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Maggie's ghost: What is haunting Europe

by system failure

"A ghost is haunting Europe — the ghost of Communism", Marx wrote in the Communist Manifesto, in 1847. He couldn't probably predict that the ghost above Europe in 2013, would have been totally different.

Thatcher's dogmatic faith in free market, in minimizing state's presence, was a basic characteristic of her political perception. One could wonder, why the "Iron Lady" silenced in front of the facts during last decade, especially after the global economic crisis. Is it because of her age? Was she believed in the routine motto that "this is just a capitalism's cycle and will recover soon"? Or is it because she finally understood, rather late, that this was not an ideal model of the free market, but the prevail of a peculiar bank-debtocracy?

Margaret Thatcher, is a characteristic case of a politician, who's fanatic faith in a specific perception, wouldn't let her see the real picture, what was this perception truly represented, what had in store for the future. It is the perfect example, of how the supposed modern perception for the economy and personal freedom, can be combined with conservatism.

Thatcher had a deeper vision of a truly Great Britain with the glory of the past, and believed that this vision could become true, also through the economic power. Falklands' war, was just an indication of such a desire. In reality, Thatcher's biggest damage against Argentina, was not Falklands' war, but her significant contribution on the expansion of neoliberalism that led Argentina to bankruptcy. She rather couldn't imagine that Europe would face a similar situation one day.

And if someone can justify Maggie, probably because she couldn't predict the course of the facts so early, and because she was dependent on advisors who were serving specific interests, we cannot find an excuse today, for MPs who say that belong to patriotic Right-wing, because today they know quite clearly what is going on.

Nation-State deconstruction and the emergence of anarcho-capitalism

We are now in a transition phase, where Nation-States self-deconstructed. This means that they use their legislative and what is left from their democratic power, with an ultimate goal to self-abolish. It is a fact that, the more the democracy decreases, as well as human rights in various levels (labor rights, atomic freedoms, personal data etc.), the more we are passing in a vicious circle, a non-returning point, which downgrades democracy and institutions. Neoliberalism is a transition phase to what the economic elites are dreaming: anarcho-capitalism.

One recent example of anarcho-capitalism in Greece, is the information according to which, various "distress funds" rushing to buy the red household loans from the Greek banks, in very low prices. The state, in this case, seems that cannot do many things to intervene as regulator of the red loans. It seems that no one can block such funds from obtaining house loans and therefore, the corresponding houses in ridiculous prices.

But it is even more amazing the fact that, a specific perception is spreading widely, by the mouthpieces of neoliberalism, according to which, social state and social benefits, but also, state intervention in economy, even in banks' bailout - the same banks which the mouthpieces serve - is a good prove of the Soviet function, even of the European Union! Maggie would completely agree, as of course many people who rush to adopt such "inventions", and because of their communist-phobia, assist on this propaganda.

But the truth is that, this type of intervention, is targeting on creating the suitable conditions, which would benefit big capital - and finally lead to the self-deconstruction of Nation-States - in order to serve completely its interests, in fully deregulated conditions, something, which is quite far from a Soviet-type state characteristics.

Through this huge paradox, neoliberal dictatorship manages to accelerate its domination. What is the paradox? The fact that most of the people who contribute in this propaganda, belong to the patriotic or conservative Right-wing - as of course Maggie - and they would never like to see, in any way, their nation fall apart! Indeed, a huge cost against the nearly zero possibility of the return of the Soviet Communism!

Apolitical generations and their contribution to ideological "mashing"

I belong to a generation which could be characterized as fanatical apolitical. It has been shaped, in essence, by a freaky ideology which adopted fragmentary, sometimes distorted elements, from a philosophy which dominated in West, since Nietzsche time. The big achievement of this ideology, is that managed to persuade many generations that the apolitical person is the smartest, because escapes from politics, from the ideological cage, and release himself to act independently.

But the course of events in the passing decades, have shown that the reality is different. The magnification of this apolitical stance, especially during 90s and after, evolved today in a cultural totalitarianism that is spreading everywhere, very fast, through globalized technology, erasing every other alternative.

Inside this cultural totalitarianism, concepts have been distorted in such a degree that, today, in reality represent almost different things of what represented in the past. The concepts of "new" and "freedom" have been substantially annexed by neoliberalism. The result today, is exactly opposite of what these concepts supposed to represent in the past. The concept of "freedom" tend to mean the ability of economic activity in a global arena of fierce competition and nothing more. In order to prevail this model of primitive society simulation - the imposition, survival of the strongest - some human conquests of the past centuries dissolve, and this is propagated as the "new". The decline and the fight for survive regarded as progress.

As a consequence, apolitical generations contributed to the "blurring" of the Left, as well as of patriotic-conservative Right. The Left, was not able to find the suitable material inside the ongoing apolitical generations. A material, with which could rebuild and create a totally autonomous political language. A language, totally independent from capitalistic terms. Patriotic-conservative Right today, has almost coincided with the neoliberal doctrine, with some exceptions.

