Can I not say it too? In my view in Australia the Hawke/Keating government embraced what was called economic rationalism (now neo-liberalism) which the Howard Government simply took on and ran with. More and more power to corporate interest groups and less power and resources to communities.

The aged care crisis can be traced back to Howard's Aged Care Act. We need a new act

Sure. We need a new everything.

Does anybody see anything on the horizon that might indicate a reversal this incredibly disturbing trend? — synthesis

Climate change.

so do as the Good Book says, and criminalise usury — Banno

That is more or less my position, though not criminalize per se but invalidate contracts thereof, without which it has no force. (Also, religious prohibitions of usury usually fail to recognize property rent as essentially the exact same thing, which gives an obviously loophole, which is how medieval Catholic and current Muslim banking operates).

Thing is though that once there’s no way to make money just by owning other people’s stuff and charging them to use it, there’s pretty much no motive to own more than you use yourself anymore, and so no reason to be a supermultibillionaire at all.

Thus through the invalidation of usury we create socialism, by having the state do less rather than more.

Does anybody see anything on the horizon that might indicate a reversal this incredibly disturbing trend? — synthesis

Blondie's third term.

Thing is though that once there’s no way to make money just by owning other people’s stuff and charging them to use it, there’s pretty much no motive to own more than you use yourself anymore, and so no reason to be a supermultibillionaire at all. — Pfhorrest

Of course there is such a reason: safety. Since time immemorial, people have strived to amass wealth in an effort to guarantee as much safety for themselves as possible.

Of course there is such a reason: safety. Since time immemorial, people have strived to amass wealth in an effort to guarantee as much safety for themselves as possible. — baker

That’s reason to accumulate savings enough to last you a lifetime, sure. But that is still far less that what billionaires accumulate.

That’s reason to accumulate savings enough to last you a lifetime, sure. But that is still far less that what billionaires accumulate. — Pfhorrest

If you want to be prudent, you need to prepare for everything, including natural catastrophes and the collapse of economy. For this, billions are needed.

If you want to be prudent, you need to prepare for everything, including natural catastrophes and the collapse of economy. For this, billions are needed. — baker

Billions would be of no use to you in the case of the collapse of the economy, would they? A gun and the skill to use it would reverse the acquisition of even a trillion dollars in heartbeat in the case of a collapsed system.

Unless one can achieve financial independence and intellectual autonomy, individuals will always be controlled (from without) resulting in the loss of essential freedoms (a great American tragedy). — synthesis

I recall reading that when Obama stepped in to save the American automotive industry in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, a faction within the Republican Party argued it would be better to let it collapse rather than save it through Government intervention.

Do you think the Republicans were right in saying that?

Billions would be of no use to you in the case of the collapse of the economy, would they? A gun and the skill to use it would reverse the acquisition of even a trillion dollars in heartbeat in the case of a collapsed system. — Isaac

Hence having your own army is part of the billionaire's plan for ultimate safety.
Rich people don't just amass money while living in sheds. They strategically invest in buildings, physical infrastructure, social infrastructure, means of defense etc. etc. that help keep them safe.

I recall reading that when Obama stepped in to save the American automotive industry in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, a faction within the Republican Party argued it would be better to let it collapse rather than save it through Government intervention.

Do you think the Republicans were right in saying that? — Wayfarer

Regardless of external conditions, any company that can not remain solvent should be forced into bankruptcy.

Had the government saved no businesses during the pandemic, people would have seen (early-in) just how insane the lockdowns were and policy would have changed.

You MUST allow the system to work.

Getting back to the point of the thread, you can only have one situation on the ground, either individuals are free agents or groups (corporate-state) have nearly total control. Morphing adults into children (or never creating the conditions for children to mature into adults) is plan A, as fear and dependency are way all systems impose their will.

Is there anything going on in this country now besides fear and dependency?

Is there anything going on in this country now besides fear and dependency? — synthesis

Blondie's third term! He's your savior! Hallelujah!

Who is Blondie?

The Donald.

You need to move on.

If at the next elections, Americans will vote for Trump or his children (and chances are, they will), you will be one major step closer to the America you want: a dog-eat-dog country in which every man is on his own.

How much socialism do you want? Who doesn't want to live in a country where you are free to live up to your potential?

Socialism is about lowering the bar far enough so everybody is miserable.

How much socialism do you want? Who doesn't want to live in a country where you are free to live up to your potential?

Socialism is about lowering the bar far enough so everybody is miserable. — synthesis

False dilemma.

Who doesn't want to live in a country where you are free to live up to your potential?

All one needs to do to in order to live in a country where you are free to live up to your potential, is to reconceptualize "free" and "live up to your potential", so that the new concepts match one's reality, whatever that may be.

All one needs to do to in order to live in a country where you are free to live up to your potential, is to reconceptualize "free" and "live up to your potential", so that the new concepts match one's reality, whatever that may be. — baker

Just like the people in the USSR, Communist China, and Nazi Germany had to "reconceptualize" what freedom and living up to your potential was.

No thank you. My wagon will always remained hitched to the traditional conception of American freedom.

My wagon will always remained hitched to the traditional conception of American freedom. — synthesis

By golly, what are you complaining about then??!

By golly, what are you complaining about then??! — baker

I am afraid that people like you who desire salvation (from the challenges of life) feel that everybody else must change the way they think in order to feel as desperate as you do.

It's leftist religion. "Save me, save me, save me" (and save everybody else because they're going to have to pay for it).

It's a well-known phenomenon in psychology that people who are treated like children, start acting like children.

And in the case of citizens and governments, I'd say it's an abusive parental relationship.

You MUST allow the system to work. — synthesis

What 'system'? Laissez-faire capitalism? The 'invisible hand' of the market? Those who can't get by without assistance - leave them to die so 'the system' can return to 'normality'?

What 'system'? Laissez-faire capitalism? The 'invisible hand' of the market? Those who can't get by without assistance - leave them to die so 'the system' can return to 'normality'? — Wayfarer

:up:

What 'system'? Laissez-faire capitalism? The 'invisible hand' of the market? Those who can't get by without assistance - leave them to die so 'the system' can return to 'normality'? — Wayfarer

Capitalism is the only economic system there is. "Communism" is state-capitalism and socialism is capitalism with the profits redistributed.

The bottom-line is that the market (society) does a MUCH better job of making choices that a bunch of bureaucrats that inevitably have their heads up their asses (best case scenario)..

There's never been such a place. It's a purely intellectual construct, a castle in the air, a fairyland in the mind of libertarians.

I agree. Much capitalism appears to be dictatorship by corporations and socialism for the rich.