I wish I had the time and ability to fully expound on the total lack of “economic freedom” in vast regions of the U.S. because I don’t think those on the outside realize how much of the “economic prosperity” touted over the last 100 years was complete fiction.
For those living in the states it’s a massive landmass of “economic deadzones” with “little islands of economic activity” scattershot across it. Your proximity to those “little islands of economic activity” determines the course of your life far more than any skill, decision, or beliefs that you have. (Every single member of my family tree going back several generations made the primary goal to “move near” one of these “little islands of economic activity”, every single one without exception did this and everything they might tell you about “their good decisions, beliefs, skills etc…” came well after that initial decision to “move near”.)
And… even if you do manage to secure a foothold near one of those “little islands of economic activity” you know a.) it’s a temporary get in, earn quick, and get out arrangement, b.) you will be relocating back to an economic deadzone (but hopefully with enough resources to make it bearable), and c.) there is zero community development in this arrangement so expect coordination for any “projects of betterment” to be extremely slow.
This why Americans are always trading away “political freedom” for “economic freedom”, most can’t obtain the bare minimum level of resources because of where they are on this landmass so they simply don’t care what the political power arrangements are.
We’re witnessing the logical end result of decades of neoliberalism. The synthesis of the neoliberal policies, blended with the xenophobic rhetoric that has accompanied it, has produced a new economic paradigm I’m going to begin calling “Neo(Nazi)Liberalism.
GlassHammer
I wish I had the time and ability to fully expound on the total lack of “economic freedom” in vast regions of the U.S. because I don’t think those on the outside realize how much of the “economic prosperity” touted over the last 100 years was complete fiction.
For those living in the states it’s a massive landmass of “economic deadzones” with “little islands of economic activity” scattershot across it. Your proximity to those “little islands of economic activity” determines the course of your life far more than any skill, decision, or beliefs that you have. (Every single member of my family tree going back several generations made the primary goal to “move near” one of these “little islands of economic activity”, every single one without exception did this and everything they might tell you about “their good decisions, beliefs, skills etc…” came well after that initial decision to “move near”.)
And… even if you do manage to secure a foothold near one of those “little islands of economic activity” you know a.) it’s a temporary get in, earn quick, and get out arrangement, b.) you will be relocating back to an economic deadzone (but hopefully with enough resources to make it bearable), and c.) there is zero community development in this arrangement so expect coordination for any “projects of betterment” to be extremely slow.
This why Americans are always trading away “political freedom” for “economic freedom”, most can’t obtain the bare minimum level of resources because of where they are on this landmass so they simply don’t care what the political power arrangements are.
Eric Anderson
I’d like to share an interesting thought that was stimulated by a post over on Mastodon.
Here is the link to what i think is an important Dave Troy blog post:
https://america2.news/to-survive-this-we-must-break-the-fourth-wall/
Here is my response:
https://kolektiva.social/@LeftistLawyer/114164371393243968
We’re witnessing the logical end result of decades of neoliberalism. The synthesis of the neoliberal policies, blended with the xenophobic rhetoric that has accompanied it, has produced a new economic paradigm I’m going to begin calling “Neo(Nazi)Liberalism.
Tell me I’m wrong.
Eric Anderson
Glasshammer:
Indeed. See my post above. I think our posts dovetail nicely.