Mostly for whom? To the extent "capitalism" has "increased standards of living", this has happened – "trickled down" – unevenly, cyclically, and at the cost of mass alienation – what John Dewey aptly describes as industrial feudalism – the return of "Gilded Age" wealth inequality (e.g. T. Piketty)¹ accelerated by the last half century of neoliberal globalization and fiscal austerity policies.Hasn't capitalism increased the standard of living immeasurably over the last 100 years? — RogueAI
Hasn't capitalism increased the standard of living immeasurably over the last 100 years? — RogueAI
Mostly for whom? To the extent "capitalism" has "increased standards of living", this has happened – "trickled down" – unevenly, cyclically, and at the cost of mass alienation – what John Dewey aptly describes as industrial feudalism – the return of "Gilded Age" wealth inequality (e.g. T. Piketty)¹ accelerated by the last half century of neoliberal globalization and fiscal austerity policies. — 180 Proof
Not for lack of trying. A current candidate for president of US frequently criticizes past & current attempts to "level the playing field" politically, economically, and lingustically. "Typically, the upper political classes go on the defensive and criticize "political correctness" as reverse tyranny." Maybe the candidate prefers proactive tyranny. :cool:That hasn't aged well. The gains made by minorities and LGBTQ aren't even close to being wiped out. — RogueAI
Ironically, although some pundits accuse Trump of trying to destroy Democracy, Fascism seems to be surprisingly popular in democratic societies, — Gnomon
Ironically, the Will of The People may lead to their own ruin, — Gnomon
The gains made by minorities and LGBTQ aren't even close to being wiped out.
— RogueAI
Clearly, either you've not been paying attention and/or you're just choking on reactionary grievance. :mask: — 180 Proof
The gains made by minorities and LGBTQ aren't even close to being wiped out. — RogueAI
The right to access abortion services was settled law until it wasn't. — BC
How is it an undemocratic abomination?Unsurprisingly, it comes from the undemocratic abomination that is the European Union. — Tzeentch
Who sent Tusk?This is nothing other than the EU sending out its agents to quell anti-EU movements from taking root, which must now be a growing worry to the Brussels elite. In the Netherlands they tried the same with Frans Timmermans, but they failed. In Poland they succeeded. — Tzeentch
"One thing that is very likely to happen is that the gains made in the past forty years by black and brown Americans, and by homosexuals, will be wiped out. Jocular contempt for women will come back into fashion. The words [slur for an African-American that begins with “n”] and [slur for a Jewish person that begins with “k”] will once again be heard in the workplace. — Gnomon
Collectively, the US standard of living has increased since the advent of industrialization, urbanization, and representative Democracy. But that general upward trend looks quite different when you break the sample down into classes*1. Historically, societies have been characterized by a tiny minority Upper class (royalty), and a great majority Lower class (slaves & serfs), with a small Middle class in between (merchants). Industrialism temporarily increased the SOL of the Middle class, but Computerization (mechanical slaves) is beginning to reverse that trend, as the Middle class is sliding downward : becoming computer operators instead of mule-drivers*2.Hasn't capitalism increased the standard of living immeasurably over the last 100 years? — RogueAI
How is it an undemocratic abomination? — ssu
That's true, but the union is a de facto confederacy: it is created from independent states, who actually are still quite independent. Furthermore, Central Banksters aren't usually elected in a public election. We don't similarly elect our generals either. Likely that would simply politicize even more the position and make Central Banks even more the "deficit helpers" that they are now.For one, we don't get to vote for the leader of the European Union - in this case Von Der Leyen - or other EU organs like the European Central Bank. There's also virtually zero transparency and control with regards to what these people get up to (and who they're working for). — Tzeentch
Yes, and Poles voted for him. Perhaps the reason is that the Poles got fed up with the former Law and Justice -party, the right-wing populist party. It's quite natural that people want to change their leaders.Tusk served as president of the European Council and as president of a transnational organisation known as 'the European People's Party' (an ominous name to be sure, though I'm not sure if it sounds commie or fascist - two branches from the same rotten tree anyway). — Tzeentch
Well, if you have some articles or references about this, I would genuinely be interested...But it's the way he is now cleaning house like some dictator, without any criticism from European legislative organs whatsoever, that should be the canary in the coal mine. Clearly this man was given cart blanche to "get Poland back on track." — Tzeentch
Who here are "they". It's really important to answer this. Because typically it's actually domestic media and parties that are in opposition that promote the "anti-EU" stance of some parties.They tried the same in the Netherlands, where now a decidedly anti-EU party has become the largest. — Tzeentch
Meloni’s approach to Europe was centred on the vindication of Italy’s “national interests” but within the framework of European integration and with a self-declared ambition to play a protagonist role. In the run-up to the 2022 election, FdI’s electoral programme jettisoned some populist tones of the past (especially regarding the euro). Instead, the emphasis was placed on the need for Italy to “return as a protagonist in Europe” and to “relaunch the system of European integration, for a Europe of homelands, founded on peoples’ interests”. In a similar vein, in her inaugural address to the Chamber of Deputies, Meloni stressed the desire for Italy to stand “with head high” in Europe and the other international fora, “with a constructive spirit, but without subordination or inferiority complexes”. The emphasis on the “national interest” was accompanied by the acknowledgement of “a common European and Western destiny” – as well as of the importance of a frank dialogue within the European institutions, taking a “pragmatic” approach. As a matter of fact, Meloni’s first mission abroad as Italy’s prime minister was to Brussels.
And with the EU there's one thing that I've learnt to be true: the more you know about how it really operates, the more angry you become. — ssu
But anyway, I'm for a loose union that still gives a lot of power to the individual countries because let's face it: the EU has done a really poor job on creating an universal European identity. Only the English have succeeded in creating an unifying identity with being British. But to be an European, well, it's like being an Asian or African... — ssu
Yes, and Poles voted for him. — ssu
Well, if you have some articles or references about this, I would genuinely be interested... — ssu
Who here are "they". — ssu
What's wrong with the UK? They are good fighters and they have a great armed forces. Also, they are still committed to European safety, even if they are on an Island.Personally, I think a military alliance structure like NATO, but without the US and the UK, would be perfect. — Tzeentch
What's wrong with the UK? They are good fighters and they have a great armed forces. Also, they are still committed to European safety, even if they are on an Island. — ssu
I do think that there are the old fashion conservatives, but they are simply muted out by the Trump crowd. — ssu
This just in, Capitalism is working just as intended. — Benkei
other than as a tool to diagnose why it is unfair. — Benkei
Fascism does have many definitions, but "the way it works" is less variable. If some people are operating in a fascistic manner, it's worth focusing on. — BC
the US, which is more likely to fully degenerate into a corporatocracy due to its particular off-brand of delusional idiocy — Benkei
You're a decade too late if you're trying to assess what type of evil you're dealing with — Benkei
Perhaps the real question of the OP is will America become an authoritarian state, a right wing dictatorship? — Tom Storm
Of course for my friends in the Left, America has been an authoritarian state for many years, so even this will evoke a range of interpretations and definitional games. — Tom Storm
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