Neoliberalism in the United States. Yeah Even Conservatives Embrace Liberalism

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For those in the cheap seats, neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology. (Don’t fall asleep, yet. It gets better.) It really isn’t a way for the left to create a “gotcha” moment against the right. Neoliberalism has been around since, well, 1898. The word began being used when the French started trying to describe economic theories, (you know ideas about the way money is used) that were created by the Italians. Yeah, it is all boring high-intellectual stuff that puts most average and not average people to sleep. Plus, I mean French and Italians are trying to tell us how economies works. What could go wrong?

In simpler terms neoliberalism says we need totally free-market capitalism. Now for all you anti-socialism freaks you know what capitalism is don’t you? It’s the best system, right? It what made ‘merica great! It means we, the people, own the businesses, not the bloody government. Then we sell things for a profit. Things that only we make and people want. You know that supply and demand thingy. Neoliberalism says we need this and it can’t be held back. It must go where capitalism goes. Yee Haw!

Neoliberalism also means we need deregulation, another big word. Deregulation in common sense words means the government can’t tell us how, when, or where we make something. We can make it how we want, where we want, and whenever we want. The trees, rivers, air, and water be damned. Business knows what’s best for making things and governments need to get out of the way.

Neoliberalism also wants privatization as much as possible. Whenever a service has to be provided it must be done by business, not the government. Fire protection, police departments, fixing roads and sewers, to just name a few, must all be done by private business. They can do it cheaper, better, and make a profit. Governments just waste the money and never get it right according to neoliberalism.

The best part about neoliberalism, according to those that like it, is reduced government spending and no interference in that system for selling goods, distributing the goods, and buying the goods, you know, the economy. Great, huh? Lower taxes and the government stops telling private companies and people like you and me how to make things and when. Most importantly the government has to protect property rights and enforce business contracts. It isn’t supposed to spend its time telling us what to do. Neoliberalism also means people gots to take care of themselves. No more help or handouts from the government.

Sounds good, huh? I mean Ronald Reagan, Margeret Thatcher, and even Milton Friedman thought it was a good system. Maybe even better than capitalism. I mean it got rid of those nasty unions. It made public services like education and utilities end and let private businesses run them. No more public education! No more public utilities! Everyone for themselves. If you couldn’t afford it you didn’t get it.

Problem is when using neoliberalism, you could put arsenic in the drinking water. Not everyone got an education. It creates a system where the rich get richer and the poor just get squat. You create a financial aristocracy. They might not call themselves Kings, Queens, Dukes, and Duchesses but they are. They don’t get privilege by heritage, but wealth. And only those already wealthy are rich. Neoliberalism doesn’t allow ‘new’ rich. How convenient.

This is what is being foisted on the United States citizenry right now. A system that will in essence return the gilded class, the aristocracy back into the United States. What our forefathers fought against, what our fathers and grandfathers fought against, is being reintroduced inside a new pretty box wrapped in gold ribbons. And many of the common folk are falling for it.

Our Constitution, the founding law of our country, starts out WE, the People, not we the fortunate few. Our government is designed for the masses to be run by the masses not a privileged few. Somehow, that idea gets in the way of those with wealth and power. It always has. That is why we fought the Revolutionary War. So, WE the People could have our government, designed by us, for us.

You see when we the people get educated, participate, have ideas, and invest in our families and futures it creates a thunderous economy never before witnessed in the history of the world. This economy, because of its sheer mass of profits and fortunes draws the wealthy and opportunists to its design like moths to a flame.

But like those that killed the Golden Goose that laid gold eggs. These very people, in an effort to keep it all to themselves, money and power, eventually kill the very system that created the wealth they covet in the first place. Like locusts they will decimate the field and then move on to a more fertile land. Never suffering their own demise or misfortune as they constantly feed on the next available powerful economic ideal.

The path is not inevitable. Like locusts they can be killed. Like our forefathers and grandfathers, we can stand in the way of their progress. Just remember who this government is for and who it serves. Choose the side that stands for the masses, not the few. The few neither need our wealth or deserve it. Let the country prosper with the labor of its own hands. Remove from power or position those who would change the system.

The best way to do this is to transfer the wealth back to the people. Build social safety nets, ensure no one goes hungry or gets sick for lack of money. We the people can do this. Our country is wealthy enough and powerful enough, especially if we do not give all our wealth and power to an undeserving few.

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Douglas Courtney

D. L. Courtney has been writing professionally for over 35 years and for recreation for over 50 years. He has published eleven books, many of which are on sale right here at Shop2!. His books are also at Barnes's and Nobles website and Amazon.com. D. L. Courtney is the author of the short stories listed in this site as well as the two novels. His writings are fictional and non-fictional and he often posts on events of the day.