Tuesday, April 04, 2017

"Global threats, from extremism to mental illness to humanitarian emergencies, can only be addressed if we take seriously the economic systems that foster them."

I'd like to thank Senator Donnelly for making my point for me. It saves time that way.

It's been a few months.

Back by popular demand: "Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problems."


Think of it as a concise explanation of how both "major" American political parties are playing the very same hand, operating from the very same fundamental economic assumptions. In a few quantifiable ways, Democrats and Republicans differ on social issues, which have been elevated into culture wars, which in turn keep the 99% at each other's throats while the fundamental assumptions remain unchanged.

Neoliberalism Is Killing Us: Economic Stress as a Driver of Global Depression and Suicide, by Noelle Sullivan (Truthout)

 ... Perhaps it's time to acknowledge the role of our current global economic system in exacerbating the very problems we're trying to address, from extremism to mental health crises. Of course, there are no panaceas when it comes to mental health, but it's time we began acknowledging some of the structural issues that fuel anxiety and depression.

Perhaps it's time for economic innovations, instead of the tired claims around reduced government spending, tax cuts and deregulation.

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