Stephen Barlow Profile picture
Jul 16 16 tweets 4 min read Read on X
I am very supportive of @garyseconomics call for a wealth tax.

However, I am also very puzzled about how he shows no understanding of why the UK government will not implement a wealth tax, and that is neoliberal doctrine.

1/🧵
I left a comment explaining this on his YouTube video, and it seems to have been hidden, as there's not been a single interaction with it.

So I did various Google searches, to find out Gary's position on neoliberalism, and was surprised to find he has never mentioned it.
2/
Anyone who advocates for a wealth tax, needs to understand why all UK governments, and indeed most governments of the rich countries, refuse to implement a wealth tax, it's not random.

The reason all the policy of governments, looks so weirdly similar, is neoliberal doctrine.
3/
Ever since Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, introduce neoliberalism (they never called it that - it was Reaganomics in the US and Monetarism in the UK), every major country has fallen in lockstep, with neoliberal doctrine.
4/
I don't intend to have a big discussion about neoliberalism here, and I suggest people read George Monbiot and Peter Hutchinson's book, The Invisible Doctrine, if people want to know more about it.

5/penguin.co.uk/books/455534/t…
However, the important point, is that the economic, and indeed the social policy implemented, by every UK government, whether Conservative or Labour in the last 45 years, is neoliberal doctrine. That's why their policy looks so similar.
6/
The public is profoundly misled. They mistakenly think, they can have whatever policy they want or vote for. Then are baffled, that no matter who they vote for, the policy is almost identical. That's because you can have any policy you like, as long as it's neoliberal.
7/
This is, for instance, why both the Conservatives and Labour, refuse to renationalize the water industry, no matter how much of a mess they make of things, and how much of a financial mess they get themselves in. Neoliberal doctrine, won't allow it.
8/
Neoliberalism is largely hidden, hence George Monbiot's book title, The Invisible Doctrine. It is hidden, because it would be very publicly unpopular, especially if the public found out that the system is rigged.

9/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolibera…
Much is made of the fact, that over 75% of the public, want a wealth tax, including the majority of Conservative voters. However, hardly anyone talks about why it doesn't happen i.e. neoliberal doctrine.

10/oxfam.org.uk/media/press-re…
My point of writing this thread is not to attack or criticise @garyseconomics, but to say, that if he wants the wealth tax he campaigns for, he must first address the elephant in the room, neoliberal doctrine, as to why it will be an uphill struggle getting one.
11/
A wealth tax will only be possible, if we call out and identify why leading politicians, refuse to even consider it, and refuse to discuss it. There is almost no public discussion, in the mainstream, as to why our economic and political policy is fixed, neoliberal doctrine.
12/
A wealth tax is certainly a good idea, and very sensible. So why doesn't it happen? For the same reason, there's the opposition to nationalizing the utilities and so much else, neoliberal doctrine.
13/
Essentially, the neoliberal doctrine, all the major parties follow, although they never mention it, says, the public can have whatever they want, but only if it is consistent with neoliberal doctrine.
14/
I will leave this open to all commenting for discussion. But if there's any attempt to troll me i.e. making aggressive assertions as fact, and refusing to support those assertions, I will restrict commenting.
15/
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More from @SteB777

Jul 15
There is no point to Keir Starmer. People didn't so much vote for his Labour as no one could work out what he stood for. They were voting against the Conservatives, but they ended up with the Tories 2.0
1/🧵
Most of the public feel this way, because Keir Starmer's approval ratings are at an all time low, and so is support for the Labour Party. They are so dreadful, they have pushed the even more dreadful Reform Party into the lead.

2/independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…
Keir Starmer is little more than a Tory continuity PM, pursuing almost identical policy. Again, not me saying that.

'Keir Starmer risks becoming little more than “continuity Rishi Sunak” because of his lack of vision and ambition'

3/theguardian.com/politics/2025/…
Read 10 tweets
Jul 12
"Risotto rice under threat from flamingoes in north-eastern Italy"

I have a very simple solution to this problem. It already happens in paddy fields in Asia, and just requires a bit of ecological knowledge.

1/theguardian.com/environment/20…
Flamingoes are filter feeders, which feed on aquatic invertebrates. Self-evidently, there are plenty of aquatic inverts in the newly flooded paddy fields, or the Flamingoes wouldn't be there.
2/
There is a simple solution, to reduce the numbers of aquatic invertebrates in the paddy fields, to encourage the Flamingoes to feed elsewhere, fish! Stock the paddy fields with the fry of fast growing fish, when they are first flooded.
3/
Read 9 tweets
Jul 11
"Why is Labour so afraid to admit that we must tax the rich to help the poor?"

It's an excellent question, and one I'll answer here. In essence, senior politicians are the poodles of the very rich. Especially Keir Starmer and co.

1/🧵theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
If anyone has any doubts about this, look at the extraordinary attacks on the sick and disabled, by not only Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves etc, but the leaders of the Conservative and Reform Parties, and especially, the Tory Press. They are literally frothing at the mouth.
2/
Yet, public opinion is very clear. There's strong public support, for taxing the very rich. Like 3/4 of the public. So why are the senior politicians of all 3 parties, likely to form the next government, and oligarch owned Tory Press, going on the warpath against the disabled?
3/
Read 17 tweets
Jul 9
Does anyone know what the name is, for the logical fallacy, which I call the walk around problem?

What I mean by this, is when you make a well-supported factual assertion, and an opponent, will blatantly just walk around it, refusing to acknowledge the point.
1/🧵
Often this point, is a fundamental premise and assumption of many arguments. You can completely undo these arguments, by totally undermining the fundamental premises of these arguments. But it is totally useless, if the opponent just refuses to acknowledge the point.
2/
I have come across this problem not just on social media, but in the mainstream media, in politics, when I have been forced to make a formal complaint. It is possible for a person, especially in a position of power, to just refuse to acknowledge something.
3/
Read 6 tweets
Jul 9
I have repeatedly seen people, including some climate scientists, falsely claim that okay, climate warming might get pretty bad, but it won't be the end of the world.

I'm baffled by such claims.
1/🧵
It's a straw many logical fallacy argument, as no informed person, is claiming that climate change will cause the world i.e. the planet, to cease to exist.

Rather, the claim has always been it could lead to a wide scale loss of life, and the collapse of our civilization.
2/
If you refer to the possible end of our civilization or its collapse, these "optimists" will claim there is no scientific evidence for this.

Whilst actually, the resilience of our civilization to climate change, has never been scientifically studied.

3/pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pn…
Read 7 tweets
Jul 9
The most important thing to understand about the climate and ecological emergency, is that profound and radical change, is coming whether you like it or not. That change might come far sooner, than most people, almost everyone, envisages.
1/🧵
"There are now no non-radical futures. The choice is between immediate and profound social change or waiting a little longer for chaotic and violent social change. In 2023 the window for this choice is rapidly closing." @KevinClimate

2/bellacaledonia.org.uk/2023/04/18/no-…
"And change is coming, whether you like it or not." - @GretaThunberg

I'm now absolutely certain, that hardly anyone understands what this means.

3/npr.org/2019/09/23/763…
Read 20 tweets

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