But, even the extreme nationalists today in Greece, who are supposedly fighting against Nation-State deconstruction, restricted exclusively in illegal immigrant - hunts, and appear to be totally powerless to prevent it. And not only that, but they appear to serve perfectly the systemic establishment since they disorientate people from the real threat, which is not illegal immigrants, but bankers and big capital. While repeatedly act with excessive willingness against illegal immigrants, they are just restricted in a specific rhetoric against bankers.

Therefore, Maggie's ghost is what haunts Europe today, but appears to be as confused as the living people today, from the blurring of ideological lines and the rise of a homogeneous ideological "mince", which comes from the progressive "mashing" of ideologies in the machine of post-modernity. Thus, Maggie's ghost seems to wander, not to enjoy its final victory, but to find the road which leads to the peace of the kingdom of dead.

Comments

  1. Anonymous20/7/13 20:30

    The main reason for the political agnosticism is the sheer futility of politics. The political establishments were co-opted a long time ago, and many particularly in the the younger generation don't see the point. New political movements get quickly absorbed into existing political establishments making them pointless too. Those who control are being more direct since they no longer have to hide behind politics. It stops when people start dying, and a new power takes over.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Indeed. You touch the heart of the issue, but it would be even more interesting to find the reasons of the specific behavior of societies. All these are happening for some reasons. There is a deeper story behind, going back in time. Of course, this is the most difficult part, something which is hard to investigate. But imagine a situation where people in West, despite all their everyday problems, could spend time to discover why the societies they belong to, behave in a particular way. I think this would be the start of a unique cultural (r)evolution.

      Also, I didn't clearly understand the last sentence of your comment. Could you clarify it for me if you like?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous21/7/13 19:58

    Divide and conquer for the dominant; be divided and be conquered is the only play for the dominated. Evolution is never balanced or it would cease to be a dynamic process; relentlessly spinning along with the latest temporary fix heading for its fail or relative immortality.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True, but the perception "evolution is never balanced or it would cease to be a dynamic process", or similar, in my opinion is not a scientific fact, it cannot be proved by any data. I believe that, it is rather a dogmatic perception, expanded by theories for society and economy based on personal beliefs rather than hard scientific evidence. This perception in various forms, led people in the Western World to retire from trying to evolve in a cultural level and found a meaning only in extreme materialism and consumption. Technology is the only human component truly evolved, and this brought huge unbalance today mainly through massive global pollution and natural resources overconsumption.

      But nothing actually proves that, it has to be that way and there is no alternative. All these of course depend also of how one defines "evolution".

      Delete
    2. Anonymous23/3/14 01:03

      "evolution is never balanced or it would cease to be a dynamic process"

      What an absurd and ignorant comment.

      There are innumerable examples of specific evolutionary "dynamic processes" that produce balance. In fact, the state of balance observed is attributed to an evolutionary advancement, or shall we way, the so called hailed crowning achievement of an evolutionary process observed or discovered; chemistry, microbiology and physics are full of examples... all of which obviously permeate into everyday life, whether you realize it or not. That one should expect the same from politics or social order may be naive but not inherently impossible. Once you start using words like "evolution" let us keep in mind, humans are still on a relatively short timeline considering observed or known "evolutionary" advancements, or shall we say "balances" and that is considering what is known to us on this planet alone. We humans have yet to be as intelligent and creative as the original designer. And that is not with a capital D or G. Microsoft and bullets are tinker toys in comparison, rudimentary.

      Secondly, evolution is not defined by "divide and conquer" -This notion is a rather twisted, sick line of reasoning that justifies all sorts of disgusting and reckless behavior, often perpetrated by the kind of people that not only lack empathy but lack foresight and therefore their actions only produce endless loops of further destruction and chaos which they too are then forced to participate in. And when we are thinking about that statement, lets be clear, the dominate are not fearless. Far from it. The dominate have not produced peace or shall we say a balanced society, not b/c it is a biological or evolutionary impossibility to do so, rather b/c they can't solve simple riddles.

      From what I can surmise, from your inference of relentless spinning, the topic of this article and your dominance theory, is that you are no Bonobo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnFvZwR69iw

      The Boar

      Delete
  3. jon livesey22/7/13 01:43

    Reading this article, you would never guess that the developed World, since 2007, has received as big an economic shock as that of the depression, but has recovered far better.

    You would also not realise that it is precisely the "social market" economies of the eurozone that continue to have very high and rising unemployment, and net contraction of their GDP, with overall unemployment numbers greater than in the Thirties and youth unemployment out of sight.

    Meanwhile, the "evil" free market economies are growing again, with an advantage of 1.5-2.5% growth over the social market economies and an advantage of 4 percentage points lower overall unemployment.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is no such thing as "social market economies" at least since early 90s. And to be honest, I don't think that they ever truly existed.

