Where Next

In my previous blog called "Economic Power" I stated that the actual struggle we have today is between those with wealth, specifically, the super rich and large corporations, and the rest of us.

That struggle exiists because those with power, and money, are doing everything they can to keep their power, and money.

We have seen this play out following Liz Truss and her 'mini-budget'. Whether you like her or not, she was the Prime Minister, the leader of the country under the system we have. She has views and ideas and she went to implement them. But she has been forced to reverse nearly all of them. Forced by who?

We are told by the media that 'the markets' reacted negatively and she needed to change 'reassure the markets'? Who are the markets? When is it I get to vote for them so that they can represent me and my views?

What is actually on display here is how the version of capitalism we have is run by the wealthy elites, banks, the City of London and large corporates. They are calling the shots, not Liz Truss.

This is actually a real concern. We are supposed to live in a democracy. Under the rules in our system Truss is the leader. But she has no power. She cannot act without approval of the invisible wealthy elites.

Truss said she wants growth. Truss cut the higher rate of tax. Both things you'd think the super rich would be happy about. But in reality, where they actually get their money from is from the repayment of debt. This is money from taxpayers into the pocket of the super rich. And they get very concerned when they think the UK may default on its debt. So no matter what the cost to ordinary people, they can force a national Government to U turn.

Now we revert to a tried and tested narrative being run by Rishi, austerity without mentioning the word. Cuts to public services. Rishi supports say that his behaviour in the pandemic showed that he cares about the poor. But during the pandemic, the wealth of Billionaires increased exponetially. Companies receiving Covid contracts profits increase enormously. The furlough scheme was good, but when you're starving picking up the crumbs under the table is also good. But it doesn't need to be something we glorify without questioning whats on the actual table.

We should be very concerned at this stage for the following reasons:

1. Wealthy elites, banks and large corporates are stopping at nothing in the pursuit of profits. Profits over planet, profits over human lives. People are dying, our children's future is a stake.

2. Democracy is receding. This is not a takeover of the country by a fachist regime, instead its silent and pernicious, its a creeping take hold of power by those with money to manipulate the system for their benefit.

3. As inequality becomes so great, tensions in society between those happy with the current system and those suffering, become greater and this leads to social tensions and violence.

We are reaching a cross roads. If we remain optimistic, we can say that change can happen without violent war or revolution, in which case change will happen via democratic means, but that means voting for something other than the Cnservatives or Labour.

In the meantime, to reflect this concern, I have added a new page to the Utopian section of the website explaining this further, Kleptopia v Utopia.