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

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 strange case of the Religious Right

As a former Roman Catholic, a former amature student of the quatrains of Nostradamus, and a news junkie, I have watched Bush's America and Harper's Canada change to my dismay. The religious right, who have dominated the political scene worldwide for the last twenty years is now up against its own demise.

Or is it? Are they really creating a self fulfilling prophesy?

If your ambition is to see the second coming of your god and in order to hurry the process you need to destroy all those who prevent the process then it may make sense. If you also believe that the end of the world is near and you can actually make it happen why would you want to fix the environment, stop wars, prevent poverty, and support the multiplicity of cultures and values. It goes against your basic principles. If you take the most radical of the evangelical doctrine then you believe only 144,000 humans will survive so why not make it the most wealthy and powerful. It is your destiny.

Listen to the statements of Sarah Palin. She was close to the highest powers of the U.S. nation and her statements clearly were reflective of the religious right in America.

So have things changed now that Obama is president? My passion and values tell me that we are in a new world. I also, like the rest of the world want to believe he will bring common sense and reason to the world.

Except one thing nags at me. Shortly after his inauguration I heard a statement that Obama is the third anti-christ. Is the Religious right beginning its campaign at proving its right to ensure our demise?

I have so many questions and no answers.