Monday, December 28, 2020

890: What next....?

  Increasing individual freedom of movement in all respects, social and economic, is one of the most important motives in neoliberal thinking.

   

After World War II this has led to many changes in our way of life. To mention a few examples, in the 1950 love, marriage, sex and children was one package.

   

This package fell apart, caused by the introduction of anti-conception in the form of a simple pill.

  

It changed sexuality drastically. In ten years the number of children per couple in the Netherlands dropped from 3.04 to 1.6. Sex without love, just the pleasure, became acceptable.

  

Marriages weren't meant for eternity anymore. The divorce became a common thing, It wasn't shameful anymore.

   

In the 1950s it was common to have a lifetime job. Today we speak of flex-workers, people that are flexible in switching from job to job.

  

In those years in the Netherlands, we had a clear political landscape. Catholics, protestants, liberals and even communists had their own party in parliament.

   

Today politics has become more volatile and these monolithic parties are gone and replaced by a range of special interest parties, some left, some middle and some rightwing.

  

Today it is the most normal thing to go on vacation abroad. You should at least have been to China or Thailand or fly to Rome or Madrid for only 50 euro.

  

In less than a 50 years our way of life has changed fundamentally, mainly due to neoliberal economics and policy.

   

Proponents of renewal or modernization initially arouse a lot of enthusiasm, but later on are increasingly confronted with resistance or criticism. 

  

It seems as if the optimists first speak while the pessimists are proven right after a while. 

  

This was the case, for example, with the abandonment of traditional authority relationships: what was propagated as a liberation in the 1970s,

  

 thirty years later was regarded as a source of all kinds of derailments, disrespect for the police and other authorities, problematic youth eg. 

  

It also played a role in the introduction of the internet: what appeared to be a solution to many social problems in the nineties is now a source of malicious phenomena. 

  

This is also the case with neoliberalism. In the 1980s and 1990s, many people thought that privatizing government tasks, stimulating market forces and promoting individual self-reliance was the solution to urgent issues. 

  

Meanwhile, this neoliberal pursuit is being fiercely protested all over the world. It is always difficult to determine exactly when such a turnaround from optimism to pessimism took place. 

  

Perhaps every change has its proponents and opponents, and the West, where there is a strong belief in progress, allows advocates of change the benefit of the doubt.

  

The clearest signal of this protest against neoliberalism is probably the rise of populism in Europe and the US.

  

People are angry and thence Trump promises them to clean the swamp. In the Netherlands we now have two populist parties of which one flirts with neo-Nazi ideas.

  

Populist parties also emerged in Germany and France. They all rant at the elite, "make America great again", advocate for the restoration of national identity and for immigrants to leave the country.

   

That is where we are now.... So, what about a Merry Christmas vacation for you? I'll be back January 5, 2021, deo volente :-))


Thank you for your attention again....

   


  

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Gabriel van den Brink:"Ruw Ontwaken uit een Neoliberale Droom",, 2020

The Discussion

  

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so we are jumping from the ashes into the fire then

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): back to hitlers ideas to escape the neoliberalism?

[13:17] herman Bergson: I am not that pessimistic Bejiita

[13:17] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well thinks that the Republican party here has bcome a populist party

[13:18] herman Bergson: It has indeed Gemma

[13:18] Somedirtycat Saule: Sorry about being out of chat phase

[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but we see it as well in Poland, Hungary ect

[13:18] CB Axel: The Republican party wants to go back to the days when women and minorities "knew their place."

[13:18] herman Bergson: The Reps don't even have a program anymore

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right

[13:18] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i don't call this a solution

[13:18] CB Axel: Eff that shit in my opinion.

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and a lot o their women agree

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): cary

[13:18] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): sigh

[13:18] CB Axel: Those women are saps and deserve what they get.

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but some of them want to do it in the senate

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha

[13:19] herman Bergson: Won't happen in the Netherlands, Gemma

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good

[13:19] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wont happen here either

[13:19] herman Bergson: Emancipation is a fact ehre.....

[13:19] herman Bergson: here

[13:20] herman Bergson: But the rise op populism is a signal.....

