Stock Markets in continuous flux but ending up downward, financial institutions falling apart, economies around the world on the brink of total collapse, entire countries at risk, job losses, a total meltdown of the economic system. What is going on?
When the Bush administration brutally attacked Iraq they set off an experiment that was planned and orchestrated by an ideology created in the halls of the Chicago University Economics Department and Milton Friedman.
It is that experiment in greed and power that is now in play with the entire world economy. Naomi Klein in her book " The Shock Doctrine" describes the methods used quite succinctly. The shock to a nation in order to attain complete control over its economic, political, and cultural strengths. What is going on now is that experiment fed to the point of total chaos.
Economists are divided on how to solve the worst crisis since the great depression of the 1930's. Some say the stimulus packages being proposed by governments around the world and led by the US will turn the economies around by the end of 2009 or early in 2010. Other economists believe it will only feed a later frenzy of inflation. None of the economists are predicting the total collapse of Capitalism. Why?
The reason is, someone is making a ton of money on this crisis. Someone is getting the best prices ever on blue plate stocks. While we, (the common population) watch and feel in fear the effects of this total meltdown, there is someone out there benefiting on all this destruction.
An example is the Katrina tragedy. After the disaster of Katrina several private interests moved in and took over everything from education, to health care. In fact one of the major factors for the length of recovery from the disaster has been the privatization and downloading of government control.
We are in a manufactured crisis. Manufactured to destroy human values and place financial control as the measure of man's existence. A robotic greed engineered by a few.
There is some hope. My skepticism is based upon past disappointments. President Obama has been signaling some very interesting changes to corporate and political power. His demand for a maximum wage for those corporate leaders whose businesses receive assistance from the public purse is long overdue. A maximum wage instead of a minimum wage.
He has also indicated that he will reduce the debt by increasing taxes to the very rich. Another example of hope as the billionaires have had a free ride on the backs of taxpayers for far too long.
It is also interesting that Alan Greenspan, arguably the most influential American economist, has recently stated that the US government should take over the banks. Isn't it interesting that the Right is suddenly looking to Left policies to resolve their economic disaster.
In Canada we are out of step with the world. We have a Harper government that is attempting to sell off many of our federal crown corporations at fire sale prices through the back door. This is at a time when taxpayer investments are at their lowest. The guise that they are competing with the private sector is a propaganda myth put forward by the same philosophical ideology that brought us into this crisis in the first place.
Stephen Harper and his government is only giving lip service towards solving the intense problems facing Canadians. Remember during the election he claimed Canada was in great shape and would not face any kind of economic downturn. Amazing how his view changed once he won the election and realized his good buddies from the south no longer governed.
Climate change, health care, public services, and economic disaster are far from Harper's list of priorities. He, after all, is the Oil Prime Minister. Profit at any cost is his motto. He has learned well from his mentor George Bush. Say little, do nothing, or the least possible, and push your agenda behind closed doors so the population can only react once the deal is done.
We are only at stage one, the economic crisis. What is going to happen once we enter stage two?
Showing posts with label Capitalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Capitalism. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Economic Crisis-The Demise of Capitalism
In the mid nineteen eighties the Ronald Reagan administration along with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher developed and implemented a string of deregulation policies and programs that were sold to the uninformed public as being progressive and good for all. Supported by the Evangelical right it was used as a tool to fight the threat of communism and the Iron curtain.
With the election of Ronald Reagan came the dawn of a new era of unfettered capitalism. Part of that capitalistic ideal was the push for a global economy where corporations could move their capital interests to areas of the world contributing the cheapest labour. The Corporation At the same time a watershed moment came with the destruction of union rights with the legislated end to the aircraft controller's strike in the U.S. Air Traffic Controller's Strike
Throughout the late eighties and nineties this uncontrolled greed was supported by governments both Republican and Democratic in the U.S. as well as Liberal and Conservative governments in Canada. Many other First World governments worldwide bought into this uncontrolled grab by setting policies to remove restrictions to complete corporate control without democratic, public scrutiny. Australia, New Zealand, England, Japan, and Russia are examples. In fact the economic war placed on Russia is one of the main reason's for its demise.
