tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284893230469697578.post5845523155199420065..comments2024-03-27T19:35:11.320+07:00Comments on <b>Postcards from the End of [the] America[n Empire]</b>: Ferdinand at a LEGIDA rally in Leipzig on 8/31/15Linh Dinhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00328959360983573810noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284893230469697578.post-34356134104890138312015-10-08T01:35:46.324+07:002015-10-08T01:35:46.324+07:00I think this guy is a bit confused. On the one han...I think this guy is a bit confused. On the one hand he has a vague idea about how the world actually works, even cites a person known as the African Che Guevara who considered Cuba as some kind of a role model, and yet he's unaware of how effectively he's been propagandised, since he adheres to the stereotypes of neoliberalism.<br /><br />As neoliberalism is some kind of reverse socialism in that there is a redistribution of wealth from the poor to the rich and that there is the free market for the poor, but all-inclusive welfare for multinational corporations it is in bad need to explain away the growing inequality it causes. So it uses the well tried and tested method of scapegoating. The poor have been unsuccessful in life, not because there's a lack of opportunities and too little jobs available, but because they are lazy, stupid and need to be monitored, if not incarcerated.<br /><br />So it comes as no surprise that his requirements of the ideal immigrant are in line with the elites he argued against. If the "best and brightest" flee a country it will cause a brain drain. But more importantly, for the host country it means that it can save the expenses for public education and employ those exports from abroad for less money, thus adding downward pressure on wages and salaries. You get the best of both worlds, slashing public funding for education and keep the people busy with hating each other and trying to survive, thereby retaining existing power structures.<br /><br />In a similar vein is the myth that "patriotism" does wondrous things and those who wave the flag hysterically enough screaming "Deutschland einig Vaterland" will become successful in life. Those who fail have not truly believed in the magic, their sacrifice wasn't big enough or they otherwise have cheated the gods of the market. It doesn't matter that we still don't live in a democracy, where people's vote would be the base of all decisions. It matters even less that there is an economic dictatorship, where all power is in private, unaccountable hands with strict top-down control. That people at their work place never get to decide what to do with the fruits of their works, but are instead easily expendable "human resources".<br /><br />Capitalism builds on totalitarian structures and exploitation, yet I don't hear any challenges from the person who supposedly has read Thomas Sankara. The fact that Ferdinand accepts the power structures as is, tells me that he too is an authoritarian who is quite content with the way the system works and values the prospects of getting to the top and thus become one of the rulers more than truth, equality and justice. They complain about the "elites", but not because of the injustice done to the ones at the receiving end, but more because of sheer envy. It's only about gaining power, privilege and control of public opinion.<br /><br />0.Olliverhttp://www.synflict.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284893230469697578.post-8372908658130870822015-10-06T07:39:40.571+07:002015-10-06T07:39:40.571+07:00Great change of pace!
I agree with "If you w...Great change of pace!<br /><br />I agree with "If you want to help Africa, if you want to help Syria or if you want to help poor countries you’ll need to leave those countries alone. But as of today, the elites have been controlling and plundering resources. I know it. But many Africans who live there possibly don’t." Right wingers sometimes say that and left wingers say that. Moderates don't say it. Obama has tried to create a 'moderate' policy on Syria and there isn't one, there's only harmful and not harmful: not harmful would have to mean getting the US and Saudi Arabia out of their affairs unless the US really wants to fight ISIS. Obviously this guy's trying to put a good face on a hateful movement but on the surface, it's more coherent than a 'moderate' US-European policy, even if I don't buy into to what he's selling about his type of patriotism and what the movement stands for.Ian Keenanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16596558654735506132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284893230469697578.post-39017782674298325862015-10-06T04:03:00.085+07:002015-10-06T04:03:00.085+07:00my thoughts exactly on this crummy speech. like wa...my thoughts exactly on this crummy speech. like watching a ballplayer talk in the locker room. but oh, my dad was a mayor, and a diplomat. x larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11386953427204887354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284893230469697578.post-16508706437511524102015-10-06T01:28:09.446+07:002015-10-06T01:28:09.446+07:00Hi Anonymous,
I'm very glad you like this blo...Hi Anonymous,<br /><br />I'm very glad you like this blog. Up until now, I've been reporting from mostly the Philadelphia area, with an occasional trip to other US cities. This Germany interlude is a nice change of pace for both me and, hopefully, the readers.<br /><br />LinhLinh Dinhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00328959360983573810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284893230469697578.post-44235237858058900092015-10-05T23:45:05.379+07:002015-10-05T23:45:05.379+07:00Always funny to listen to and read these populists...Always funny to listen to and read these populists talking about how things must be changed. They have no clue about how capitalism works. Never studied history, economics, philosophy or anything properly for that matter. Quite embarrassing to listen to. All they want is to just get onto that stage and make the crowd love them in order to achieve their personal goals within this disgusting system. No different from any other politician in power right now.<br /><br />Anyways, I've recently encountered this blog and want to thank you for what you are doing, very interesting indeed!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com