[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:20] herman Bergson: nationalism, identity policy, xenophobia.....things like that

[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I have a hard time really defining populism

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): close the borders

[13:21] herman Bergson: I just mentioned some aspects of it, Gemma :-)

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): got it

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed

[13:21] herman Bergson: nationalism is probably one of the most dangerous ones

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): worrying we go in that direction

[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinks so

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so odd

[13:22] herman Bergson: The belief that your nation is exceptional and thence has special rights over others

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): back to hate, racism ect But indeed that was also what Mr T represented

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ah yes

[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: and his list of "friends

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not to mention his attitude toward women (Grab em by the....)

[13:23] Somedirtycat Saule: Wait. What about that the nation right here have special rights over itself?

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): do we really want a such society

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i say no

[13:23] herman Bergson: What annoys me so often is that they refer to the president of the US as the mightiest man on earth....

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): there have to be some better way out

[13:23] herman Bergson: He isn't

[13:24] CB Axel: That bothers me, too, Herman.

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): uuuugh yes at least many do

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): when in reality he is a blabbering muppet

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): knowing nothing but to gain himself

[13:24] Laila Schuman: in charge of puppets

[13:24] CB Axel: Well, he does have the most bombs. I guess that makes him the most powerful.

[13:24] Somedirtycat Saule: Are you still arguing over that President?

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he is to dumb to know how to fire them off (i hope)

[13:25] herman Bergson: apart from that...the term shows the belief that the US is THE nation....

[13:25] Somedirtycat Saule: *Tweet President

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeeed

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hopes someone kept track of all those tweets

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and he turned twitter into a sewer of lies

[13:25] herman Bergson: What do you mean Somedirtycat?

[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): a book in themselves

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not gonna read that (shudders)

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): new psychological study

[13:26] Somedirtycat Saule: Trump is Tweeting crap. but he didn't start any wars.

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): study

[13:26] herman Bergson: I think they are collected somewhere Gemma....There was even a book of Trump Tweets as far as I know,,,some years ago

[13:26] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we cant be too sure of that bunny

[13:27] herman Bergson: That to my greatest relief, Some

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it may fall over into the new administration

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed and thats at least a good thing because i was afraid that WW# would start the moment he won

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): WW3

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): luckily we got no wars

[13:27] Somedirtycat Saule: Ok. Hi murdered that iranian guy so it was close...

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i think at this time covid has put a li on that

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmmm aaaa yes

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for a while

[13:27] CB Axel: I think his military leaders have held him back.

[13:27] CB Axel: Yes, Covid, too.

[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): me too

[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he murdeed almost 300.000 Americans

[13:28] herman Bergson: That was my hope too, CB

[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): partly true

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i saw some cartoon a while ago abouut Trump constantly trying to snatch the red button from Secret Service guys so he could fire some nukes

[13:29] Somedirtycat Saule: I'm so bored about Trump centered 'Philosophical' discussions in SL. Let's talk about Hitler cops instead.

[13:29] herman Bergson: So, Trump can be seen as the result of the protest against neoliberalism and the urge to change and innovation...

[13:29] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): interesting

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in any case we have to find a better way out of neoliberalism and constant growth

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and populism is NOT the way to go

[13:30] herman Bergson: Populism is the reaction to it Bejiita....

[13:30] CB Axel: "Hitler cops" are the result of people who think like Trump. So it's relevant.

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sadly it seems so

[13:30] herman Bergson: the drive to return to the good old times

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): replacing greed with hate and xenophobia

[13:30] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i thought that this morning

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just as bad if not worse

[13:31] Dien (djdien.bailey) is offline.

[13:31] CB Axel: Herman, those "good ole times" were only good for white men.

[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): hate doesn't solve anything

[13:31] herman Bergson: Oh yes, CB

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed Beertje

[13:31] Laila Schuman: read the book... CASTES

[13:31] herman Bergson: I guess neoliberalism is all white men driven....:-)

[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh heard of that layla

[13:31] Laila Schuman: or something like that

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well that i guess is 100% true

[13:32] Laila Schuman: it is very long.... could be a course in Black Studies/history

[13:32] Somedirtycat Saule: Cops are about repression. Is repression necessary. Better discussion out of a Liberalism, or whatever viewpoint.

[13:32] Laila Schuman: college level

[13:32] herman Bergson: This cops issue.....

