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PaperclipPerfector  10mo ago (text post)   4067 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 14, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Neoliberalism is Thatcherite economics. Laissez-faire economy, austerity measures. It has essentially nothing to do with civil liberties, and as such is not contradictory with authoritarianism. Pinochet is AFAIK indeed a good example of an authoritarian neoliberal.

I must confess I'm also confused by what a non-progressive leftist authoritarian neo-liberal is, though, because most political definitions of "left" imply some sort of progressivism or government control of the economy.

My experiences in the US Rust Belt and West Midlands in England, have led me to be more supportive of wealth redistribution when it comes to the areas harmed by neo-liberal policies. I think they are still better overall and out-perform pretty much all other options when it comes to wealth generation, but the "trickle down" effect needs a helping hand from the state when it comes ex-mining and manufacturing centers. Economic and political instability from these areas seems to be to be one of the biggest threats to long term democratic stability. Ergo I would support subsidized healthcare and jobs and education in those locations, more so than the average neo-liberal.

So higher taxation on companies that benefit from out-sourcing in order to compensate the citizens left with the short end of the stick. This puts me at odds with some of my more orthodox neo-liberal compatriots.

As just one example.

Economic and political instability from these areas seems to be to be one of the biggest threats to long term democratic stability.

How so? Could you elaborate what sort of mechanism/scenario you have in mind here?

Neo-liberal today means whatever Hillary Clinton says it means today as far as I can tell.

The term has lost any connection to Pinochet. Depending whatever decade you use authoritarian neoliberal I would be it or the enemy of it. In the modern 2020-2024 context I would associate the term with Clinton, Newman, Trudeau and COVID authoritarianism. In short the term almost has no meaning at this point.

That being said I do think modding has gotten high. And there is no functional differences between tone policing and content policing. People notice tone far less when it’s from a context they agree with but notice the smallest slight from their outgroup.

You forgot the race and class essentialism, but yes.

Any one who thinks authoritarianism and liberalism are somehow opposed/mutually exclusive doesn't really know liberals.

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