Brexit, Trump, Yellow Vests....They're All Connected

[Oddball]

Came across this a few minutes ago...A great explanation of the populism that's spreading around the globe...

We have a new bourgeoisie, but because they are very cool and progressive, it creates the impression that there is no class conflict anymore. It is really difficult to oppose the hipsters when they say they care about the poor and about minorities.

But actually, they are very much complicit in relegating the working classes to the sidelines. Not only do they benefit enormously from the globalised economy, but they have also produced a dominant cultural discourse which ostracises working-class people. Think of the ‘deplorables’ evoked by Hillary Clinton. There is a similar view of the working class in France and Britain. They are looked upon as if they are some kind of Amazonian tribe. The problem for the elites is that it is a very big tribe.


The middle-class reaction to the yellow vests has been telling. Immediately, the protesters were denounced as xenophobes, anti-Semites and homophobes. The elites present themselves as anti-fascist and anti-racist but this is merely a way of defending their class interests. It is the only argument they can muster to defend their status, but it is not working anymore.

‘The gilets jaunes are unstoppable’ - spiked

 

[H B Lowrie]

SOS, same as it ever was. Concentrated wealth and power squeezing the masses.

 

[Olde Europe]

Came across this a few minutes ago...A great explanation of the populism that's spreading around the globe...

We have a new bourgeoisie, but because they are very cool and progressive, it creates the impression that there is no class conflict anymore. It is really difficult to oppose the hipsters when they say they care about the poor and about minorities.

But actually, they are very much complicit in relegating the working classes to the sidelines. Not only do they benefit enormously from the globalised economy, but they have also produced a dominant cultural discourse which ostracises working-class people. Think of the ‘deplorables’ evoked by Hillary Clinton. There is a similar view of the working class in France and Britain. They are looked upon as if they are some kind of Amazonian tribe. The problem for the elites is that it is a very big tribe.


The middle-class reaction to the yellow vests has been telling. Immediately, the protesters were denounced as xenophobes, anti-Semites and homophobes. The elites present themselves as anti-fascist and anti-racist but this is merely a way of defending their class interests. It is the only argument they can muster to defend their status, but it is not working anymore.

‘The gilets jaunes are unstoppable’ - spiked

There are a few things that I find quite perceptive, others not so much.

Of course, globalism doesn't benefit the middle class in any meaningful way - rather, top management and global investors reap most of the benefits. As inequality rises, the middle class (the lower half thereof in particular) is under severe threat.

Other than that, populism has been mostly an invitation for workers and the threatened middle class to blame immigrants - kick downward. What sets the gilets jaunes apart is they've been kicking mostly upward, seemingly acting upon the realization that they are being squeezed by political decisions made right at the top. That's what makes them far more acceptable - and arguably more successful - than the deplorable rubes (Brexiteers and Trumpletons, mainly), you know, the xenophobes, islamophobes and misogynists Hillary described. And that's why the gilets jaunes will likely reap some benefits, whereas in other places the sheep elect their butchers, freely, and will have nothing but the Others being denigrated and squeezed worse, while life for them will become more precarious, and fast.

 

[Oddball]

There are a few things that I find quite perceptive, others not so much.

Of course, globalism doesn't benefit the middle class in any meaningful way - rather, top management and global investors reap most of the benefits. As inequality rises, the middle class (the lower half thereof in particular) is under severe threat.

Not the globalism practiced by the crony socialists, for sure...Globalism based upon real free trade and rights to travel for all would be a far more liberating model.

Other than that, populism has been mostly an invitation for workers and the threatened middle class to blame immigrants - kick downward. What sets the gilets jaunes apart is they've been kicking mostly upward, seemingly acting upon the realization that they are being squeezed by political decisions made right at the top. That's what makes them far more acceptable - and arguably more successful - than the deplorable rubes (Brexiteers and Trumpletons, mainly), you know, the xenophobes, islamophobes and misogynists Hillary described. And that's why the gilets jaunes will likely reap some benefits, whereas in other places the sheep elect their butchers, freely, and will have nothing but the Others being denigrated and squeezed worse, while life for them will become more precarious, and fast.

A little of both.

The populism that got Trump elected was a big fat kick upward, to the asses of the Washington elite ruling class, whose snobbery is legion.....Hillary is one of them, as are the Bushes....Merely calling those who oust you names like "racist" and "deplorables" underscores this snobbery.

 

[Andylusion]

Globalism based upon real free trade and rights to travel for all would be a far more liberating model.

Impossible. If you have complete and total free travel... everyone would storm every single country with a generous welfare system, and bankrupt the world.

We would need to completely eliminate all welfare. Then you can have unrestricted free travel.

 

[Oddball]

Globalism based upon real free trade and rights to travel for all would be a far more liberating model.

Impossible. If you have complete and total free travel... everyone would storm every single country with a generous welfare system, and bankrupt the world.

We would need to completely eliminate all welfare. Then you can have unrestricted free travel.

I didn't say freedom to settle....There's a difference.

In any event, welfare states are a big part of the problem.....They're a tool of the crony socialist globalists.

