Re: Anti-keynesianism and extremism in Europe

[Sven R Larson <larson@xxxxxx>]

Very true indeed, Trond!

/srl

Trond Andresen wrote:
>
> Barkley,
> speaking from Norway, I would rather say that what has happened is NOT a
> "breakdown", in the sense that this was unavoidable, like a "natural force". It
> was instead a *deliberate choice* of the right-wing part of the ruling social
> democracies to *abandon* policies that still were feasible. There was never
> any great social pressure from below for cutbacks in public schools and
> hospitals, for privatization, for abolishing capital controls, for increased
> wage diffentials etc.
>
> There was and is, however, strong and persistent campaigning from the right,
> from the well-paid careerist emerging class of "elite" social democrats, and
> from the pundits in the big media. Not to mention most university academics.
>
> This deliberate and chosen eroding of the welfare state and the social
> contract has led to and immense resignation, disillusionment and cynicism
> among ordinary working people. This is the main reason that the right-wing
> populists now have a fair amount of success.
>

-----
Sven R Larson
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