In Canada the excuse for allowing economic policies as NAFTA, GATT and Globalization came from the propaganda around deficit reduction. Two recessions in both the eighties and nineties were engineered to ensure the public would buy into deficit reduction, yet they were built on false premises. Canadian debt compared to GDP at the time was less than the average Canadian citizen's debt versus their income at the time. The result of this indoctrination was the dismantling of many of Canada's social and cultural programs. CBC was gutted. Health Care was cut back and privatized in many provinces such as Alberta and B.C.
It was even worse for other countries in the world. New Zealand almost faced economic collapse from being one of the world's economic leaders. The Reserve Bank and New Zealand's Economic History (see Turbulent transition 1973-1993)
Naomi Klien in her book The Shock Doctrine eloquently and succinctly describes the entire method of this Neo-Liberalism.
Then came George W. Bush. By his orchestrated and corrupt rise to power have come eight years of economic policy and political turmoil that has left the world on the brink of total disaster. We are now facing the worst economic crisis since the 1929 stock market crash, which incidentally we were told by the capitalist pundits would never happen again.
George W. Bush's economic policy was driven by the free market capitalistic values of Milton Friedman the guru of the Chicago School of Economics.
The world is now on a path of trying to find a balance to offset the economic collapse. Governments are scrambling to print and place money into the economy in an effort to stimulate their financial mess. The problem is the money they are spending are propping up the very oligarks that brought the world to its knees. Job losses are becoming a daily event.
The social and human cost of this collapse are only beginning to be felt. Commodities, manufacturing, stock markets, creditors, and stock markets are all falling apart. In fact entire countries are facing bankruptcies. Iceland and Britain are examples of the impact of this self - interest economic drive.
We are facing the complete collapse of the capitalist system. As sure as what caused the collapse of the Communist empire. The difference is this collapse is global and forces the world into a threat out of control. There are no saviors. Obama is seen as the light of hope and change. However closer analysis may prove that wrong. In an article for The Nation written by Naomi Klien in June of 2008 she describes a sober second thought.
One of the major influences on economic and political power worldwide is a secret group known as the Bilderbergs. It is interesting that when it became clear that the Democratic nominee for president would be the next president both Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama met with this secretive group. Shortly after the first election of Stephen Harper a meeting of the Bilderbergs was held in Ottawa hosted by the new Prime Minister.
Several questions arise. How has this demise of capitalism affected the most pressing issues mankind is facing- Global warming, starvation, health, etc.? All have been put on the back burner. Disaster economics in its prime.
Socialist ideology seems to be a good policy when it can save the right wing capitalistic system but is rejected as radical when the anarchy of unfettered capitalism rules. The deregulation philosophy has sold us the concept of eliminating all traffic lights in a city and allowing total anarchy. Trouble is we all are affected by the accidents and human carnage that will occur.
We need to change our basic value structure. Instead of narcistic self interest and greed we need to develop a democratic conscience. Our environmental crisis demands sustainable economic policy in conjunction with balanced life support systems. Instead of unfettered growth, we need sustainability.
Before the industrial revolution many of the world's population was sustained by their own ability to grow and raise food for themselves. Whatever they had left they sold to the cities and towns in order to buy the products they couldn't grow to sustain themselves. Neighbors assisted each other towards their survival. They had a social connecton and responsibility.
What was wrong with this type of society it was still based upon the Master-Servant mentality. There was little for those who found themselves in difficult times without a family or friendly support system. 18th and 19th century literature supports this lack of social conscience. In fact it was the lack of support for the common person that brought about the writings of Karl Marx and Lenin.
Recent events have proved the anarchy of an unregulated Capitalistic dogma has resulted in the deflation of our economic system. This deflation has only begun. We need new economic policies. Keynes gave the world a glimpse at a new form of economics. We need to look beyond his dream to a truly sustainable economic structure. One based not on continuous growth but on protection of human basics. Food, shelter, health and happiness. Limits to wealth and a clear distribution of wealth. As the world population grows we need to meet its needs. Not the needs of a few greedy, wealthy, arrogant, self acclaimed upper class, power mongers.
