Maybe the people who attend DAVOS are waking up to the fact that all humanity share the same sinking ship
January 26, 2011 in Corporate Greed, Inspiration, Real Change
I was heartened to read an article in today’s Huffington Post titled “Shared Norms for the New Reality”
To quote from that article:
“. . . Leaders from all sectors of society are finding it increasingly difficult to navigate this new reality. Our old tools and models to address these problems don’t work anymore.. . .We can’t keep doing the same old thing in a new era that requires new responses.”
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QUEEN’S COMMENTS
Thank you. I’ve been preaching this story for the past three years. The first thing that these bewildered jackals can do is to revamp the broken economic neo-liberal ideology that is at the heart of all their decisions. Here are its cornerstones–all crumbling if they care to notice:
Economic neo-liberalism:
- THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating “free” enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers’ rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say “an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone.” It’s like Reagan’s “supply-side” and “trickle-down” economics — but somehow the wealth didn’t trickle down very much. If you want to see a “liberated” market, if you want to see unfettered capitalism, look no further than Putin’s Russia for the perfect example of that endgame.
- CUTTING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES like education and health care. REDUCING THE SAFETY-NET FOR THE POOR, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, water supply — again in the name of reducing government’s role. Of course, they don’t oppose government subsidies and tax benefits for business.
- DEREGULATION. Reduce government regulation of everything that could diminish profits, including protecting the environment and safety on the job.
- PRIVATIZATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.
- ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF “THE PUBLIC GOOD” or “COMMUNITY” and replacing it with “individual responsibility.” Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves — then blaming them, if they fail, as “lazy.”
Around the world, neo-liberalism has been imposed by powerful financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. It is raging all over Latin America. The first clear example of neo-liberalism at work came in Chile (with thanks to University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman), after the CIA-supported coup against the popularly elected Allende regime in 1973. Other countries followed, with some of the worst effects in Mexico where wages declined 40 to 50% in the first year of NAFTA while the cost of living rose by 80%.
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A few Related “Told you so” Posts from the Queen on the topic of the need for new models for the 21st Century
And there are many more.
Oct 7, 2009
We must stop following the failed models of the 20th Century!
Feb 28, 2009
Another old Model Appears to be Biting the Dust–Broadcast TV [Main Stream media]
Feb 23, 2009
We can keep the baby but we really must throw out the dirty bath water
Feb 23, 2009
More examples of failed models–police brutality against their own
Feb 18, 2009
2009 will be the year for creating and trying out new models
(Looks like I was 2 years into the future on this prediction–if we are lucky. I hope it will start happening in 2011.)
January 27, 2009
Let’s talk about new financial models that serve people.
January 18, 2009
Nothing will change if the Obama Administration Continue to Support Broken Models
January 11, 2009
Redoing Globalization
January 22, 2011
More on why American Competitiveness is not a good model
