What are the likes of Musk, Trump and some of the other multi-Billionaires really up tooare they trying to kill our Democracies and bring in Dictatorships ruled by the super-rich far right winger?I think they are, and I think it is time now that we and...
-
What are the likes of Musk, Trump and some of the other multi-Billionaires really up too
are they trying to kill our Democracies and bring in Dictatorships ruled by the super-rich far right winger?
I think they are, and I think it is time now that we and the Leaders of the Democracy’s stood up to them and start to bring them to account for the damage they have and are trying to do, for greed -
Let's be clear about this: the theoreticians of neoliberalism - Hayek, Friedman, 'the Chicago Boys' - believed - explicitly and openly - that if economic freedom comes into conflict with political or social freedoms, then it is economic freedom that should prevail. They believed people should not be allowed to elect a left-wing government, and they supported - both in words and in actions - the brutal fascist dictatorship of Pinochet in Chile when it overthrew the democratically elected, moderately socialist Allende government.
This has been the dominant ideology cohering the political right and centre for the last 40 years, especially in the anglosphere. It does NOT value democracy - it just goes along with it as long as it does not threaten the power, wealth and privilege of capitalists.
-
I think that you are saying if a left wing more socialist Government start to threaten the super-rich money then the super-rich will try and topple that Democracy?
And if I have read you correctly that seems to be accurately what the super-rich in the USA and UK have and are trying to do, remove our right to vote for the Government we want.
-
@lyndamerry484 @GeofCox Have long since done.
All of the political parties in the English speaking world which have any real chance of power have long since sold their souls to #billionaire "donors".
Those political donations are not made out of "philanthropy" or disinterested generosity. The #Kleptocrats demand a return on their investment.
Democracy, as Zaphod Beeblebrox didn't say, is an illusion.
-
I do not agree, Labour and the Greens in the UK have not sold their souls to anyone.
In the USA give Kennedy is now backing Trump of all people then yes, I agree.
-
@lyndamerry484 @GeofCox The Greens have not, but they have as yet no chance of power. Labour? They very much have. Completely.
-
@simon_brooke @lyndamerry484 @Tallish_Tom
The UK Labour Party came out of, and was mainly funded by the wider labour and trade union movement. However, capitalism in 'western democracies' has developed away from large workplaces and their surrounding worker housing, and this, along with attacks from right-wing legislation and media, has undermined the power and coherence of this wider labour movement.
There was an attempt (under Corbyn) to develop a new financial base through a mass membership and internet-based organising (Momentum) that would play a similar role to the old labour movement organisation - and Corbyn did indeed set the Party finances in order - but this has been rejected under Starmer, and indeed remaining links with trade unions also further weakened.
Whatever our view of the politics here - for instance whether or not we see a potential mass membership or some trade unions as too left-wing and therefore electoral liabilities - the problem is that there is simply no other financial power base available in UK society other than donations from wealthy corporations and individuals.
You have to choose: either a large empowered and possibly unruly membership base, with lots of small donations and fund-raising activities, or a small disempowered membership, and reliance on wealthy donors.
-
@GeofCox @simon_brooke @lyndamerry484 @Tallish_Tom
Yes the Labour Party emerging at start of the C20, as a merger, has largely been the party of mitigated capitalism in its classical, Keynesian and neoliberal phases. As a coalition including socialists, it hasn't always been stable, so there have been three periods of revolt and attempted socialist hegemony, with Lansbury, the late 70s/early 80s Bennites, and the Corbynistas.
I fear Starmer has made a 4th rebellion difficult for now anyway. -
@markhburton @GeofCox @simon_brooke @lyndamerry484 @Tallish_Tom I think you are right. The Blair 1995 reforms which centralised control of the party undermined internal democracy in the Labour Party and created the conditions for the current centrist/right wing control of the party. Milliband's introduction of a more open leadership contest allowed Corbyn. but IMHO the most effective way to pressure Labour to adopt more socialist policies is from outside by supporting / joining the Green Party.