Armand
With the election of Ronald Reagan came the dawn of a new era of unfettered capitalism. Part of that capitalistic ideal was the push for a global economy where corporations could move their capital interests to areas of the world contributing the cheapest labour. The Corporation At the same time a watershed moment came with the destruction of union rights with the legislated end to the aircraft controller's strike in the U.S. Air Traffic Controller's Strike
Throughout the late eighties and nineties this uncontrolled greed was supported by governments both Republican and Democratic in the U.S. as well as Liberal and Conservative governments in Canada. Many other First World governments worldwide bought into this uncontrolled grab by setting policies to remove restrictions to complete corporate control without democratic, public scrutiny. Australia, New Zealand, England, Japan, and Russia are examples. In fact the economic war placed on Russia is one of the main reason's for its demise.
In Canada the excuse for allowing economic policies as NAFTA, GATT and Globalization came from the propaganda around deficit reduction. Two recessions in both the eighties and nineties were engineered to ensure the public would buy into deficit reduction, yet they were built on false premises. Canadian debt compared to GDP at the time was less than the average Canadian citizen's debt versus their income at the time. The result of this indoctrination was the dismantling of many of Canada's social and cultural programs. CBC was gutted. Health Care was cut back and privatized in many provinces such as Alberta and B.C.
It was even worse for other countries in the world. New Zealand almost faced economic collapse from being one of the world's economic leaders. The Reserve Bank and New Zealand's Economic History (see Turbulent transition 1973-1993)
Naomi Klien in her book The Shock Doctrine eloquently and succinctly describes the entire method of this Neo-Liberalism.
Then came George W. Bush. By his orchestrated and corrupt rise to power have come eight years of economic policy and political turmoil that has left the world on the brink of total disaster. We are now facing the worst economic crisis since the 1929 stock market crash, which incidentally we were told by the capitalist pundits would never happen again.
George W. Bush's economic policy was driven by the free market capitalistic values of Milton Friedman the guru of the Chicago School of Economics.
The world is now on a path of trying to find a balance to offset the economic collapse. Governments are scrambling to print and place money into the economy in an effort to stimulate their financial mess. The problem is the money they are spending are propping up the very oligarks that brought the world to its knees. Job losses are becoming a daily event.
The social and human cost of this collapse are only beginning to be felt. Commodities, manufacturing, stock markets, creditors, and stock markets are all falling apart. In fact entire countries are facing bankruptcies. Iceland and Britain are examples of the impact of this self - interest economic drive.
We are facing the complete collapse of the capitalist system. As sure as what caused the collapse of the Communist empire. The difference is this collapse is global and forces the world into a threat out of control. There are no saviors. Obama is seen as the light of hope and change. However closer analysis may prove that wrong. In an article for The Nation written by Naomi Klien in June of 2008 she describes a sober second thought.
One of the major influences on economic and political power worldwide is a secret group known as the Bilderbergs. It is interesting that when it became clear that the Democratic nominee for president would be the next president both Hilary Clinton and Barak Obama met with this secretive group. Shortly after the first election of Stephen Harper a meeting of the Bilderbergs was held in Ottawa hosted by the new Prime Minister.
Several questions arise. How has this demise of capitalism affected the most pressing issues mankind is facing- Global warming, starvation, health, etc.? All have been put on the back burner. Disaster economics in its prime.
Socialist ideology seems to be a good policy when it can save the right wing capitalistic system but is rejected as radical when the anarchy of unfettered capitalism rules. The deregulation philosophy has sold us the concept of eliminating all traffic lights in a city and allowing total anarchy. Trouble is we all are affected by the accidents and human carnage that will occur.
We need to change our basic value structure. Instead of narcistic self interest and greed we need to develop a democratic conscience. Our environmental crisis demands sustainable economic policy in conjunction with balanced life support systems. Instead of unfettered growth, we need sustainability.
Before the industrial revolution many of the world's population was sustained by their own ability to grow and raise food for themselves. Whatever they had left they sold to the cities and towns in order to buy the products they couldn't grow to sustain themselves. Neighbors assisted each other towards their survival. They had a social connecton and responsibility.
What was wrong with this type of society it was still based upon the Master-Servant mentality. There was little for those who found themselves in difficult times without a family or friendly support system. 18th and 19th century literature supports this lack of social conscience. In fact it was the lack of support for the common person that brought about the writings of Karl Marx and Lenin.
