I’ve never seen someone rail against neoliberalism while coherently defining neoliberalism. It always seems to be a buzzword lefties use when they describe people they disagree with who are more moderate. Kinda like the more polite version of shitlib.
I meant to say, that l said, it really doesn’t describe neoliberalism. If the term has any meaningful definition, and the Wikipedia article doesn’t really give one, it’s someone hyperfocused on deregulation, privatization, free trade, and austerity economics. So, a Reagan or Thatcher. I’ve seen people call Joe Biden a neoliberal, when he is quite obviously a classic social liberal.
If it is a term with any actual meaning, it’s best used to describe a segment of explicitly conservative movements dedicated to shrinking government involvement in the economy, as opposed to the sections primarily dedicated to social issues. But the term isn’t usually used that way. I don’t hear Trump called a neoliberal, I hear Democrats called it, when the term doesn’t even describe Joe Manchin well.
Yes, they are just words. But the words are used to describe real world actions. Reagan was a neoliberal because of his adherence to capitalism and the free market. In the 90’s, Third Way Democrats under Bill Clinton became the Democratic Party. They too, we’re neoliberal because of their beliefs in the global free markets and capitalism. NAFTA was signed under Clinton. Any member of the Republican or Democratic Party could be considered neoliberal today. You can debate how much they are neoliberal, but the concept that we must let the capitalist free market reign is endemic in American politics. To say otherwise is denialism.
Nope, that’s not how it is. Neoliberalism as an actual ideology is about deregulation, austerity, and opposition to Keynesian economics, as well as privatization and anti union activism.
None of that describes any Democrat in office.
Every serious politician since the end of WW2 in the US is a capitalist. Free trade isn’t exclusive to neoliberalism. The way you’re presenting the term, it’s just a meaningless insult for moderates you politically disagree with.
I’ll grant you there has been a senantic shift in the meaning of neoliberalism. Just because you don’t like the shift doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Or that the new meaning doesn’t apply. And the accepted definition applies to all capitalist politicians now. Your argument isn’t with me, it’s with society’s definition of the word.
Then the semantic shift is towards a meaningless pejorative and doesn’t refer to any actual political ideology. By your definition, the only thing separating Bernie Sanders from being a neoliberal is him voting for a free trade agreement.
I mean, yeah, he really helped get going the Republican trend towards populism and anti-intellectualism tied in with reality denial when it’s convenient
I’ve never seen someone rail against neoliberalism while coherently defining neoliberalism. It always seems to be a buzzword lefties use when they describe people they disagree with who are more moderate. Kinda like the more polite version of shitlib.
Neoliberalism.
Yeah, I get it, that’s just not how the term is used. I see it used to describe moderate liberals, not Reaganites.
I’m old. I thought it was odd when used against Reagan. Now I realize it wasn’t enough. Reagan was the red flag 🚩 of America’s fascist slide.
I meant to say, that l said, it really doesn’t describe neoliberalism. If the term has any meaningful definition, and the Wikipedia article doesn’t really give one, it’s someone hyperfocused on deregulation, privatization, free trade, and austerity economics. So, a Reagan or Thatcher. I’ve seen people call Joe Biden a neoliberal, when he is quite obviously a classic social liberal.
If it is a term with any actual meaning, it’s best used to describe a segment of explicitly conservative movements dedicated to shrinking government involvement in the economy, as opposed to the sections primarily dedicated to social issues. But the term isn’t usually used that way. I don’t hear Trump called a neoliberal, I hear Democrats called it, when the term doesn’t even describe Joe Manchin well.
Yes, they are just words. But the words are used to describe real world actions. Reagan was a neoliberal because of his adherence to capitalism and the free market. In the 90’s, Third Way Democrats under Bill Clinton became the Democratic Party. They too, we’re neoliberal because of their beliefs in the global free markets and capitalism. NAFTA was signed under Clinton. Any member of the Republican or Democratic Party could be considered neoliberal today. You can debate how much they are neoliberal, but the concept that we must let the capitalist free market reign is endemic in American politics. To say otherwise is denialism.
deleted by creator
Nope, that’s not how it is. Neoliberalism as an actual ideology is about deregulation, austerity, and opposition to Keynesian economics, as well as privatization and anti union activism.
None of that describes any Democrat in office.
Every serious politician since the end of WW2 in the US is a capitalist. Free trade isn’t exclusive to neoliberalism. The way you’re presenting the term, it’s just a meaningless insult for moderates you politically disagree with.
I’ll grant you there has been a senantic shift in the meaning of neoliberalism. Just because you don’t like the shift doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Or that the new meaning doesn’t apply. And the accepted definition applies to all capitalist politicians now. Your argument isn’t with me, it’s with society’s definition of the word.
Then the semantic shift is towards a meaningless pejorative and doesn’t refer to any actual political ideology. By your definition, the only thing separating Bernie Sanders from being a neoliberal is him voting for a free trade agreement.
I mean, yeah, he really helped get going the Republican trend towards populism and anti-intellectualism tied in with reality denial when it’s convenient