Illusion-Making that a Just Society Can Be Created the Neo-Liberal WayThe neo-liberal way perpetuates social inequality and class privilege. This much has been proven by life experience and is not under dispute. What then should we make of the new offensive which suggests that the problem of inequality can be resolved the neo-liberal way? An ideal of the liberal vision for society is what is called a just society. Of course, this model of society is precisely the one which is in deep crisis in the United States and Europe as well as in countries like Canada. But despite this, the illusion is created that if only the problem of inequality can be overcome, then we can attain the dream of a just society. And how is the problem of inequality to be overcome? By enshrining equality of opportunity -- or so neo-liberal wisdom says.
Obscene wealth is accumulating at one pole while the ranks of the poor increase, including the percentage of people in abject poverty. Far from addressing inequality, inequality has reached unprecedented levels not only in the oppressed countries of Asia, Africa, Latin American and the Caribbean where oligarchies with obscene wealth thrive but also in the imperialist heartlands. First, it is important to take note of what is meant when speaking of inequality. Inequality is both natural and social. Inequality stems from the vast variety of natural abilities of individuals, and the class privilege that permeates the capitalist social system and its division between the working class and owners of accumulated social wealth. Natural inequality is related to natural ability. Social inequality is related to social class privilege, either inherited through hereditary right or acquired through natural right. Natural inequality of individuals is not something to change or abuse but rather approach in a manner that makes sure that everyone finds their place in society and contributes to the best of their abilities. While the impression is created that this is achieved by making sure everyone has "equality of opportunity," this is not the case. Society must guarantee the flowering of the natural ability of all and not allow class privilege to negate or misuse it for narrow self-serving purposes. Under current conditions when the state is not in the hands of the working people, this can be accomplished if social inequality or class privilege are restricted and those in the ruling elite are deprived of the power to use the state and their positions of economic and political control to oppress and exploit others and deprive them of their rights and needs.
When members of the working class with natural ability or for other reasons break through the glass ceiling of class privilege so to speak, they are encouraged through wealth and status to join the ruling capitalist elite ideologically and politically, and use their new-found class privilege to consolidate their positions and that of other members of the ruling class in opposition to the working class. The negation of social inequality for selected individuals of the working class paradoxically strengthens and consolidates social inequality within society as a whole. It nurtures a section of working people dedicated to their new-found class privilege, who use their own acquired substantial resources and influence and the power of the state to deprive the collective of humanity from exercising its right to be according to everyone's abilities and needs, and the interests of society. Members of this section become ideologues for social inequality and class privilege, as they, through natural right have negated their own individual social inequality and gained the "American" or "Canadian" dream, and now trumpet their new-found class privilege with fanatical zeal. To oppose the rebellion of the working people against their impoverishment, the greatest liberal principle of equality of opportunity is said to be the key to creating a just society. The need, neo-liberals say, is to rally all those who believe that in a fair society, hard work should pay off. They are calling on the people to change inequality of opportunity. They are creating the illusion that certain individuals through natural right can join those who have either inherited positions of power and class privilege through hereditary right or acquired their positions, wealth and power through so-called natural right. They say inequality of opportunity negates the possibility of people, especially those who are hard working and possess ability, fulfilling their dream of upward mobility to either professional status with high incomes or becoming owners of accumulated social wealth, and leaving behind the working class not only in class position but also importantly in thinking, outlook, ideology and politics. According to this outlook, unfair inequality of opportunity causes yet more inequality and loss of hope in the dream which they think motivates every individual on the planet Earth of acquiring social wealth and class privilege. The solution is "equality of opportunity" or "intergenerational mobility" to strengthen the status quo of class privilege and collective inequality through keeping alive the dream of negating social inequality for those who work hard or who in a banal way overcome it by winning a lottery or engaging in criminal activity and corrupt practices.
The ruling class uses its accumulated social wealth and capitalist state to deprive working people of their rights and block them from opening a door to progress towards democratic renewal and their empowerment, and from creating conditions of social equality and the flowering of all: From each and all according to their abilities, to each and all their rights and needs guaranteed by society. The neo-liberal way perpetuates social inequality and class privilege. To stop the striving of the people for empowerment and to get the people to conciliate with the anti-social austerity agendas, illusions are created about the capitalist system itself: that it can be fixed and that there is no alternative but to do it the neo-liberal way.
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The
neo-liberal restructuring of the society has stepped up the trend of
the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer. When this is spoken
about by those who seek to perpetuate the neo-liberal way, then it is
not about creating a more just society at all but to cover up the aim
of neo-liberal societies to pay the rich, make the most powerful
monopolies competitive on global markets and politicize private
interests which willy nilly destroys the public
authority. It
is precisely this vicious anti-social offensive to eliminate all traces
of a public authority in favour of monopoly right, which is
accelerating the trend of the rich getting richer and the poor poorer.
Myriad
statistical studies reveal that class status has a profound effect on
natural ability and whether it blossoms or withers and dies. Social
inequality negates the broad development of individual ability, which
for many individuals is lost to them, the general interests of society
and the public good. The working class and its political
representatives reject this waste and fight for the rights of all and
their empowerment. People have rights by virtue of being human;
fundamental to this is the right of each and all to contribute to
society to the best of their abilities and in return have society in a
harmonious way guarantee their rights and having their needs met.
The neo-liberal
position on inequality denies its reality within the natural and social
conditions. Natural inequality is not a human weakness but a source of
great strength and possibility for the advance of all human beings and
the general interests of society. Social inequality and class privilege
are expressions of the division of society into antagonistic social
classes. It will persist as a backward condition of life for as long as
social classes and class privilege remain intact.