Int: back from the second longest commercial break in history. Shall I ask you about Socialism? You are forever critical of Neo-Liberal economics, you don't believe that the "Market Economy" works, so obviously you are a committed Socialist?
me (laughing almost hysterically): you've obviously read some of this blog before - define Socialism!
Int: Yes, I think that I have seen that argument from you as well ....
me (interrupting): One of the reasons that I have become concerned about this blog is that I seem to be constantly repeating myself. To repeat, I would be a supporter of "Socialism" if it worked - any of its 57+ varieties, because there is actually no one trusted model that fits the description. Then again I would be a supporter of laissez-faire so-called "free market" capitalism if it worked for the masses and not just for the financial elite.
Take two examples.
Germany in the post-war years and the boom under the conservative administrations of Adenauer and Erhard - a great example of how to make conservative business principles work for the mass of the population. Not the Neo-Liberal model adopted by conservatives in recent years though. Conservatism is no more a single mode of thinking, application and policy than is Socialism. Adenauer and Erhard remain almost my political idols to this day though, and I am not normally that polite to "conservatives".
Then look at Sweden in the 1940s through to the 1960s under the astonishing Tage Erlander - a Social Democrat who was in power for 23 years, created a booming economy, built the Swedish state welfare system and saw record low unemployment. I would rate Erlander second to the Adenauer/Erhard tandem as the most significant political success story of my life-time.
They got there by different routes, adopting different policies, but achieved success that can be touched by the people as whole. It isn't so much the political ideology, it is the adoption of a policy approach that was intelligently implemented and made to work. Adenauer and Erlander were re-elected to power several times and never lost an election between them. In an era when we are only too willing to boot out governments no matter what we get in their place, that speaks volumes.
Int: you don't want to quote any current examples? These seem a long time ago.
me: they are. That is the pity, this is the crisis. Nobody seems to have a clue any more. The political class around the world is mediocre, some at best average, some awful, some frankly terrible. There seems to be a situation arising where nobody can do owt to improve things. The choice is holding on by our teeth, or crashing downwards at an unstoppable rate. I would be happy to see improvements in the developing world, the removal of poverty, better opportunities for talented people usw, but most of the progress that may be made in that direction is to the benefit of the fortunate few.
Meanwhile many people in the developed world who never had much (despite their countries "doing well") have been thrown to the proverbial wolves and are serving as nothing but proverbial fodder. Including a large number of people who have worked hard to get qualifications and experience.
Int: but your adopted country at least is doing well.
me: from Germans on Facebook yesterday. There are 2.9 million people here who are unemployed (compare the figure under Adenauer and Erhard, both of who would be turning in their graves). The actual figure is probably closer to 7 or 8 million.
And this is a country that is doing well! Try the ones that are doing badly - like Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and even the UK! You cannot deflate your way out of a recession, you just exacerbate the problems and lengthen the duration of the crisis.
Int: you don't sound too optimistic then?
me: Germany needed another Adenauer. In Merkel it got instead another Kohl. It needs dynamising again, not slow and steady stagnation. Not that the SDP seem to be offering any particularly interesting and innovative solutions.
Int: more on these interesting and innovative solutions when we get back from the next commercial break.
Beer commercials, car commercials, commercials for insurance companies, and DIY stores follow ....
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