tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post968402626239059692..comments2020-08-01T22:28:50.016-06:00Comments on Proactive Progressive Populism: Rifkin on the emerging socio-economicsEdward Bergehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-22555486168283092392012-07-27T17:50:33.403-06:002012-07-27T17:50:33.403-06:00At the IPS forum Pascal said: "Trees cutting ...At the IPS forum Pascal said: "Trees cutting at their own roots to save water in a drought."<br /><br />My response: Good metaphor, but it still contains the fallacy that there is a lack of wealth (drought). Many have made the case (with stats) that there's plenty of wealth to go around (a real oasis) but it resides with the top 1%, which are making record profits. That it's not distributed is the cause of the drought for everyone else.<br /><br />And let us not forget that the very real, dire economic situation for the rest of us was directly caused by the 1% committing crimes, ripping off our economy and then crashing it while they get bail-outs, bonuses for failure and are now way better off than ever before. There's plenty to go around but our budget priorities choose to serve austerity for the lower 98% while the top get way more than they could ever use, except to buy elections that enact laws to make them even richer while everyone else gets poorer.<br /><br />Coming back to Rifkin, his ideas are the next step in my opinion. But I think perhaps he's a bit naive to think that Merkel and Germany have the best interests of everyone in mind when they implement his ideas, instead more likely thinking of their own best national interests. That Germany is demanding austerity for the struggling EU nations, who are struggling because of the financial crimes per above, and that austerity is only serving to further impoverish them instead of help them, seems more indicative of my hypothesis.Edward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-56166419909803752382012-07-27T12:03:09.274-06:002012-07-27T12:03:09.274-06:00This report* on the EU as a whole notes the follow...This report* on the EU as a whole notes the following:<br /><br />"Poverty has increased by 2 million since 2010, and the analysis of the NRPs demonstrates how macroeconomic focus on austerity, driven by economic governance, is directly undermining benefits and public services." <br /><br />* http://www.eapn.eu/en/news-and-publications/press-room/eapn-press-releases/europe-2020s-poverty-target-will-not-be-met-with-current-approachEdward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-39024645143175874922012-07-27T11:59:23.251-06:002012-07-27T11:59:23.251-06:00This one* on Spain notes that the poor are hit the...This one* on Spain notes that the poor are hit the hardest while the rich sacrifice little.<br /><br />* http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spain-on-a-knife-edge-as-austerity-cuts-hit-poor-7792698.htmlEdward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-20128648383089368722012-07-27T11:55:04.081-06:002012-07-27T11:55:04.081-06:00For example, this article* notes that the UK poor ...For example, this article* notes that the UK poor were the hardest hit by their austerity measures.<br /><br />* http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/poorest-hardest-hit-by-austerity-7888459.htmlEdward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-4202299355105320062012-07-27T11:47:57.801-06:002012-07-27T11:47:57.801-06:00In Rifkin's 5/29/12 speech at the European Com...In Rifkin's 5/29/12 speech at the European Commission* he noted that while austerity must be part of the solution it must not "compromise the guiding values of the European Dream which include...the advancement of quality of life for every citizen." Yet this is the very thing attacked in the US austerity policies, taking from the poor and middle class to give to the rich. I'm not familiar with European austerity measures but if they are anything like US policies then it most certainly violates these values.<br /><br />* http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/innovation/files/mg-speech-rifkin_en.pdfEdward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-61683795894327987132012-07-27T10:24:31.193-06:002012-07-27T10:24:31.193-06:00In this more recent interview* he notes Germany is...In this more recent interview* he notes Germany is moving forward with his agenda. But while their economy is strong enough to pay for these innovations their foreign austerity policy on other nations is thwarting any change they will be able to afford it. <br /><br />* http://www.makingitmagazine.net/?p=4904Edward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621529782651296685.post-61197573208575678572012-07-27T10:14:33.629-06:002012-07-27T10:14:33.629-06:00Although in this article* Rifkin is off-base, in t...Although in this article* Rifkin is off-base, in that he agrees with Germany's Merkel that "stringent austerity programs will have to be enacted in the member countries to reduce government debt." He argues that alone is not enough, that they'll also need to implement his 3rd revolution tech. But we've seen how the austerity program is causing greater harm, that it is not at all necessary, and that due to austerity there will not be sufficient funds to support his programs. I wonder if he has more recent thoughts on Germany's austerity and how it is actually thwarting his 3rd revolution?<br /><br />* http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-rifkin/germany-euro-economy-_b_1028736.htmlEdward Bergehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13864657929019204993noreply@blogger.com