tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546602206734889307.post2245602912287171111..comments2024-03-28T04:29:22.717+00:00Comments on mainly macro: Sado-populismMainly Macrohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09984575852247982901noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546602206734889307.post-63352774105502708472021-08-29T09:16:54.672+00:002021-08-29T09:16:54.672+00:00How about calling it "masochistic populism&qu...How about calling it "masochistic populism"? Voting for Trump means voting for someone who will inflict pain on you by, say, cutting Obamacare. Did Trump ever spell out to the people who voted for him just how they would be benefited by them having to pay more for healthcare?<br />In the UK lots of voters seem to think that the Conservative Party has morphed into the Labour Party. I thought the whole point of the Conservative Party was take power and money from the have-nots and give it to the haves. Rhetorical question: or will right-wing newspapers create the impression in their readers' minds that the reverse is happening? <br />Simon, you are the only commentator I can think of who regularly exposes the malign influence of the right-wing press in the UK. Keep it up.<br />Pendragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14601150248986844828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546602206734889307.post-24840601396488591082021-08-19T19:44:43.976+00:002021-08-19T19:44:43.976+00:00I think one has to consider FPTP as a factor too (...I think one has to consider FPTP as a factor too (This is in relation to your old post as well) Not just the ways it is biased, but also how it impacts policy by itself.<br /><br />With FPTP any broad universal solution is necessarily inefficient, as it targets voters that are irrelevant. It's not for nothing that the only country withouth universal healthcare is the US; and it's only in the UK (To my knowledge at least) where (any) right wing party is agitating for it's removal.<br /><br />More relevant one can consider Taxes, quite logically related to a plutocracy, and how FPTP is generally conducive to lowering taxes, not because it's a cheap way to win votes, but because if all you need is targeted effects in less than a 100 seats, you don't need to raise that much revenue. (And it is a good way to secure political donations from those who benefit).<br /><br />This can also be seen in the rest of the world, while Neoliberalism is relatively prevalent everywhere, it's nowhere near as strong anywhere any other electoral system is used. Now some of that is almost certainly just coinciding with the Anglospheres fondness for Neoliberalism to begin with, but one can probably find a clue as to the proportion by looking at NZ since it's no longer using FPTP. <br /><br />Which by the by is a policy proscription - Ditch FPTP.<br />That is a demand that would lead to a better future, as all (significant) parties would be required to appeal to most people as opposed to at best, 15% (100/650) or so in the UK. <br /><br /><br />PS, hopefully this was interesting and relevant, and not just me going offtopic.Disillusionedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13096733617046744629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2546602206734889307.post-31966152145752944642021-08-18T18:13:48.600+00:002021-08-18T18:13:48.600+00:00Thank you for providing terms to describe what the...Thank you for providing terms to describe what the rising authoritarians are offering us. Unfortunately, "the people" will soon learn that you can't eat status, nor does it shelter them from the elements.Katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02774728985632238186noreply@blogger.com