      Anyway, beyond that, there is a conflict whether economic crisis is due to state social spending or banking greed and fraud. Personally, I would bet everything on 'banking greed and fraud'. Lets see only a few examples: 700 billion dollars to banksters responsible for the crisis (according to the FCIC) in US of which 20 billions went in bonuses! Not to mention some info about black money from Fed to Wall Street's Off-Balance Sheet Vehicles reaching 9 trillion dollars! In Greece, since 2008 more than 200 billion euros in bailout packages (for comparison, Greece's GDP in 2012 was 193,7 billion euros), rising further Greece's public debt, exclusively for banks of which not a single euro returned to the real economy! A few days ago Greek president called banksters to beg them start lending! Well, you know, some people consider this as a proof of "social market economy"! Sorry I don't buy it.

      I don't see any recovery on people's lives, the opposite, especially in Greece and eurozone. Economic indexes are used from "new economy" to hide the real picture because they depend on banks' and multinationals' profits and stand far from the reality of people's everyday life.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous22/7/13 12:19

      "Meanwhile, the "evil" free market economies are growing again, with an advantage of 1.5-2.5% growth"

      The market grows but the money are moving upwards. Another take on the subject is that the market grows, exactly because of that and yet another one would claim that this is method has an expiration date, exactly because of that.

      If nothing else, the security costs will eventually bring down the system. Count humans and do the math.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous21/1/14 19:21

      Jon, really?
      We the people bailed out a Casino Corporatist take over of our economy when they have bankrupted our economy. Yes this same group of thugs have recovered and have not paid the price monetarily or via jail. This is not recovery but acknowledgement of a Fascist control. it is license for the same thugs who now enjoy the profits of a rigged market system and continue to laugh all the way to the bank.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous22/7/13 20:37

    there seem to be a lot of grammatical errors in this post

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There seems to be many grammatical errors in your post, tosser.

      Delete
    2. First poster Wrong second poster WRONG.
      There seem to be ✔ many
      There seems to be ✔ a lot

      Delete
  5. Anonymous21/1/14 00:39

    Does Zionism play into any of this? I have been reading a bit about Wall Street and am concerned there is more going on here than just sheer greed...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous21/1/14 19:04

    We can see this statement:
    "Inside this cultural totalitarianism, concepts have been distorted in such a degree that today, in reality represent almost different things of what represented in the past. The concepts of "new" and "freedom" have been substantially annexed by neoliberalism. The result today, is exactly opposite of what these concepts supposed to represent in the past. The concept of "freedom" tend to mean the ability of economic activity in a global arena of fierce competition and nothing more. In order to prevail this model of primitive society simulation - the imposition, survival of the strongest - some human conquests of the past centuries dissolve, and this is propagated as the "new". The decline and the fight for survive regarded as progress."
    Example:
    “Nazism is the common short form name of National Socialism (German: Nationalsozialismus), a far right political organization that existed in Germany. Nazism was the belief of the Nazi party in Nazi Germany. It started in the 1920s. It gained power in 1933, starting the Third Reich, lasting in Germany until 1945, at the end of World War II.
    Nazism is a form of fascism and uses biological racism and antisemitism. Much of the philosophy of this movement was based on an idea that the Aryan race was better than all others and had the greatest ability to survive. According to the racist ideas of Nazism, the Germanic peoples were the Herrenvolk (master race)[1], whilst the inferior races who were said to be the Jews, Gypsies and blacks were classified as Untermenschen (sub-humans).[2] To implement the racist ideas, in 1935 the Nuremberg Race Laws banned non-Aryans and political opponents of the Nazis from the civil-service and forbid any sexual contact with people defined as Aryan and non-Aryan.[3][4] The Nazis sent millions of Jews, Roma and other people to concentration camps where they were killed. These killings are now called the Holocaust.”
    So here we see where Fascist were referred to as a far right political group but titled as National Socialism, today Socialism is used by the far right as the enemy. But they practice the same methodology as the Nazi regime to divide, subrogate and conqueror in the name of freedom. Freedom is not for the “we the people but for Fascist domination through the Corporate, elitist control on a world- wide domination disguised as a person by our current Supreme Court.
    Confusing word play but the truth is simple, “don’t pay any attention to the person/s behind the curtain!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous15/6/15 15:01

    And who actually owns England? Who owns the monarchy? It's odd that people are starting to blame "jews" who sometimes manage banks and corporations but never ask who owns them.
    Ever read Little Dorrit by Dickens? A lovable, sweet old man owns many rental properties. He passes out candy and smiles everywhere...so sweet, so kind. It falls to the Jewish employee, Pancks, to collect the rents...to grind and evict, to confiscate. Everybody hates Pancks!!! Now read the book and enjoy what happens when Pancks gets enough of it.

    ReplyDelete

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