The Reagan/Thatcher era is coming to an end everywhere

[malaise]

Last edited Sun Jul 10, 2022, 07:40 AM - Edit history (1)

People are fed up of the billionaires and the politicians they own. Recent election results across the globe and major protests in Sri Lanka, Argentina and elsewhere speak volumes.
We do not elect the IMF but we’re all victims of their pro the rich policies.

Instability across the planet is increasing. Poor people are fed up.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. It's an Enlightenment of sorts, but I'd call it a Great Awakening

IT and real time telecommunications have informed the masses. The evidence is overwhelming for those not resistant to it. Elites will be the last to find out, and they now no longer have the power to stop it. We are heading toward an enlightened consensus of the moderate left with progressive people's policies. Lord knows how we get there.

[malaise]

5. Great post

New technologies always change the dynamics.

[ariadne0614]

26. I think of it as a manifestation of the Collective Consciousness.

That includes the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. My hope is that the gathering energy around the Good is growing fast enough.

[bucolic_frolic]

32. You're right, of course, the Collective Unconscious is a problem, but you defeat them with facts

Their hatred must be lain bare for all to see. They seek babies to grow their hoard, and don't care how they get them. But the public knows it.

[gibraltar72]

2. Lettuce spray!

[malaise]

4. That centuries old tradition is running out of credibility

The masses now know that it's more like ''Let us PREY'' on the gullible!

[ariadne0614]

33. +1 n/t

[Tommymac]

6. Imagine

[malaise]

9. My anthem

forever

[kpete]

30. Mine too

chills, every time

[bluecollar2]

7. When's the next Bastille Day? n/t

[malaise]

8. Thursday?

[bluecollar2]

11. We need an international version...n/t

[malaise]

13. After watching Sri Lanka I can tell you that more than a few of our crooks are terrified

And they should be. Watch Argentina, Brazil and India.

[bluecollar2]

16. Civil unrest is going to spread

Let's hope its non violent. Given their histories what are the chances of Argentina and Brasil returning to military junta I wonder...

[malaise]

18. The Sri Lankan PM'S private home was set on fire yesterday

so we need to hope for no more violence.

[lambchopp59]

10. Good riddance

It seemed to me like massive, collective, greedy deficit spending got this whole nation into one hell of a mess, kicked into overdrive practically overnight January 1981. The veneer of RayGun as a "relatable" character to the "greatest generation" turned into their most disastrous folly.
"Just mortgage the future generations" Half a century now of perpetual debt.
Fuck them in their collective graves and that includes my long dead Republican parents. Rot in hell as far as I care, just like they did to my generation.
Sensible, progressive, ecological policy got shit upon by pretentiousness and total surrender to uncaring greed.
Sustainability be damned, wreck the whole planet.
Screw the "working class" over worse than in a century.
Vulture capitalism conquered all honest living.
The "big socialism scare" continues to render an average of half a million homeless.
The owners since prior to Reagan "the big winners" still being revered by the uneducated. Trump and idiot attempts to emulate the sort make me want to puke.
Now we're up against a resurgent neo-nazi rebellion, created, essentially, eventually by the generation who defeated them to begin with.
All because wooled over idiots just loved "the gipper".

[malaise]

12. Excellent post

You nailed it- it was a massive corporate scam.

Sadly this shit began with the foundation of the IMF when the bankers’ interests won at Breton-Woods.

[rubbersole]

20. "Welfare Queens" and the WH chief of staff being the CEO of Merrill Lynch.

And GATT, trickle down, legislation supposed to stop hostile take overs becoming the blueprint used to hostile take over the manufacturing sector and ship it overseas...oh, "There you go again" chuckle with that charming bemused smile, Nancy bonking Don Regan (allegedly), and the private jet industry literally taking the fuck off....good times, good times.

[malaise]

23. They pissed on all of us

That was the trickle down

[True Blue American]

41. They sure did!

The ignorance of those swallowing the Shining City On The Hill crap,” was just that!

