fighting for our lives! : the coming socialism of austerity
by Andrew R-Taylor
When the planned Economy model was ditched with the Communist regimes of Russia and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s most commentators assumed that laissez-faire Capitalism had "won".
The rhetoric of triumph was a bit different when supposed 'left of centre' administrations, such as those of Blair and Clinton and Chretien-Martin were in the saddle,-- we learned of the (radical-middle) “Third way” with these anglo-american liberal governments. Very often it turned out that in order to win the support of the Corporate-Class and their contributions - these governing Parties stopped providing sufficient funding for Social programmes and governed with low Corporate taxes and low Corporate regulation. (eg: feeding Healthcare through an eyedropper; slashing social-welfare)
Today global capitalism is again in crisis: Will a non-revisionist democratic-socialism re-surface as credit shrinks and unemployment rises? Will the present neo-liberal governing parties with their current pro Big-Business programmes have anything of economic substance to offer working (or unemployed) families in distress?
I see history turning on its head again - and I think that there will be a curtailment in many choices and luxuries as the Great Recession deepens. In a shared world of deep interconnections will the nations face polarized political options akin to the ones our grandparents and parents faced during The Great Depression? In any case, for bane or boon, the option of a more centrally regulated economy is back on the table in former "Third Way" establishment circles. A socialism of austerity is necessary for global survival. From henceforth "the one who dies with the most toys" will not be seen as a winner but as an anti-social hoarder. It's time to cast away the lazy consumer vices, it's time to show up for our families and our cities. We don't have an ethical option that bypasses the hallmark of sharing. Will we fight for a new global civilization of solidarity,-- for a more "green-red" world for our children and children's children? Do we want to change ourselves -- not just the world?
No comments:
Post a Comment