Freemarket vs. Democracy

As noted in a previous blog, Neo-liberalism refers to the ideology and practices in which economic and social policies are the major driving force in America government’s policies. Often times, many view it as a response to deal with crises in the public sphere. For example, one of the most leading economic corporations is Wal-Mart. Many resist current proposals of opening stores in their neighborhoods because of the negative impacts. Such impacts include loss of local business to its criticism on wages. The main concern is profit.

Under such policies, free markets are regulated less by the government and more on private institutions. As a result, there is a shift of power between state and market. The market should not be the driving force for all political, social and economic decisions. Markets privatize public space making it controlled and accessible to a selected few. Public sphere under this ideology is not founded on democratic ideals. This is a problem because when considering democratic ideals, everyone has a natural born right to freedom. At present, what was once open to the public is now being monitored and controlled. If you chose to disobey and dismiss rules there are consequences.

The following picture is not a typical picture of Uncle Sam pointing his index finger but, instead he is wounded stating that “I want out!” Ironically, this image shows how a government founded on democratic ideals, relied on its citizens to contribute stating “We need you!” It provides a subtle message that current practices rely less on citizens which in turn is hurting this nation in the long run.

It’s the my right-way or the highway!

Apple in the article, Whose Markets, Whose Knowledge?, explains this path and how educational and social policy is what she names “conservative modernization. Here, she continues to highlight how neoliberals essentially view public schools as bad because they suck “the financial life out of this society” and are more about its faculty members than the students it serves (p.38). I am bothered by this because in any business, you want to please the costumers and provide them with the best service there is to offer. But the bigger issue at hand is that there should be less emphasis on producer and more on the consumer, which in turn, creates social divisions in class and race. Those at the bottom are not provided with opportunities that will enhance them to be capable citizens to hold high positions in a high-technological society but instead to work as a cashier in Wal-mart (in which less critical thinking occurs because the machine does everything for you).

So what are some possible solutions?

According to Apple’s article the following must be reevaluated

• Neoliberals blame state and poor people for problems instead of dominant groups
• Neoliberals are considered the most powerful component supporting conservative modernization
• World is viewed as a vast supermarket

• Democracy is not a political concept but a economic one
• Public institutions= bad and private ones=good
• Schools are built for teachers and state bureaucrats
• Teacher unions seen as too powerful
• Cultural as well as race, gender and sexuality struggles coincide with class alliances and class power