We had that after WW2, when men came home, along with women rebuilt the whole Country.

Workers walked picket lines to get decent pay and benefits. Slowly, but surely that all slipped away!

Congress and the Courts were owned by lobbyists.

As one poster said,”It was all pissed away!”

[lambchopp59]

28. I threw something at that old thrift store Philco TV

When GG'ers enthusiastically clapped at "there you go again".
Equivalent of "go ahead, 'Murica, be stupid, paranoid and greedy".
43 million of then did just that.
Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine is a 1961 LP featuring the actor Ronald Reagan. In this more than ten-minute recording, Reagan "criticized Social Security for supplanting private savings and warned that subsidized medicine would curtail Americans' freedom" and that "pretty soon your son won't decide when he's in school, where he will go or what he will do for a living. He will wait for the government to tell him."[1] Roger Lowenstein called the LP part of a "stealth program" conducted by the American Medical Association.
Now, look over there before seeing the essentially flimsliliy veiled RACIST basis of that.

[jaxexpat]

39. Among my neighbors the shit-for-brains rumors still echo of how strong Reagan was.

The Democrats of that time (1980-1998) literally taught the GOP how to defeat Democrats. They were silently and morosely introspective when they should have been screaming out how Murdochianism was the primary threat to civilization it has shown itself to be today. They refused to accept Hillary's tendency to predict the present/future accurately, actually shunning her as a "too loud" woman, setting the stage and adjusting the curtain for the GOP's long-term war against her and any other fact they didn't want the general public in on. They were so confident that as long as they had a Kennedy on their team, they would prevail.

It was not allowed that the obvious and well evidenced facts of Reagan's dementia could be discussed by "serious people" in any public forum. The charade went on, the puppet remained strong/strung, the generals at General Dynamics got their "practice" wars and FOX built its platform base in front of everyone's very eyes. Despite the tempestuous nature of their personal economies in those days, average people thought it was all going so well they put his puppet master in charge for the next 4 years. Such was/is the power of propaganda.

BTW, did I mention that they actually succeeded in placing Donald Trump in the oval office? Well, now that we know, whaddawe gonna do about it?

[rubbersole]

53. Put a greasy hannity hair nazi acolyte bereft of soul

that has never done one thing for anyone while in elected office that didn't further advance his personal political career while shitting all over the constitution and any sucker that believes that quaint parchment should pertain to him should really read the room Ron "you kids get those masks off now goddammit the pandemic is killing my reputation and this is a fucking photo op" desantis on the ballot because Americans with their two week attention span very clearly need a serious civics lesson because a putin installed potus trying a violent coup on live tv wasn't enough to make them get off their corn fructose syrup $2000 a month insulin needing fat asses and intelligently vote for their collective future because fucking jeanine "have another one" and tucker "my butt plug just pinched me" and Laura "you can just tell by looking I shouldn't even be on radio" etc. didn't expressly tell them how. That's whaddawe gonna do about it. Now, where's the remote...

[Joinfortmill]

14. Yup. Reagan demolished the middle class.

People just couldn't see it. I was a lone voice in my world for decades.

[malaise]

15. Same here

The entire privatization model has been a disaster

[Farmer-Rick]

34. Yup, just like that "free trade" nonsense

If you want an example of how "free" trade really works, look up the Great Irish Potato Famine. Ireland, ruled by the British, practiced what they called Laissez-faire economics. The exact same thing that "free" trade is.

The end results: death, Famine, uncontrolled disease, vast inequality, cruelty and abject poverty. And yet Ireland was producing enough food to feed everyone who starved to death.

What people don't realize is that the filthy rich have taken over every market in the US and left behind poverty. See all the wealth of the Walton's? They took over existing market. They destroyed small businesses and took up those customers. They did this through deregulation and bully tactics. Walmart didn't create anything. They destroyed local vendors and filled their space with cheap Chinese products.