[13:32] herman Bergson: Let's talk about it for a moment....

[13:32] Somedirtycat Saule: Trump is gutter level

[13:32] Laila Schuman: maybe you needed to hear the report.... and what was being promoted... and HOW

[13:32] herman Bergson: From a Dutch point of view....

[13:33] herman Bergson: I look with amazement at how US cops behave....

[13:33] herman Bergson: unbelievable

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i am afraid of thing they need is more training

[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ongoing

[13:33] herman Bergson: so trigger happy as they are

[13:33] Somedirtycat Saule: good lets analyse this

[13:34] Laila Schuman: it was definitely a period piece..... like when they would hang Black people... MANY PEOPLE would watch, take picture and send postcards of the scene

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and college degrees before hire

[13:34] Somedirtycat Saule: Why are cops in US triggerhappy?

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hm

[13:34] CB Axel: No, Gemma. We need a whole new attitude toward crime.

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): US cops i believe are trained with Hollywood movies

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): America started out gun happy

[13:34] herman Bergson: I have no idea...but it seems they always shoot to kill...not one bulit but 14....please

[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): from the very beginning

[13:34] Somedirtycat Saule: Criminals have guns

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): just like in the movies yes

[13:35] Laila Schuman: The Nazies learned how to do things by studying the events in the South

[13:35] herman Bergson: Cops too

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): CHAAAAAAARGGHE RATATATATATATATATATTATATATATATATATA BOOOOM BOOOOOOM!

[13:35] CB Axel: The Conservatives think that criminals need to be punished. Left-wingers prefer they be rehabilitated.

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sigh

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its sad

[13:35] Somedirtycat Saule: If a criminal reach for a gun the cop must shot him before the criminal shot the cop

[13:35] CB Axel: Keeping people in prison is a waste of money. They need to be rehabilitated and returned to society and the workplace.

[13:36] Somedirtycat Saule: Before is the word

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but they only shoot black people

[13:36] herman Bergson: If a Dutch police officer behaved like an American one he would lose his job in no time

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): = racists

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): read many such stories before

[13:36] Somedirtycat Saule: They work as cops. Should not be killed at work

[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): another change from those who are in so much support of life.. after 17 years they have started doing executions of convicts ith death sentance

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): how if ur black to the cops ur automatically murderer/drig dealer ect

[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): go figure

[13:37] CB Axel: I do have some empathy for the police. They just want to do their job and go home to their families.

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): they work as killers, not cops

[13:37] Laila Schuman: not all cops are bad... I know one in Chicago who would throw up in the morning before he left the house.... Englewood is not a good place to be in... let alone as a cop

[13:37] CB Axel: But in a country where any dumb ass can be carrying a semi-automatic weapon, police are understandably nervous.

[13:37] Somedirtycat Saule: No cop should be shot at or killed. Period.

[13:37] herman Bergson: I am sure that is what they want, CB, alive every day

[13:38] Laila Schuman: his cop groomsmen gave him a bulit proof vest as a wedding present

[13:38] CB Axel: But the ones carrying those guns aren't the black men and boys just hanging out or shopping. It's the white nationalists.

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): if they only wanna do their job then why do they seem to think its all a big Hollywood film everything. They want action and use it totally responsivelessly

[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i saw that on tv Laila

[13:38] Somedirtycat Saule: So what to do about a situation when a suspect reach for something when the cop told him to be still?

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): reality is not a movie!

[13:38] herman Bergson: SHoot him in the leg, Some

[13:39] Laila Schuman: CB... you are right about them being white nationalists

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: like a sandwich?

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): why are the Americans allowed to have a gun anyway?

[13:39] herman Bergson: Not stuffing him with ten bulits

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or a cell phone?

[13:39] Somedirtycat Saule: No time Herman

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): constitution beertje

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is in there

[13:39] herman Bergson: Second Amendment!

[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but misinterpreted

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it's insane

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): welll armed militia was like a protective army back then

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) whispers: now??

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nope

[13:40] herman Bergson: There is no country in this world with so many private guns around as in the US.....amazing

[13:40] Somedirtycat Saule: To survive a cop must shot even before the criminal showed his gun, when he reach for it and disobey the order to be still

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): individual right

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:40] CB Axel: Too many people on the right seem to want to go back to the days of the wild west where everyone was armed and one shot first and asked questions later.

