Article Neoliberalim

What is Neoliberalism?

A Brief Definition for Activistsby Elizabeth Martinez and Arnoldo Garcia, National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
"Neo-liberalism" is a set of economic policies that have become widespread during the last 25 years or so. Although the word is rarely heard in the United States, you can clearly see the effects of neo-liberalism here as the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer.
"Liberalism" can refer to political, economic, or even religious ideas. In the U.S. political liberalism has been a strategy to prevent social conflict. It is presented to poor and working people as progressive compared to conservative or Rightwing. Economic liberalism is different. Conservative politicians who say they hate "liberals" -- meaning the political type -- have no real problem with economic liberalism, including neoliberalism.
"Neo" means we are talking about a new kind of liberalism. So what was the old kind? The liberal school of economics became famous in Europe when Adam Smith, an English economist, published a book in 1776 called THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. He and others advocated the abolition of government intervention in economic matters. No restrictions on manufacturing, no barriers to commerce, no tariffs, he said; free trade was the best way for a nation's economy to develop. Such ideas were "liberal" in the sense of no controls. This application of individualism encouraged "free" enterprise," "free" competition -- which came to mean, free for the capitalists to make huge profits as they wished.
Economic liberalism prevailed in the United States through the 1800s and early 1900s. Then the Great Depression of the 1930s led an economist named John Maynard Keynes to a theory that challenged liberalism as the best policy for capitalists. He said, in essence, that full employment is necessary for capitalism to grow and it can be achieved only if governments and central banks intervene to increase employment. These ideas had much influence on President Roosevelt's New Deal -- which did improve life for many people. The belief that government should advance the common good became widely accepted.
But the capitalist crisis over the last 25 years, with its shrinking profit rates, inspired the corporate elite to revive economic liberalism. That's what makes it "neo" or new. Now, with the rapid globalization of the capitalist economy, we are seeing neo-liberalism on a global scale.
A memorable definition of this process came from Subcomandante Marcos at the Zapatista-sponsored Encuentro Intercontinental por la Humanidad y contra el Neo-liberalismo (Inter-continental Encounter for Humanity and Against Neo-liberalism) of August 1996 in Chiapas when he said: "what the Right offers is to turn the world into one big mall where they can buy Indians here, women there ...." and he might have added, children, immigrants, workers or even a whole country like Mexico."
The main points of neo-liberalism include:

• THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating "free" enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers' rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say "an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone." It's like Reagan's "supply-side" and "trickle-down" economics -- but somehow the wealth didn't trickle down very much.
• CUTTING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES like education and health care.
• REDUCING THE SAFETY-NET FOR THE POOR, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, water supply -- again in the name of reducing government's role. Of course, they don't oppose government subsidies and tax benefits for business.
  
• DEREGULATION. Reduce government regulation of everything that could diminsh profits, including protecting the environmentand safety on the job.
  
• PRIVATIZATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.
  
• ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF "THE PUBLIC GOOD" or "COMMUNITY" and replacing it with "individual responsibility." Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves -- then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy."

Around the world, neo-liberalism has been imposed by powerful financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. It is raging all over Latin America. The first clear example of neo-liberalism at work came in Chile (with thanks to University of Chicago economist Milton Friedman), after the CIA-supported coup against the popularly elected Allende regime in 1973. Other countries followed, with some of the worst effects in Mexico where wages declined 40 to 50% in the first year of NAFTA while the cost of living rose by 80%. Over 20,000 small and medium businesses have failed and more than 1,000 state-owned enterprises have been privatized in Mexico. As one scholar said, "Neoliberalism means the neo-colonization of Latin America."
In the United States neo-liberalism is destroying welfare programs; attacking the rights of labor (including all immigrant workers); and cutbacking social programs. The Republican "Contract" on America is pure neo-liberalism. Its supporters are working hard to deny protection to children, youth, women, the planet itself -- and trying to trick us into acceptance by saying this will "get government off my back." The beneficiaries of neo-liberalism are a minority of the world's people. For the vast majority it brings even more suffering than before: suffering without the small, hard-won gains of the last 60 years, suffering without end.

Elizabeth Martinez is a longtime civil rights activist and author of several books, including "500 Years of Chicano History in Photographs."13101310Arnoldo Garcia is a member of the Oakland-based Comite Emiliano Zapata, affiliated to the National Commission for Democracy in Mexico.13101310Both writers attended the Intercontinental Encounter for Humanity and against Neoliberalism, held July 27 - August 3,1996, in La Realidad, Chiapas.

