Basically it shows an almost complete reversal of positions of these two objectives between 1965 and 2020. Now, less than half give “developing a meaningful life philosophy” compared to over 80% of them saying “being well off financially” is essential or very important. Back in the 60s, these figures were almost exactly reversed and the crossover point in the chart seems to be in the latter half of the 70s.
I’ve long held the belief that Thatcher and Reagan, as the main drivers of neoliberal economics, were at the turning point in our societies. I guess I’m part of what is called the “baby boomer” generation, and it seems to many of us that life has got harder and more precarious for most people in our communities over our lifetimes. It seems that Public Services have gone into steep decline, that wages have stagnated, house prices have soared, and jobs have become less secure.
What went wrong?
When we hear the present generation of politicians in the UK, and even more so in the USA, put forward policies which are every bit as neoliberal as Thatcher and Reagan, is it any surprise that this steep decline has been experienced everywhere. Inequality is higher now than it has been for decades. The whole economy has been “financialised” where we’ve been led to believe that the finance sector, and the rich, are the wealth creators, while, actually, their wealth is being created out of wealth, not out of productivity. The goods and services produced now seem cheaper and nastier than they were. The heroes of contemporary society are those who have grabbed the most for themselves over the shortest period of time and the huge numbers of billionaires and millionaires can’t find anything left to spend their money on except ridiculously expensive houses, yachts and private jets, so they’ve turned to buying political influence instead.
When the goals of society are to promote the wealth of the wealthiest and to deny, as Thatcher did, that “society” even exists, has, surprise, surprise, led to exponentially increasing amounts of mental and chronic physical illness.
Maybe Iain McGilchrist would point to likelihood that giving predominance to the left cerebral hemisphere over the right will have been, at least in part, at the root of this problem. But it’s a profound economic problem too. We are still trapped by the delusions of neoliberalism with its so called “free markets” which aren’t free at all, and “trickle down economics” which never trickle down.
We need something better. We need to break free of the neoliberals and the populist far right.
Heroes Not Zombies 