Walmart crushed our local economies and pocketed wealth that use to go to everyone. Amazon does the same thing. All chain stores do it. They move in offer cheaper prices because local vendors can't visit China to stock up. They then raise their prices once the local guy goes out of business.

That wealth those filthy rich control through their corporations is our wealth. It use to go to all of us. Millions use to control what a handful of people now control.

[malaise]

36. You nailed it

Farmer-Rick

[jaxexpat]

43. Yet, if Walmart were to close its doors there would be the equivalent of famine in the US.

No possibility of small vendors providing the same goods at the same budget friendly cost in time to prevent catastrophe. Perhaps the manufacturers and middlemen of these goods could try to bridge the gaps, but their business model would not stand the strain. Farmlands across the middle of America would lay fallow (even more than currently) for want of a market. Agribusiness has unforgiving business models in addition to growing seasons to follow, both of which are set in stone. Competing grocers may sell cheap in the near term until the fallow fields catch up with them as well. Yep, starvation midst untilled fields, decorated with weeds and idle combines.

We've seen the chaos of a few empty shelves. If those shelves disappeared altogether, it would get dicey.

[Farmer-Rick]

49. Walmart managed many many years without getting into groceries

Walmart is not the backbone of grocery sale. Here in East TN, Food City is actually our number one grocery store.

"The leading American supermarket in terms of sales is the Kroger Company, which owns and operates several smaller supermarket chains across the United States. In 2020, Kroger’s total retail sales reached 131.6 billion U.S. dollars. The runner-up, Albertsons, generated some 69.7 billion U.S. dollars in sales that year."

https://www.statista.com/statistics/197621/annual-grocery-store-sales-in-the-us-since-1992/

Back in 2017 Walmart had about a quarter of the market for groceries but they have fallen considerably since then.

But even if they have a quarter of the market, they don't buy from farmers directly. Most chain grocery stores buy from middle men, wholesalers who buy from farmers then sell to the chain grocery stores.

Once in awhile especially here in TN, grocery store chains will set up contracts with private farmers. Some of the "organic" store chains like Whole Foods will also frequently set up private contracts. But mostly they buy from wholesalers who consolidate produce from farmers or overseas. The wholesalers price they offer to farmers is very, very low. Direct contracts are always better priced which is why farmers want them

But individual contracts with 150 farmers is difficult to manage. So most chains use wholesalers.

If Walmart or even Krogers went away, most farmers would find other markets. Actually the majority of the US farmer's produce is shipped off overseas. Most our corn, wheat and rice is shipped off, then comes back as processed foods or just packaged overseas and shipped back to the US. It's weird how Walmart sells tomatoes from Mexico, while those exact same tomatoes are grown here in the US.

So No, if Walmart went away I'm sure Kroger or Food City would gladly step in. Or the chains would have to hire more managers to deal with private farmers contracts. Or the wholesalers will find other markets.

Our food chain is fragile but not quite that fragile. The increase in prices you see are from overseas because China suffered so much from COVID and could not package and process. China and other countries own a lot of the US food wholesalers and farms and they redirect food from US farmers to China and other countries, to feed their people.

Also the farms are being consolidated forming monopolies. Which then allows for price fixing. The corporations don't actually own the farms, they set up contracts with farmers and pay them crap or scam them. Then the corporations charge outrageous prices for food they pay pennies for because of uncontrolled capitalism.

[jaxexpat]

51. Walmart, as of last January, has 26% of US grocery dollars in the US per Statista.

BTW, McDonalds is the single biggest buyer of beef in the world. I didn't spend 6 years of my life raising corn, soybeans, tobacco, wheat, and cattle to not know that.

[Farmer-Rick]

63. I just quoted you Statista and they have Kroger as the top in sales

I provided you a link. You did not provide a link so not sure about your data.