My questions:

1. What can be inferred about the effects of the neoliberalism in countries?
2. Who started with this new kind of thought and what are the ideas that were generated?
3. According to the article what can be inferred about Liberalism?
4. What are the mains points that neoliberalism includes?
5. Who imposes the neoliberalism politics in Latin America?
6. What are some consequences in countries where these politics had been applied?
7. What are some consequences of the application of neoliberalism in USA?
8. What do you think about the politics of neoliberalism in countries of Latin America?
   

7 Wonders-Rationale Lily

The decision of which of the option is quite difficult; because the entire are wonderful and deserve one place in the history of the humanity, however, I need to take a decision and at final I decide that the best are:

1. The pyramid at Chitchen Itza.
2. Statues of Easter Island.
3. The Great Wall of China
4. Machu Pichu
5. Statue of Liberty
6. Stonehenge
7. Timbuktu.

1. The pyramid at Chitchen Itza: Located between Merida and Cancun, Mexico. In my country there is part of the Mayas ruins, so I believe that they deserve one especial place in the history. The place is over 1500 years old, and was constructed according to the astronomical alignment that coincides with the rising and setting of the sun and Venus planet sacred by the dwellings of the city. The place is involved of mystery especially the cenotes place of sacrifices. The Scientifics don’t conclude still why they disappear?

2. Statues of Easter Island: Famous archeological place located in the Pacific Ocean at the west of the coast of Chile is considered one most remote inhabited island. I chose this option; because, have many features that conquest me; although, I have never been there. This astonishing place is the only evidence of the existence of the Polynesian system writing. The stone monuments are located near of abyss where you can observe the sea. The monuments are heads with elongated noses and ears, these monuments are entire without joints and was made by volcanic stone that weight almost 27 tons each one. Scientifics claims that this civilization attained a technological level of Neolithic societies anywhere in the world. This extraordinary society developed, flourished and persisted for perhaps more than one thousand years! It is not astounding how they achieve this without technology? This place deserves an extraordinary place in the history!

3. The Great Wall of China: The Great Wall of China, with more than 6700 kilometers of large! Evocative of a colossal dragon, the Great Wall winds up and down across deserts, grasslands, mountains and plateaus. With a history of more than 2000 years. The effort that the Chinese people made in order to construct it are incredible without technology it was so hard. The architectural majesty and historical significance of the Great Wall of China are enough to occupy one honored space in the history of the humanity. Moreover, it can be seeing from the moon! amazing isn’t it?

4. Machu Pichu: -The lost city of the Incas- Enclave in the Andean mountain the stone structures seem mysterious and beautiful. The stone of gray granite used came from the top of the mountain and there is not evidence that they used the wheel to transport it. How do you imagine that they attained it? Also, some of the structure weight more than 50 tons or more! And are sculpted with precision and fitted together with amazing accuracy that even a thin knife can not be introduced. It is not incredible? Also this ruin was an astronomical observatory! This site appeals to me because I’m surprised how at the time that they live showed this type of advances.

5. Statue of Liberty: The meaning that the Statue of Liberty has is wonderful; Therefore, is a message that should endure trough the time. Is the main reason why I choose this place Also, because this huge structure is a great example of engineering. The statue of liberty which is draped female figure, with one arm upraised, sustain a torch, and while the other holds an inscribed tablet, and having upon the head a diadem shown a perfect equilibrium. I am not be in this place yet, but I’m planning to visit it when my family come to USA, so I will be pleased to know a place that have the potential to be one of the 7 wonders of the world. Maybe whether this place is designed as one of seven wonders I will say that Not only visit the place but also contribute with my vote!

6. Stonehenge: This surprising place was constructed around 3200 BC and consists in standing stones that form circle. I chose this place because ancient places that were constructed without technology vanquish me! This impressive example of engineering accomplishment, requested assurance, time and enormous amounts of manual labor. Imagine! That the ditch was dug with tools made from the antlers of red deer and, possibly, wood. They shoveled with the shoulder blades of cattle. The stones were bringing 240 miles away each one weight up 4 tons, and they used almost 80 in one circle. How they transported the stones? The purpose of this construction is sill a mystery. Stonehenge is a breathtaking place and deserve to a place of honor in the history.

7. Timbuktu: Astonishing place! Not only the name has a remarkable meaning but also the place is significant by itself. I choose this place because the purpose of this place in ancient time was education, and was a university located in Sahara desert! Students associated themselves with a single teacher studied religion, logic, astronomy and history. Is one place that I like to know for the legacy that they gave us. Like the other places this place too merits to become in one of the Seven Wonders of the World.