Western politics is tearing itself apart, polarising into two camps – or at least, it is in the official narrative we are being fed by our corporate media. The warring camps are presented as “moderate centrists”, on one side, and the “extreme right”, on the other. The question is framed as a choice about where one stands in relation to this fundamental political divide.
But what if none of this is true? What if this isn’t a feud between two opposed ideological camps but rather two differing – and irrational – reactions to the breakdown of late-stage capitalism as an economic model, a system that can no longer offer plausible solutions to the problems of our age?
Merkel and the mainstream neoliberal elite are committed to an ever-more deregulated world because that is imperative for a globalised economic elite searching to accrue ever more wealth and power. That elite needs open borders and a lack of significant regulation so that it can plunder unrestricted the Earth’s resources – human and material – while dumping the toxic waste byproducts wherever is most profitable and convenient.
International order
Meanwhile, the global elite has created international or trans-national structures and institutions precisely to remove the power of nation-states to regulate and dominate the business environment. The political class in the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Mexico or Brazil do not control the corporations. These corporations control even the biggest states. The banks are too big to fail, the arms manufacturers too committed to permanent war to rein in, the largely uniform narratives of the corporate media too powerful to dissent from.
Instead, global or trans-national institutions, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the European Union, NATO, BRICS and many others, remake our world to promote the globalised profits of the corporations.
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“Western politics is tearing itself apart, polarising into two camps – or at least, it is in the official narrative we are being fed by our corporate media.” ~ Jonathan Cook
The polarization has only occurred among the lower economic classes. Meanwhile the rich remain united against the lower classes.
“The warring camps are presented as ‘moderate centrists’ on one side, and the ‘extreme right’ on the other.” ~ Jonathan Cook
Today, “extreme right” is media code for anyone who does not fully agree with neoliberalism.
Meanwhile “moderate centrists” is code for neoliberalism’s toadies (e.g. pundits, professors and politicians), or else for people who help neoliberalism by pushing identity politics. For example, no matter how militant the feminists become, they remain “moderate centrists” because they keep men and women divided, and therefore subservient to the rich.
Likewise, no matter how murderous a terrorist becomes, he remains a “moderate” as long as he kills on behalf of the Empire.
“But what if none of this is true? What if this isn’t a feud between two opposed ideological camps but rather two differing – and irrational – reactions to the breakdown of late-stage capitalism as an economic model, a system that can no longer offer plausible solutions to the problems of our age?” ~ Jonathan Cook
That is exactly what has happened. The Titanic is sinking. As the water rises, rich people on the upper decks are taking all the lifeboats, while passengers trapped in the lower decks claw at each other. “You’re sexist! You’re racist! You’re a homophobe! You’re a Nazi! You're an art major!"
“Merkel and the mainstream neoliberal elite are committed to an ever-more deregulated world because that is imperative for a globalized economic elite searching to accrue ever more wealth and power.” ~ Jonathan Cook
The elite want a deregulated (i.e. decriminalized) world for themselves, and a hyper-regulated world (a police state and surveillance state) for the masses to keep them down.
“Meanwhile, the global elite has created international or trans-national structures and institutions precisely to remove the power of nation-states to regulate and dominate the business environment.” ~ Jonathan Cook
This is why the media outlets condemn nationalists and populists as “far right.” Sadly, at least half the peasants believe this lie. If you don’t agree with neoliberalism, then left-wing peasants call you a Nazi, while right-wing peasants call you a Commie.
Ostensibly pitted against Merkel is Viktor Orban, Hungary’s “extreme right” prime minister. Hungary risks being stripped of its voting rights in the European Union because of Orban’s ‘rabble-rousing’ policies and his anti-migrant agenda.” ~ Jonathan Cook
Viktor Orban questions neoliberalism, and is therefore called a “systematic threat” to democracy and the rule of law (i.e. a threat to neoliberalism). The migrant issue is a neoliberal distraction.
“Several other EU states, from Italy to Poland, are close behind Orban in pursuing populist, anti-immigrant agendas.” ~ Jonathan Cook
Populist means anti-neoliberal. It does not necessarily mean anti-immigrant. Jimmy Dore is a populist, but he is not anti-immigrant.
“The United Nations was created with the aim of imposing a law-based international order, premised on respect for human rights, to prevent future large-scale wars and genocide. In practice, however, it chiefly serves the interests of the dominant western states through their capture of the Security Council, effectively the UN’s executive.” ~ Jonathan Cook
Likewise the European Parliament has no power. All power rests with the European Commission in Brussels and the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.
I always appreciate your take on things Konrad.
Me too, Kevin.
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