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If the alternative to neoliberalism is fascism, I'll take neoliberalism. To dislodge an incumbent orthodoxy you have to actually offer something better, not so
by api 5y ago
If the alternative to neoliberalism is fascism, I'll take neoliberalism.
To dislodge an incumbent orthodoxy you have to actually offer something better, not something profoundly worse.
- ekianjo 5y agoSince when is there only one alternative?
- api 5y agoThere are many sane alternatives. I was speaking of the specific alternative pushed during the 20-teens starting with the Gamergate era and proceeding all the way up through MAGA, the alt-right, and Qanon, and with which Assange was clearly either allied or serving as a useful idiot. That alternative is significantly worse than the orthodoxy. BTW authoritarian Marxism is not a sane alternative either. I see people pushing that too, but they never got close to real political power.
- the_optimist 5y agoFar from alternatives, more like bedfellows or twins. The specious labels belie the hard reality that the US political, bureaucratic, and secret police apparatus is powerful, extensive, and weaponized.
- simiones 5y agoThe reality of the situation we are in, the rise of Trump, the alt right, Le Pen, and others is this: for neoliberals, if the alternative to leftism is fascism, they will actually choose fascism. As people all over the US (and the world) are becoming more receptive to traditionally leftist talking points - labor vs owners, corporate control of the media, poverty, the evils of globalism etc. - neoliberals have been investing good money in supporting the alt right, neo-fascist voices that blame these problems on immigrants and jewish conspiracy theories. Fascism is much safer for the rich than even social-democracy (not to mention the, to them, terrifying spectre of socialism).