Recent events have proved the anarchy of an unregulated Capitalistic dogma has resulted in the deflation of our economic system. This deflation has only begun. We need new economic policies. Keynes gave the world a glimpse at a new form of economics. We need to look beyond his dream to a truly sustainable economic structure. One based not on continuous growth but on protection of human basics. Food, shelter, health and happiness. Limits to wealth and a clear distribution of wealth. As the world population grows we need to meet its needs. Not the needs of a few greedy, wealthy, arrogant, self acclaimed upper class, power mongers.
Armand
Monday, February 2, 2009
Reagan, Bush Legacy
Ronald Reagan deregulated everything he could while he was in power. He laid the groundwork for the Chicago School of Economics to design a system of world power without morality or conscience. Their plan was to profit by creating anarchy. As Naomi Klein very succinctly points out they created the Shock Doctrine.
The Bush's finished the job. The position the world is in is directly linked to this band of outlaws. Outlaws because they and their cronies raised themselves above the law. No criminal act was too outrageous for them. The Iraq war built on a false premise of weapons of mass destruction. The entire act done to benefit the profiteers such as Cheney and Rumsfeldt. The entire exercise has destroyed families, lives and the entire country.
The entire 9/11 disaster is still fraught with conspiracy theories around the Bush administration. I still don't understand why we needed to attack Afghanistan especially after watching the Russians fail so miserably, (of course not without the help of American politicians like Charlie Wilson and the American arms machine).
Economically their shear greed and corruption has left the world facing a depression that could turn out greater than the Great Depression of the 1930's. They have literally privatized everything including the American Military. They have sold out the environment when they had the opportunity to affect real change. The GM EV1 is a perfect example how corporate America working together with the Republican Party and the Bush Administration, to prevent progress towards a cleaner earth. Instead they sanction technologies that don't work like Hydrogen cars.
We are finally rid of this band of thieves. But I don't think their influence will end for some time. In fact the crisis we are in now might actually be a part of their overall plan. Can Obama bring the change he has promised? Maybe. Some of the early signs are promising. However it will mean an entire redrawing of the American psyche. For far too long Americans have been indoctrinated to a value system of Capitalism that is failing miserably.
Propped up by military might, financial dictatorship, and the unrealistic belief that America is a democracy the American public has not the knowledge or commitment to find a better way. If you have been told that you must fight terror and the axis of evil for so long that you think your way of life is the only one that works than George Orwell's 1984 world truly does exist.
I hope the turmoil the world finds itself in today can be overcome. The legacy of Reagan and the Bush's has left the entire world at the brink of total meltdown. We are in a crisis of economy, war, environment and pure human sustainability thanks to them.
The Bush's finished the job. The position the world is in is directly linked to this band of outlaws. Outlaws because they and their cronies raised themselves above the law. No criminal act was too outrageous for them. The Iraq war built on a false premise of weapons of mass destruction. The entire act done to benefit the profiteers such as Cheney and Rumsfeldt. The entire exercise has destroyed families, lives and the entire country.
The entire 9/11 disaster is still fraught with conspiracy theories around the Bush administration. I still don't understand why we needed to attack Afghanistan especially after watching the Russians fail so miserably, (of course not without the help of American politicians like Charlie Wilson and the American arms machine).
Economically their shear greed and corruption has left the world facing a depression that could turn out greater than the Great Depression of the 1930's. They have literally privatized everything including the American Military. They have sold out the environment when they had the opportunity to affect real change. The GM EV1 is a perfect example how corporate America working together with the Republican Party and the Bush Administration, to prevent progress towards a cleaner earth. Instead they sanction technologies that don't work like Hydrogen cars.
We are finally rid of this band of thieves. But I don't think their influence will end for some time. In fact the crisis we are in now might actually be a part of their overall plan. Can Obama bring the change he has promised? Maybe. Some of the early signs are promising. However it will mean an entire redrawing of the American psyche. For far too long Americans have been indoctrinated to a value system of Capitalism that is failing miserably.
Propped up by military might, financial dictatorship, and the unrealistic belief that America is a democracy the American public has not the knowledge or commitment to find a better way. If you have been told that you must fight terror and the axis of evil for so long that you think your way of life is the only one that works than George Orwell's 1984 world truly does exist.
I hope the turmoil the world finds itself in today can be overcome. The legacy of Reagan and the Bush's has left the entire world at the brink of total meltdown. We are in a crisis of economy, war, environment and pure human sustainability thanks to them.
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