[Marxism] Campbell and neoliberalism

[john rosso <jjrousso@xxxxxxx>]

Campbell and neoliberalism

Everyone seems to hate Gordon Campbell and his neoliberal policies -- but  what 
is neoliberalism such as NAFTA and free trade? 

Neoliberalism is the new Liberal philosophy of restructuring society to benefit 
the giant corporations and make capitalism "work better."  It is the 
subordination of   sovereignty, democracy and government to big business 
interests.  It is  the abandonment of nationalism and the nation-state - by  
denying   nations and its people the right  to self-determination.  It is the 
"abandonment of government"  in solving problems in society and leaving 
everything to markets and  businesses to solve.  It means the end of community 
and national controls in dealing with foreign interests.  

Neoliberalism  attempts to commercialize everything in society.   Political 
power  passes from democratic bodies to the corporate and wealthy elite so that 
private enterprise runs everything and  governments legislate  their wishes 
without  consent of the public.   It demands that all human and natural 
resources   become available for private free-market development.  Corporations 
are given powers which exceed that of governments  but   without 
responsibilities or accountability to the citizens.  It demands  the 
elimination of national  borders for trade and investment, and  the removal of 
all restraints on the free movement of the resources  and finances. 

Consequently foreign corporations are allowed to buy up the country including 
the privatized Crown assets at fire-sale prices, and are allowed to operate and 
repatriate profits without hindrance.  Neoliberalism  is designed so that  
corporations benefit while governments take the risk.     

Neoliberalism,  in fact,  is colonialism  by other means - by giant 
corporations that are  given more power than governments (by agreements  such 
as NAFTA) .  It destroys a nation's sovereignty and  democracy,   civil and 
human rights.  Social programs are    abolished as rapidly as possible  (the 
IMF says, social welfare  programs are   "destructive of work incentives and is 
an obstacle to needed economic adjustment").

Consequently neoliberalism  is a system of total disregard for the common 
people by putting business - particularly big-business  interests -  as the 
sole objective and priority.  It has  no community or social  consciousness  
nor responsibilities  as "people values" are subordinated to the  maximization 
of profits.    It is a chaotic, free-for-all, unfettered capitalism which 
results in  deindustrialization,   unemployment and poverty (for how can 
businesses and workers  compete with "slave-wage" countries - even hi-tech 
industries are moving out).   It is rule by a  handful of trade bureaucrats,   
corporate elite and  lobbyists from the rich countries which give corporations 
a "bill of rights" to dominate and control  countries.  Governments are 
prevented from altering corporate decisions and determining their own destiny.  
  Governments and  citizens are not only unable to prevent such intrusions but 
governments are obliged to protect the interests of foreign investors even if 
such corporations are  poisoning the people and the environment (re MMT).  It  
also prevents  the country and its people from benefiting from its own 
"competitive advantage" (gas, oil and fresh water).     It results in  the 
concentration of   wealth and power  into monopolies and oligopolies which  
destroys  competition and then holds the public to "ransom" (re natural gas, 
oil, electricity, insurance, etc.).  

In practice, neoliberalism  results in taxes being shifted from corporations 
and the wealthy to the middle and lower classes.  Corporations are given huge 
tax and other concessions and then  social programs are cut and  taxes raised  
to "balance the budget."  It is a reversion  to  19th Century England 
conditions. 

Neoliberalism means the reduction in the "role of government"   in solving 
problems as demanded by the people (the BC Liberal government is one such 
case).       Democracy is unwanted so that "men of means" can make decisions 
without input from the public.   Neoliberalism  demands the downsizing of the 
state, deregulation of businesses, privatization  of Crown assets and  services 
and  even privatization of government pensions. Wherever neoliberalism has been 
 implemented it has created horrendous disasters as in Mexico, Asia, Russia, 
Brazil, and recently Argentina (let alone Africa where survival-of-the-fittest, 
neoliberal concepts are the greatest).  

Neoliberalism is  "anti-people" concepts - seen in BC by the Liberal government 
cutting social services to the most needy in society - the  Women and 
Child-care Centers,  and is selling off  government assets to foreign interests 
and so on  all highly contrary to the public good.   

In conclusion, neoliberalism  is the opposite ideology  of how Canada and most 
advanced countries  developed.  With Canada following neoliberalist policies 
there is no reason why it should not suffer the same fate as the other "banana 
republics." 

JJ Rousso
_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism