So What's Neoliberalism?

[tinfoilhat]

1 hour ago, Anna B said:

I was talking about the UK. Post war was pre globalization, so meant different things in different countries. In spite of post war austerity the mood was optimistic and forward looking. 

 

There might be car manufacturing here providing jobs in the UK, but all the profits go to the other countries. And there would be more jobs wouldn't there, as there are more people and more growth. There has to be at least something to take the place of all those lost jobs in manufacturing, mining, and industry. 

 

Certainly wages have risen but I'm not sure people are that much better off. The cost of living is also higher. House prices /rents, are up, debt is up, job and general insecurity is up, savings and welfare are down etc. Of course some are better off, but the gap between them and the rest is growing.   

A vote for anything other than the two main parties is a wasted vote. No other party will get into power. We don't have proportional representation so generally they have very little influence. 

ukip managed to achieve a tremendous amount with a few MEPs. 

 

But globalisation has clearly improved the lot of billions. Do you want the gap between us and the developing to remain as large as it was in the 50s and 60s?

[hauxwell]

We had a chance to change the voting system in 2011 when we had a coalition government.  The people rejected it.   
 

[Anna B]

44 minutes ago, hauxwell said:

We had a chance to change the voting system in 2011 when we had a coalition government.  The people rejected it.   
 

The Lib Dems (and most of the public) were expecting to vote for PR (Proportional Representation.)

Nick Clegg sold his soul to the devil to get this, and in exchange agreed to support David Cameron's wish to raise  University tuition fees, which went against Lib Dem's  manifesto promise.

 

At the last minute David Cameron moved the goal posts and changed it to a vote for AV (Alternative Vote) which nobody understood and nobody wanted. A typical bit of Tory slight of hand.  

 

The vote failed, Cameron got his wish to raise University fees (to £9,000 p.a.) with the support of the Lib Dems.

Nick Clegg got the blame and lost his seat (Sheffield Hallam.) The Lib Dems share of the vote dropped like a stone to the lowest level ever. It's never recovered, and we will probably never get another chance to change the voting system to PR.

 

The moral of the story is never trust a Tory. 

Edited January 18, 2021 by Anna B

[hauxwell]

8 minutes ago, Anna B said:

The Lib Dems (and most of the public) were expecting to vote for PR (Proportional Representation.)

Nick Clegg sold his soul to the devil to get this, and in exchange agreed to support David Cameron's wish to raise  University tuition fees, which went against Lib Dem's  manifesto promise.

 

At the last minute David Cameron moved the goal posts and changed it to a vote for AV (Alternative Vote) which nobody understood and nobody wanted. A typical bit of Tory slight of hand.  

 

The vote failed, Cameron got his wish to raise University fees (to £9,000 p.a.) with the support of the Lib Dems.

Nick Clegg got the blame and lost his seat (Sheffield Hallam.) The Lib Dems share of the vote dropped like a stone to the lowest level ever. It's never recovered, and we will probably never get another chance to change the voting system to PR.

 

The moral of the story is never trust a Tory. 

I thought the vote was for PR, but I’m clearly  wrong.  

[RollingJ]

10 minutes ago, Anna B said:

The Lib Dems (and most of the public) were expecting to vote for PR (Proportional Representation.)

Nick Clegg sold his soul to the devil to get this, and in exchange agreed to support David Cameron's wish to raise  University tuition fees, which went against Lib Dem's  manifesto promise.

 

At the last minute David Cameron moved the goal posts and changed it to a vote for AV (Alternative Vote) which nobody understood and nobody wanted. A typical bit of Tory slight of hand.  

 

The vote failed, Cameron got his wish to raise University fees (to £9,000 p.a.) with the support of the Lib Dems.

Nick Clegg got the blame and lost his seat (Sheffield Hallam.) The Lib Dems share of the vote dropped like a stone to the lowest level ever. It's never recovered, and we will probably never get another chance to change the voting system to PR.

 

The moral of the story is never trust a Tory. 

Actually, Anna, the moral of the story is 'never trust a politician'.

[Delayed]

14 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

Actually, Anna, the moral of the story is 'never trust a politician'.

Unless said politician is named Jeremy Corbyn or Diane Abbott

[RollingJ]

2 minutes ago, Delayed said:

Unless said politician is named Jeremy Corbyn or Diane Abbott

🤣🤣🤣

[Mister M]

23 minutes ago, Kelvin Phlats said:

Neoliberalism and postmodernism, an unholy alliance, great read this.

 

Hi Kelvin, I'd be interested in reading that, but the link you provided doesn't work

[Anna B]

2 hours ago, tinfoilhat said:

ukip managed to achieve a tremendous amount with a few MEPs. 

 

But globalisation has clearly improved the lot of billions. Do you want the gap between us and the developing to remain as large as it was in the 50s and 60s?

British people had had a terrible time in the war but came out of it with an abundance of hope. The Labour government rewarded them with a new welfare state, promising to take care of them 'from the cradle to the grave.' This brought about the NHS, paid for with National Insurance contributions but free at the point of use This included free hospitals, free doctors and healthcare, dentistry and glasses, regular health checks and free milk, orange juice and vitamins for children. There was an emphasis on improving education with new methods, secondary schooling for all to 15 (pre war kids could leave school at 12) and free higher education and grants for living costs. There were improvements to working  conditions and practices enshrined in law. Better pensions, and help / benefits to cover sickness and unemployment, (although unemployment was considered shameful as there was plenty of work.) Workhouses were finally closed down and  elderly people unable to cope at home had the free services of health visitors and home helps, or could go and be cared for in free state run care homes. 

 

These changes truly transformed the lives of the working class beyond all recognition, and was arguably the greatest leap forward they had enjoyed in history. 

 

There is no reason why similar programmes could not be introduced in developing countries with the political will to do it, rather than the piecemeal approach of 'aid' and charity etc. They are victims of much mismanagement, and Imperial colonialism, but they are often rich in resources, however the issues are complicated and would need another thread to unravel, but I believe to have such poverty in these countries in the 21st century is simply unacceptable. 

 

It would probably look very different as conditions and problems vary and it would take time. China seems to have made rapid progress in helping its own people out of poverty, (there was mass starvation in the 60's) and they are also making headway in helping other developing countries out of poverty with new methods of their own. There is self interest in this no doubt, and we will have to await the long term results, but I personally believe it is possible, and is something we should all be working towards.

[Anna B]

36 minutes ago, Mister M said:

Hi Kelvin, I'd be interested in reading that, but the link you provided doesn't work

I just put the title 'Neoliberalism and postmodernism an unholy alliance' into google search and it came up.

Reading it now.