What we're seeing in Texas is shock doctrine capitalism.
It's a strategy where governments engage in austerity measures that make it impossible to respond adequately to emergencies, then use the aftermath to privatize & justify *more* austerity.
The rich profit, the poor die.
It's a strategy where governments engage in austerity measures that make it impossible to respond adequately to emergencies, then use the aftermath to privatize & justify *more* austerity.
The rich profit, the poor die.
We've seen it with COVID on a national level.
All levels of governments have made extreme cuts to our social safety net in the past three decades, leaving us unable to weather this storm.
They'll be using the human cost & resulting tax shortfalls to justify austerity for years.
All levels of governments have made extreme cuts to our social safety net in the past three decades, leaving us unable to weather this storm.
They'll be using the human cost & resulting tax shortfalls to justify austerity for years.
We saw it in Philly after the 2008 crash.
Then-Mayor Nutter used the shortfalls to engage in extreme austerity measures down to trying to close libraries and... selling off most of our snowplows.
Then-Mayor Nutter used the shortfalls to engage in extreme austerity measures down to trying to close libraries and... selling off most of our snowplows.
The austerity measures are *always* shortsighted auctionings-off of necessary infrastructure, with the promise that private infrastructure will be a magic bullet solution down the road.
Spoiler: I live on an arterial road in West Philadelphia.
I don't think I've seen a snowplow out here *ever.*
Our streets are slushpiles for days or weeks after every snowstorm.
There was no private solution magic bullet.
I don't think I've seen a snowplow out here *ever.*
Our streets are slushpiles for days or weeks after every snowstorm.
There was no private solution magic bullet.
The same Texan government officials who failed to plan for climate change or build workable infrastructure for emergency response will inevitably continue to blame people for relying on the government to do its job, especially when it comes budget time.
They'll use their own failure as "proof" that government can't be trusted and privatization is the way to go, accelerating austerity and putting profitable contracts in the hands of rich folks who will make money even as they leave people hanging when the next emergency comes.
If you don't believe me, look what's happening with Philly right now with the vaccine.
We put our lives the hands of a white college kid get-rich-quick start-up, with predictably disastrous results.
Because, "private sector innovation!"
We put our lives the hands of a white college kid get-rich-quick start-up, with predictably disastrous results.
Because, "private sector innovation!"
https://twitter.com/gwensnyderPHL/status/1355663549469773826?s=19
Under shock doctrine, neolib governments-- Dem & GOP both-- treat crisis as outside the domain of government.
They engage in austerity that exacerbates future crisis.
Then, when crisis arrives, they pay exorbitant fees to private companies for miracle bail-outs that never come.
They engage in austerity that exacerbates future crisis.
Then, when crisis arrives, they pay exorbitant fees to private companies for miracle bail-outs that never come.
Then, they use the inevitable cascade of disaster and its cost to justify even more cuts, which even further exacerbate future crisis, which results in *more* costly and ineffective privatization, all of which will get used to justify even more austerity measures down the line.
It's a scam and the only people who benefit are profiteers & the politicians whose careers they fund.
It's a downward spiral that hurts all of us, most especially the marginalized.
They use the moments where folks are most vulnerable to extract wealth from the most vulnerable.
It's a downward spiral that hurts all of us, most especially the marginalized.
They use the moments where folks are most vulnerable to extract wealth from the most vulnerable.
Under shock doctrine...
The vulnerable freeze.
They starve.
Their oxygen tanks deplete.
They die.
The profiteers and the politicians they patronize?
Well.
When things get rough, there's always the Cancun Ritz-Carlton.
The vulnerable freeze.
They starve.
Their oxygen tanks deplete.
They die.
The profiteers and the politicians they patronize?
Well.
When things get rough, there's always the Cancun Ritz-Carlton.
The end.
Update: like clockwork, the rich get richer.
https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1362941306079698944?s=19
Glad this is resonating with folks, please consider donating to a Texas mutual aid org.
Solidarity is the best way help each other survive these nightmares. ❤🖤
Solidarity is the best way help each other survive these nightmares. ❤🖤
https://twitter.com/mckinneykelsey/status/1361802605098319878?s=19
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