ordoliberalism « Dr Alf's Blog

Income inequality and mortality in 282 metropolitan areas of the United States. Mortality is correlated with both income and inequality. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Conservative Party (UK) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Although originally a top blog in 2012, this posting is still very relevent today, especially in the US and the UK.

Source: Income inequality: Who exactly are the 1%? | The Economist

Since 2012, the hedgefund managers have got closer to shadowy right wing politicians, especially in the UK’s Conservative Party. The rest is history: Brexit referendum; Article 50; and a likely Hard Brexit.

Bottom line: massively leveraged gains for the 1% and the 99% face loss of wealth, income, services and opportunity, plus greater dependency on immigration to keep the country afloat.

In the summer, with little hard news, left wing papers like the Guardian are blaming neoliberalism, free trade and open markets but their argument is wobbly.

The thing is there is no robust alternative to free trade and liberal open markets. Totalitarian Far-Left and Far- Right regimes have all failed – Communism and Fascism only benefited their leaders and their cronies, the 1%. I have always believed in compassionate conservatism but the UK’s Conservatives have gone back to their unfashionable roots, namely ‘tradition’ and ‘Old Conservatism‘. For the Conservatives to champion the 99%, they must offer radical visions, strategies and delivery. Having spent most of my life delivering strategic change, it is crystal clear, the Conservatives need a massive cull at the top – the next leader must be young, telepathic and strong. In terms of political philosophy, a campassionate form of neoliberalism provides the methodology. Surely, it’s time for the return of the New Right?

Thoughts?

Margaret Thatcher with Ronald Reagan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I disagree with left-wing writer, Owen Jones’ op-ed article published in the left-wing Guardian. Jones concludes that the The neoliberal right has never seemed weaker and with a massive push, Labour can seize the initiative.

Source: The old Tory order is crumbling – it’s taken Grenfell for us to really see it | Owen Jones | Opinion | The Guardian

Jones style of writing is big on passion, concatenation of events, with a world view leaning towards the Far-Left for whom the end justifies the means. In particular, the article’s light on evidence and full of bias.

The article wants us to believe that the Tories are responsible for Grenfell, with austerity and beliefs going back to Margaret Thatcher’s promotion of neoliberalism.

Unfortunately, Jones fails to identify that the Grenfell period included long periods when Labour were in power, characterized by mismanagement and poor economic stewardship. Let’s remember that the previous Labour governments provided inflationary public sector pay settlements that had no linkage to productivity improvement or promotion of global best practice in public sector administration. Labour promoted big government, both in the central and local governments sectors. Frequently, left-wing politicians showed patronage to their chums in business. Time and time again Labour governments provided disasterous economic management and left office with the cubboard being bear.

In a short time, the UK has moved from promoting the populism of the Far Right to the populism of the Far-Left. Remember that the historic socialist Labour Party was hijacked by shadowy Far-Left radicals. To put this into context, the economically and socially, internationally respected, international paper, the Economist warns us starkly that Jeremy Corbyn‘s objective is ‘domestic revolution’.

Yes, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan presided over a period of economic liberalism and massive economic growth that is often called neoliberalism. This is core to the capitalist system. Is Owen Jones secretly dreaming of a Marxist state for the UK, led by Britain own Che Gavara, Jeremy Corbyn?

Thoughts?