Thursday 6th December

I was having a discussion with a true believer in the market and realised that it didn’t matter what arguments I raised, what scenarios I painted, he was happy with whatever happened as long as it was the result of market forces.   As a lifelong socialist I have always believed that the end which one was striving for was important, not the means of getting there, but I realise that free-marketeers simply believe in the free untrammeled market and nothing else.  Even if disaster results from the actions of the greedy, which is the state I think we are rapidly approaching, it doesn’t matter because the market is always right.  But what is the market, but the collective actions of a large group of people who believe they are acting in their own interests and don’t give a fuck about anyone else.  Okay, you could also have described the entire German nation in that way in the Nazi era, it means nothing.  There is no ideology here except ‘Get Rich Quick’, ‘Take the Money and Run’ and ‘Devil Take the Hindmost.’  So, if current austerity policies in Europe result in mass unemployment, starvation, people dying in the streets even – then that is okay as long as the dividends keep on rolling in.

By all consensus the West is in the poo, and faces years of slow if any growth, falling living standards and ensuing chaos.  Caused almost certainly by a blind belief in the market.  Of course the first thing to notice about all believers in the market is that they are all on the right side of the market; they are those with money to invest, opportunities to exploit; they can afford private health so if the NHS collapses they will be alright, they have their own homes, they have lots of money already.  And why on earth should any Government have the audacity to suggest how that money should be spent for the common good when they can use the market to enrich themselves further.  So thanks Mr. Free Marketeer – it sure was nice talking to you.