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its crazy indeed

[13:40] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): are you a cop Some?

[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes

[13:41] herman Bergson: Looks like it indeed

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): esp the hillbillies that shoot a hail swarm through your head if u get more then 1 km from their house

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice neighbors anyone?

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice

[13:41] herman Bergson: I would be scared as a cop in the US when stopping a person.....keep my gun ready

[13:41] Somedirtycat Saule: No but there are videos that show exactly the reaction times needed for a cop to survive a gun fight

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): have you been watching those a lot?

[13:42] Somedirtycat Saule: Enough

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sad

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): weapons solve nothing

[13:42] Somedirtycat Saule: You should look at them too as they explain things

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i don't need to

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): rather the opposite

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): violence feed violence

[13:43] Laila Schuman: NOTE... not all police were trained with bad quotes... that was supposedy an isolated incicent

[13:43] CB Axel: It doesn't explain why they shoot people multiple times in the back.

[13:43] Somedirtycat Saule: Why cops kill unarmed persons that dont follow order to be still

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): omg..

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): reaching for my hanky can kill me?

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(

[13:43] Laila Schuman: maybe the cops are scared ... they see a lOT

[13:43] Laila Schuman: LOT

[13:43] herman Bergson: I htink they are scared

[13:43] CB Axel: Not you, Beerje. Black men and boys have to worry.

[13:44] Somedirtycat Saule: Look. A cop want to survive.

[13:44] Laila Schuman: they know they have a target on their back

[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): how do you know i'm not black?

[13:44] herman Bergson: Right Some

[13:44] CB Axel: I don't. I also don't know that you're a woman. :)

[13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): 

[13:44] CB Axel: But the cops aren't killing the ones who are the most heavily armed.

[13:44] herman Bergson: Well...som much about US cops....

[13:45] herman Bergson: People in constant fear of arms in the hands of people the stop and question

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): are you going to the island Herman?

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in any case its crazy

[13:45] Somedirtycat Saule: Otherwise I don't like cops but I don't like bloodthirsty Woke people better

[13:45] herman Bergson: No....still in covid isolation here....

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aa oki

[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok here too of course

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed some

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): but some idiots don't care

[13:46] herman Bergson: We try to stay as safe as possible....

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good

[13:46] herman Bergson: Here we have the same problem, Gemma

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): some just HAVE ot go home or somewhere

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): for the holidays

[13:46] herman Bergson: Infection numbers rising...people begin to ignore the safety rules

[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): so 3000  deaths yesterday

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and running near that so far today

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): OOOOOW :(

[13:47] CB Axel: We should be seeing a spike in cases here now as a result of Thanksgiving gatherings.

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): 1934 sofar today

[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yep

[13:47] herman Bergson: The Holidays will become a problem here too, I am afraid

[13:48] CB Axel nods

[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and the white house is hosting parties

[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): great example

[13:48] Laila Schuman: gtttt

[13:48] herman Bergson: WH ignores all reality

[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i will not go there

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): tssssss

[13:48] Laila Schuman: grrrrr

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): seems so inded

[13:48] herman Bergson: T`ime for a break...a nice holidays....

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): you too

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and everyone

[13:49] CB Axel: Since I'll never be invited to a Republican White House party, I don't care what they do. :)

[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): 

[13:49] herman Bergson: It is almost the end of the so many years here in class....

[13:49] herman Bergson: An amazing achievement

[13:49] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): well they will carry it along and maybe pass you on the street someday cb

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least we have keept a close monitor on all the chaos going on

[13:50] CB Axel: Not if I see them first, Gemma.

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): right

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): now hope it will turn around fast

[13:50] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol cb

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to the good

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:50] herman Bergson: I wish you all happy holidays....and hope to see you again in the New YEar...:-)

[13:50] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Happy Holidays yes

[13:50] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...

[13:50] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman. I hope you all have a nice holiday.

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yaya aa have a nice Christmas and new year

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): 

[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman en fijne feestdagen

[13:51] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): bye for now

[3:51] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you herman and class:-)


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