Not sure about what you are trying to say but Wal-Mart isn't the top grocer anymore. And Walmart can do just fine without their grocery business. So then stopping their grocery business won't destroy America. I'm sure Kroger will gladly step in.

Good for McDonalds. I can't believe so many people eat that crap but to each his own.

[jaxexpat]

65. I asked my browser what share does Walmart have. It took me to the stats I quoted.

I didn't copy the address. Sorry.

[DownriverDem]

21. Don't forget Nixon

ran on law and order. We are seeing the same message from the MAGA repubs now.

[True Blue American]

35. You had me.

I knew it the minute Reagan destroyed the Controllers Union and lowered billionaires taxes.

Most of us knew that was the beginning of the end for the worker.

Every decision since by the Court, Congress and succeeding Republican President meant more disaster!

The buying of the Congress, elections and Republicans has brought us to this.

[malaise]

38. Some of us recognized it early

The end of their criminality is nigh!

[Skittles]

60. too many people didn't want to see it

Reagan made greed and ignorance fashionable....I was very young but I saw through his con immediately

[Orrex]

17. I have learned, to my surprise, that blueprints for guillotines are readily available online

Not sure why I thought to mention that just now.

Incidentally, pitchforks can easily be obtained through Amazon and from many local retailers.

[malaise]

27. Yes

Scary times ahead

[Tommymac]

58. I prefer purse size self-defense style 'tasers' bought from cheap wholesale sites.

They pack a bit of a punch, most importantly are non-lethal, but they still get the point across rather well.

Have you noticed that a lot of fat cats in reality have big substantial fleshy butts?

[Buckeyeblue]

19. But will it be replaced with cristofacism?

[malaise]

24. They will try but no

People are way more informed these days

[Farmer-Rick]

37. Yeah, religion has always been a way of controlling the masses

Accept your place and after you are dead things will be perfect. Obey and serve and accept that the filthy rich are magically bestowed with wealth by a god.

Revenge is mine saith the Lord. Give unto Caesar what is Caesars. Be a good little pleab and suffer now so that in heaven, after you and your family are long dead, you will get your reward.

Do you think the filthy rich are waiting for their reward in heaven? TFG doesn't seem to be waiting for his reward in heaven.

[True Blue American]

42. Do what the Preacher tells you, give until it hurts

And no women in the Pulpit. I actually heard a middle aged man say he was not going to that Church because there was a woman preaching. I have also heard a few women say the same thing.

Sorry, my faith has been sorely tested.

[jaxexpat]

44. Faith in the inexhaustible stupidity of thy neighbor is not misplaced.

That and intentional misinformation could be why so many think Jesus is vague.

[usonian]

22. I posted some info on past causes and future hope.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216900254
snip:
“Democracy in Crisis: We’ve Been Headed Here for Decades.” Part 1of 8
https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2021/8/6/2044226/-America-2021-The-Good-the-Bad-the-Ugly
Read all 8 to get the "plan" in detail.

• ENCOURAGEMENT

Why California Politics Is Always 15 Years Ahead
The Remarkably Prescient 15 Year Rule Means Trump & the National Republicans
are on the Verge of a Spectacular Collapse
https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1016&pid=326155

[malaise]

25. Important links

Thanks

[usonian]

29. I collected my "best" in one thread.

In case of getting banned.

Also, I got real tired of looking them up to reply to this or that.

[Farmer-Rick]

40. Good Idea

I remember the mass banning of folks after the first Obama election. Let's hope that doesn't happen again.

[The Jungle 1]

31. Wealth inequality has never worked.

Never at any time in history.
Hungry people will revolt.
Climate change is going to create whole countries full of hungry people!
These idiots are filling their pockets with gold to spend in a world full of death.

[jaxexpat]

45. Yeah, but for the occasional odd catastrophe, it was/is still the exclusive mode.

Domination of the wealthy has even been the ideal for the ambitious since that fateful exile from the trees onto the forest floor. I have a bit of faith we'll get it all sorted just in time for an ecological collapse of planetary proportions.

