Dog Days of Neoliberalism
On behalf of JM Hamilton Air, it is my pleasure to welcome you aboard flight 777 with service to Washington, Ottawa, Paris and continuing service to Berlin. Federal regulations require that carry-on items are stowed prior to closing the aircraft door.
By Gregg Wall (7-8-2023)
The dog days of summer have arrived, the early July holidays are behind us in North America, and the airlines, per the usual, are a mess.
So rather than schlep to the airport, dealing with the crowds, the endless flight delays, lost baggage, kids kicking your seat, assorted headaches and theatrics …. climb on board JM Hamilton Air and let me take you on a quick political holiday. And the best part, this ride is for free. You don’t even have to get off the couch. So, this is your captain speaking, buckle in, and let’s take a quick flight, starting in the U.S., briefly, before moving onto Canada, France, and Germany.
Nothing to fear, these destinations are all democracies with friendly center-left, neoliberal governments, so we should all feel right at home in the chaos and malaise. Alrighty then. As the corrupt, petrified center gives way in these various governments, I’m going to ask you a question at the end of trip. To wit, what is the common denominator of these various governments, aside from obvious failure? So, let’s get started, wings up.
As we flyover over the U.S., you’ll notice a failed Biden Administration in Washington. Mr. Biden ran as a progressive and promised the nation Build Back Better, but instead, quickly handed out billons in corporate welfare to his wealthy friends, Wall St., and Big Oil (under the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act). This was done by Biden, while delivering austerity and a brand-new war in the Ukraine to the American people. As a result, Mr. Biden struggles in the polls. For safety reasons… remember, safety first… we won’t actually be landing in the United States, as airports are a target for America’s ubiquitous mass shootings.
Moving onto Montreal and Ottawa, if you look out of the starboard or right side of the aircraft, you’ll see… oh my, endless big oil & gas fires… as the climate catastrophe burns up one of the most beautiful countries in existence. Poor Mr. Trudeau. His government appears to have stalled out. As in America, prices on the basic necessities of life – food, fuel, rents, and utilities – are climbing higher and higher, in a price gouging orgy by monopolies, powerful financial interests, and utilities. Also, as in America, the central bank has been called in to clean up a price gouging crisis caused by too much easy money, deregulation, a lack of antitrust enforcement, and a corrupt political class that, seemingly, can’t tell CEOs and robber barons, NO. Add another scandal… no, not that scandal, another one… and this government appears to be coasting on past glories and fumes. Sorry, we won’t be landing here either. Poor visibility and ash & debris in our engines are risks we won’t be taking.
After refueling in NYC, please don’t mind the smoke, we’ll be flying across the pond to Paris. As we enter European airspace, you’ll notice London on the port side of the aircraft. No worries, we won’t be stopping there. Prices are spiraling out of control, as an endless parade of Tory and failed Thatcherite PMs have turned the UK into a bit of a failed state (characterized by the financialization and privatization of the economy, along with sewage… yes, sewage… contaminating the water ways and British coasts).
Up ahead lies Paris, the City of Lights, and oh my, as we descend through the clouds, it appears that Paris is burning. Best to pullup to avoid the riots. It appears that Mr. Macron… a political chameleon at best, a banker & a neoliberal at worst… has jacked up the retirement age in France with dictatorial powers and presides over an out-of-control, authoritarian police state (very much like America’s out-of-control, authoritarian police state). And no, many of the very fine citizens of France do not like their despotic leader and his neoliberal reforms one little bit. Nope, not at all. Youth unemployment, the virtual return of a caste system in France, along with disenfranchised immigrant & minority communities have turned the country into a powder keg.
Well, we’ll push on to Berlin then… sorry, this whole itinerary has turned into a disaster. Germany, of course, is where yet another center left government -- headed up by Olaf Scholz & the Social Democratic Party -- came to power, under a coalition government. This government came to power, as well, with high hopes; but quickly ran into a buzz saw of high fuel costs, a Ukrainian war, an assertive Russia, over a decade of neoliberal failures – under Angela Merkel, spiraling inflation, labor unrest, and fears over migratory waves of humanity (fleeing a fossil fuels climate inferno).
Yuck. With Euroland vaca like this, let’s refuel and make tracks.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain from the flight deck, and I do apologize that Western democracy has turned into a bit of a sham. These nations are mired - to varying degrees - in chaos, greedy politicians, price gouging monopolies & utilities, manipulated energy supplies and prices, decades of failed libertarian & neoliberal economic policies, a commitment to endless war & police states, and an out-of-control oligarchy. Not to mention, angry, divided, and highly restive populations. So, as we return to North America, other than the commonalities described… from failed center left politicians engaged in bait & switch politics, and the collapse of deregulation and neoliberalism… are you ready for it… your pop quiz question: What are we witnessing in all the aforementioned countries on our journey today?
Put another way, what have failed centrists, corporatists, endemic corruption, and pretend progressive politicians delivered for the West? You’ll be given five minutes to answer.
Bing, Bing.
That was quick. Yes, the passenger in seat 27A, please move forward to the front of the cabin to give your answer over the PA.
What is your name? Raina.
Okay, Raina. What is your answer… to the question: What have failed centrists, corporatists, endemic corruption, and pretend progressive politicians delivered for the West?
Raina’s response: The rise of fascism.
In the United States, we see Donald Trump rising in the polls versus hapless Joe Biden, and in Canada, we see Pierre Poilievre rising in the polls against Mr. Trudeau. And yes, in France … oui, oui… we see Ms. Le Pen taking full advantage of Mr. Macron’s missteps and ongoing failures. And in Germany, of course, we are seeing a resurgence in what… far-right, fascist parties. That’s right.
None of this is good and we only have failed centrists, corporatists, globalization, and neoliberalism to blame.
Raina, and your grand prize, a first-class flight to the destination of your choice. Please be sure and book early, Raina, because the world… thanks to out-of-control elites… is in a state of collapse.
Thanks for playing Raina.
Copyright JM Hamilton Publishing 2023
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