OPINION: BY JOHN WHYTE
I write calling for the media defense of what remains of our open society.
The greatest threat to genuine democracy in our open society is perceived to be the unholy alliance between governments and big business on a scale that is worldwide. Ubiquitous financial market domination smacks of totalitarianism.
> Abroad, we are witnessing a frightening privatisation agenda being
> pursued with incredibly sophisticated communication and propaganda
> techniques by the World Bank, IMF, WTO, OECD and all the
> unaccountable
> business dominated think tanks around the world.
>
> At home, NZ Business Roundtable think-tank lists a total of 13 Major
> Government Businesses valued at NZ$22 billions are ripe for plucking.
> That does not include water and sewerage [NZ$10b] nor the myriad of
> public services being eyed up for virtual privatisation by way of
> contracting out and PPPs etc.
>
> For years we have been harangued to keep religion out of politics.
>
> Should we not do something to keep Big Business out of politics also?
>
> This particularly so when Market Fundamentalism itself a form of
> secular
> religion that dominates Big Business thinking almost everywhere.
>
> Whom do you serve: The God of Truth or the God of Commerce?
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
>
> John Whyte
> ————————————————————————
>
> BACKGROUND NOTES
>
> PART 1
>
> It has been said that when Government controls Business, then that is
> democracy. When Business controls government, then that is Fascism.
>
> CLASSIC FASCISM: A tight Government-Big Business oligarchy with
> charismatic dictator or figurehead, and expansionist, scapegoating,
> and
> nationalistic ideologies. [e.g.,Mussolini]
>
> FRIENDLY FASCISM: An integrated Big business—Big Government power
> structure with new technocratic ideologies and more advanced arts of
> ruling and fooling the public. [e.g. Bellesconi]
>
> [His corporate media (..and others?) reflects the general opinion of
> large corporations. …..].
> —————————————–
>
> PART 2
>
> Check out the World Banks ‘Privatization Strategy’ at:
>
> https://rru.worldbank.org/PapersLinks/Privatization-Strategy/
> https://rru.worldbank.org/Themes/Privatization/
>
> and ‘Privatisation Toolkits’ at:
>
> http.worldbank.org/Toolkits/
>
> [The ‘Port Reform Toolkit’ even includes a ‘critical path’ for policy
> development for Central, Regional and Local Government
> Implementation.
>
> and also World Bank ‘Public Policy Journal’ at:
>
> https://rru.worldbank.org/PublicPolicyJournal/
> https://rru.worldbank.org/PublicPolicyJournal/Infrastructure-Transport/
> _____________________
>
> PART 3 The New Zealand Neo-liberal Experimental Results
>
> New Zealand is considered by the M.P.S. and the Global Neoliberal
> Think
> Tank Community to be a ‘successful’ Guinea pig nation as regards
> privatisation .
>
> During the 12 years 1987-1999, 40 state-owned commercial assets were
> sold realising NZS19.1 billions. As at August 31 1999, those assets
> were
> worth NZ$35.7 billions – nearly double their knock-down sale price.
>
> Thanks to the Neoliberal privatisation agenda, NZ$152 billions worth
> of
> New Zealand is already owned by financial institutions and corporate
> holding companies based in the rest of the world. [More that 100%
> GDP]
>
> In 1998, it was costing New Zealanders NZ$21 millions a day to repay
> foreign owners by way of debt servicing [interest], profits, and
> dividends.
>
> This does not include the estimated NZ$11 billions leakage owing to
> the
> black market economy with some financial assets derived therefrom no
> doubt finding their way to foreign IFIs and tax havens.
>
> But there may be worse to come.
>
> With the upcoming [17-09-05] New Zealand elections there looms the
> possibility that a so-called ‘centre-right’ [read Big Business
> Friendly]
> Coalition Government may come to power.
>
> A Business Roundtable neo-liberal think tank ‘Policy Backgrounder’
> No. 5
> December 2004 lists a total of 13 Major Government Businesses valued
> at
> NZ$22 billions are ripe for plucking. That does not include water and
> sewerage [NZ$10b] nor the myriad of public services being eyed up for
> virtual privatisation by way of contracting out and PPPs etc.
>
> PART 4
>
> THE MARKET versus Human Happiness and Quality of Life Issues
>
> Neo-liberal Market Speak dominated by technical economic rhetoric has
> usurped the moral and cultural meanings of community, nature, work,
> and
> the genuine market. Tacit rule: who has the means [$$$] has the
> [Property] rights.
>
> We are accustomed to hearing accusations of “political correctness”
> being bandied about. There is little
> discussion of how market fundamentalists foment the use of their own
> “economically correct” language.
>
> Neo-liberal & Market Driven Rhetoric: Copycat repetition = propaganda
>
> “Growth”……………………………………………..Cancerous
>
> “The Economy”…………………………………..Money for Big Business
>
> “Growing the Economy”…………………….More Money for Big Business
>
> “Free”……………………………………………………Less Government; more Commerce
>
> “Free
> Trade”……………………………………………”Remote
> Control & Restrained social policy”
>
> “Freedom”………………………………………To centrally control market activity
>
> “Freedom to choose”…………………If you have sufficient purchasing power
>
> “Freedom of Choice”……………Ditto
>
> “In the National Interest”…………………Market Speak for “Business
> Interest”
>
> Business “Wealth Creation”………………and “Illth Creation too?