thatcher and President Reagan, christened in 1951 by Milton Friedman.
Decidedly, “austerity of governmental social programs” is the kissing cousin to “privatization of public assets” * as part and parcel of neoliberal principles; for example, Troika (European Central Bank, European Commission, and International Monetary Fund) and austerity “the dismantling and privatization of public health and education systems” (Pablo Iglesias).
Throughout Europe, Troika’s influence, or “neoliberalism on steroids,” has been hand-feeding kernels of dissent to popular uprisings. The imposition of draconian austerity measures inflicted upon Greece and the Mediterranean nation-states is rapidly, very rapidly, nursing a badly bruised European Left back to robust health.
It’s not only Greece where the Left resonates. Thanks to neoliberal dictates amongst the European financial ruling elite, the Left has become fashionably acceptable to everybody in the street, off the street, and across the street. And of even more significance, on a practical basis amongst the aggrieved, the Left appeals more so than ever in recent history, and therein exist a source of strength the Left has sorely missed for decades. “On a practical basis” is meaningful to lots and lots and lots of people whenever social welfare cuts serve to undercut meager livelihoods.
By now, the whole world knows the Greece story, kind of, meaning that Greece has been seized by leftists, but putting that into a proper context not readily recognized, nor reported, by the international financial press, the Left is increasingly embraced by the 99%. Finally, the 99% has a home! … //
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(Robert Hunziker (MA, economic history, DePaul University) is a freelance writer and environmental journalist whose articles have been translated into foreign languages and appeared in over 50 journals, magazines, and sites worldwide. He can be contacted at: rlhunziker@gmail.com. Read other articles by Robert … see also by Robert Hunziker: Capitalism at the Guillotine, on Counterpunch, Aug 5, 2011);
Links:
on en.wikipedia:
- Pablo Iglesias Turrión;
- Podemos (Spanish political party);
- List of political parties in Spain;
- * Asset management; /Public asset management; (part of this: GIS-centric public asset management standardizes data and allows interoperability, providing users the capability to reuse, coordinate, and share information in an efficient and effective manner by making the GIS geo-database the asset registry. A GIS-centric public asset management that standardizes data and allows interoperability, providing users the capability to reuse, coordinate, and share information in an efficient and effective manner …; [related: Geographic information system GIS] ); /See also;
.
Surface and Substance – Reflections on History, American Racism, and the Confederate Flag, on ZNet, by Paul Street, July 9, 2015;
Video: Chinese Economy Running Off the Cliff and There Is Nothing Beneath It, 7.32 min, on The Real News, July 9, 2015: Rob Johnson of the Institute for New Economic Thinking says the People’s Bank of China is behind the market plunge;
An inconvenient historical truth, on RWER Blog, by David Ruccio, July 9, 2015;
Photo: Hundreds of Londoners rally against austerity, on Russia Today RT, July 9, 2015;
Secret Document Shows CIA Reaction to Finding No WMD in Iraq, on ZNet (first on teleSUR english), by David Swanson, July 9, 2015; (See: The Pentagon’s Spies – Newly Available Documents Trace Evolution of Spy Units through Obama Administration, on Th National Security Archive, by Jeffrey T. Richelson, updated July 6, 2015 … Originally posted – May 23, 2001, EBB No. 46);
Why Growth in Finance is a Drag on the Real Economy, on naked capitalism, by Yves Smith, July 8, 2015;
Video: Our Cities Are Being Defined by Invisible Systems, 25.46 min, on The Real News, July 8, 2015: This week on #GRITtv with Laura Flanders: What can architects do to make this future something we want to be a part of?
Euro — the antithesis of democracy, on RWER Blog, by Lars Syll, July 7, 2015;
International Decision-Making in the Age of Genocide: Srebrenica 1993-1995, on The National Security Archive, by Tom Blanton and Emily Willard, June 28, 2015: ”Critical Oral History” Conference Marks 20th Anniversary of Srebrenica Massacre;
War By Other Means, on Counterpunch.org, by STCLAIR, June 9, 2015; (more articles on Counterpunch by STCLAIR).