 

[Olde Europe]

There are a few things that I find quite perceptive, others not so much.

Of course, globalism doesn't benefit the middle class in any meaningful way - rather, top management and global investors reap most of the benefits. As inequality rises, the middle class (the lower half thereof in particular) is under severe threat.

Not the globalism practiced by the crony socialists, for sure...Globalism based upon real free trade and rights to travel for all would be a far more liberating model.

Other than that, populism has been mostly an invitation for workers and the threatened middle class to blame immigrants - kick downward. What sets the gilets jaunes apart is they've been kicking mostly upward, seemingly acting upon the realization that they are being squeezed by political decisions made right at the top. That's what makes them far more acceptable - and arguably more successful - than the deplorable rubes (Brexiteers and Trumpletons, mainly), you know, the xenophobes, islamophobes and misogynists Hillary described. And that's why the gilets jaunes will likely reap some benefits, whereas in other places the sheep elect their butchers, freely, and will have nothing but the Others being denigrated and squeezed worse, while life for them will become more precarious, and fast.

A little of both.

The populism that got Trump elected was a big fat kick upward, to the asses of the Washington elite ruling class, whose snobbery is legion.....Hillary is one of them, as are the Bushes....Merely calling those who oust you names like "racist" and "deplorables" underscores this snobbery.

Yep, just to sneak in the evil "socialists", you need to depict them as the drivers of economic globalization. Laughable as that is, you top that by lauding the "Build the Wall" campaign as a kick upward. Because, that wall would serve to keep the globalization elites out, eh? But, but... instead of Hillary, the Trumpletons then elected the Donald, who, starting at the tender age of two (kid you not), became the beneficiary of all the fancy tax breaks the insiders tossed into the general direction of their ilk, and which the Trumpletons haven't even heard about. The Donald then moved immediately to grant himself and his globalized ilk (including UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs) a fine, extensive tax break, Thank you very much! So, "kicking upward", they elected the ultimate elitist insider. Just... the thing with that darned wall didn't quite work out, and the global elitists still invade via the southern border.

You funny. Very.

 

[Oddball]

Yep, just to sneak in the evil "socialists", you need to depict them as the drivers of economic globalization. Laughable as that is, you top that by lauding the "Build the Wall" campaign as a kick upward. Because, that wall would serve to keep the globalization elites out, eh? But, but... instead of Hillary, the Trumpletons then elected the Donald, who, starting at the tender age of two (kid you not), became the beneficiary of all the fancy tax breaks the insiders tossed into the general direction of their ilk, and which the Trumpletons haven't even heard about. The Donald then moved immediately to grant himself and his globalized ilk (including UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs) a fine, extensive tax break, Thank you very much! So, "kicking upward", they elected the ultimate elitist insider. Just... the thing with that darned wall didn't quite work out, and the global elitists still invade via the southern border.

You funny. Very.

I'm against the wall and have said so on this very forum....And if you're going to try and pass yourself off as anti-globalist by supporting the corrupt, elitist, crony socialist Hillary, be prepared to be laughed out of the room.

That Trump benefited from the tax structure of the nation is irrelevant, as he wasn't in control of it and availed himself the same breaks available to everyone else in his line of business.

 

[Polishprince]

Brexit, the yellow vesters of France, the Deplorables of America are all just a resurrection of England's Peasant Revolt of 1381. "Peasant" was a term they used for Deplorable back in the day. Wat Tyler had a confrontation with the mayor of London England as well.

The 1381 revolt didn't pan out, but its a different world, Trump is a student of history and Tyler's adversary Richard II was man enough to actually confront Tyler. Trump adversaries are shitting themselves in the back afraid to face him

 

[Olde Europe]

Yep, just to sneak in the evil "socialists", you need to depict them as the drivers of economic globalization. Laughable as that is, you top that by lauding the "Build the Wall" campaign as a kick upward. Because, that wall would serve to keep the globalization elites out, eh? But, but... instead of Hillary, the Trumpletons then elected the Donald, who, starting at the tender age of two (kid you not), became the beneficiary of all the fancy tax breaks the insiders tossed into the general direction of their ilk, and which the Trumpletons haven't even heard about. The Donald then moved immediately to grant himself and his globalized ilk (including UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs) a fine, extensive tax break, Thank you very much! So, "kicking upward", they elected the ultimate elitist insider. Just... the thing with that darned wall didn't quite work out, and the global elitists still invade via the southern border.

You funny. Very.

I'm against the wall and have said so on this very forum....And if you're going to try and pass yourself off as anti-globalist by supporting the corrupt, elitist, crony socialist Hillary, be prepared to be laughed out of the room.

That Trump benefited from the tax structure of the nation is irrelevant, as he wasn't in control of it and availed himself the same breaks available to everyone else in his line of business.

Non-responsive, non-pertinent, couldn't quite follow the argument, lost track, and talks bullshit just to talk.

Pathetic.

 

[Oddball]

Non-responsive, non-pertinent, couldn't quite follow the argument, lost track, and talks bullshit just to talk.

Pathetic.

I'm sure your local community college has a ESL course you could take.

 

[Oddball]