[Wounded Bear]

46. The hard part is to not let it slip into fascism...

Historically, periods of turmoil and violence and government inability to produce tend to lead to strongman regimes that people think will "fix" all the problems that are perceived to be tormenting people. It's a well established road to fascisim/authoritarianism and their ilk.

Our solutions lie in more democracy, not less.

[andym]

47. It's being replaced by the Putin/Orban/Xi Jinping/al-Assad/Erdogan/Kim/Trump era

The era of the strongman or wannabe strongman ruling by a cult of personality and control of communication/media, often promoting conservative/traditional values.

There is a tendency for many folks to accept or at least accede to hierarchical societies, and if organized not by wealth, it is by power.

[HipChick]

48. Interestingly...

I'm just going to sit on the veranda, enjoy my sorrel, the sun and sea and sea breeze

and watch the world go by...

[malaise]

52. Makes sense sis

😀😀

[gulliver]

50. The internet distributes wisdom, but hate and its sibling, ressentiment, are a challenge

I'm hopeful we'll achieve a majoritarian, commonsense democratic organization in our country, and that will give the world an example of how it's done. That means the wiser voices do the talking. The other voices, the "unelected self-selected," the shrill and zealous need to be tuned out. And that is starting to happen. The majority will be able to think again once we give them a way to hear themselves over the din of the activists and the lost.

[mathematic]

54. Of course you blame Sri Lanka on the West despite China being the problem

The IMF is trying to get China to give Sri Lanka debt relief but China doesn't want to:

Beijing promised to “play a positive role” in talks with the International Monetary Fund on a possible emergency loan. China offered to lend more but balked at joining a process that might cut Sri Lanka’s debt, possibly for fear other Belt and Road borrowers that owe tens of billions of dollars will demand the same relief.

Of course you name drop conservatives like Reagan and Thatcher because you know nobody will defend them around here but what do you think about the economic policies of Carter, Clinton, and Obama? Do you think the United States should use voluntary international agreements to promote liberal democratic values? If so, then why do you have a problem with the IMF making liberal reforms a condition on aid? If not, what common cause do you think you have with American Democrats?

[malaise]

55. Everyone here knows my views on US foreign policy

regardless of party in power

[Hermit-The-Prog]

57. I am compiling a book of recipes featuring Billionaire Bouillabaisse.

Still having trouble, though. The meat seems to be corrupt while still walking around.

[Sky Jewels]

59. Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential run turned me into an instant liberal.

My parents were very moderate Republicans (pro-choice, pro-environment, not religious, but fell for the "GOP = fiscal responsibility" myth). When I was in middle school I wasn't very politically aware. However, when Reagan came along just as I was about to enter high school, I suddenly realized I despised him and everything he stood for. I could see right through him. I tried to warn my parents, but they wouldn't listen. (They became Democrats in the early 90s, however, and voted for Clinton.)

I wish we'd nipped the Reagan era in the bud 42 years ago! Since then, I've watched in horror as the Republicans have destroyed everything that was once good about this country. I hope we can all channel our rage at SCOTUS taking our rights away into a long-overdue and massive political change.

[Poiuyt]

61. I see the Reagan/Thatcher era ending only to be replaced by the

Christo/fascist era.

[Kid Berwyn]

62. Reverse Robin Hood hasn't helped anyone for half a century...

…apart from billionaires and multi-millionaires, who’ve gotten the lion’s share of the wealth created.

[LeftInTX]

64. It's been replaced with the Christo-Fascism

[Polybius]

66. Not in Japan

Didn't they just add seats to the ruling right-wing's Party yesterday?

[roamer65]

67. I have this gut feeling we have one more world war to go through to get to the "other side".

The one that will teach us to live in peace and harmony with each other and what’s left of the planet.

[malaise]

68. The struggle is on- going but the

Christo-Fascists and white supremacists will lose.