The Seeds Of Today Were Planted In The 80s: A Review

TURNING 30: The Seeds of Today were Planted in the 80's

by Jerry Beller

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	654 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	84 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

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Mark Fisher's The Seeds Of Today Were Planted In The 80s is a timely and important book. Fisher argues that the seeds of today's crises were planted in the 1980s, a time of neoliberalism and deregulation. He examines the rise of Thatcherism and Reaganomics, the deregulation of the financial industry, and the spread of consumer culture. Fisher shows how these developments led to the widening gap between rich and poor, the erosion of social safety nets, and the rise of Donald Trump.

Fisher's book is not simply a history of the 1980s. It is also a meditation on the present day. Fisher argues that we are living in a time of "capitalist realism," a time in which it is impossible to imagine any alternative to capitalism. This is a dangerous time, Fisher warns, because it makes it difficult to imagine a better future.

The Seeds Of Today Were Planted In The 80s is a challenging and provocative book. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the roots of today's crises and who wants to imagine a better future.

The Rise Of Neoliberalism

Neoliberalism is a political and economic ideology that emphasizes the free market and individual liberty. It is based on the belief that the government should play a minimal role in the economy and that the private sector is the best engine for growth. Neoliberalism became the dominant ideology in the 1980s, when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan came to power in Britain and the United States, respectively.

Thatcher and Reagan implemented a number of neoliberal policies, including tax cuts, deregulation, and privatization. These policies led to a sharp increase in inequality and a decline in social welfare programs. Neoliberalism also led to the deregulation of the financial industry, which played a major role in the 2008 financial crisis.

The Spread Of Consumer Culture

The 1980s also saw the spread of consumer culture. This was due in part to the rise of new technologies, such as the personal computer and the VCR. It was also due to the increasing availability of credit. Consumer culture led to a sharp increase in consumption, which in turn led to a number of environmental problems.

Consumer culture also had a negative impact on social relations. It led to a decline in community and a sense of alienation. This was due in part to the fact that people were spending more time consuming goods and services and less time interacting with each other.

The Rise Of Donald Trump

The seeds of today's crises were planted in the 1980s, but they did not come to full fruition until the election of Donald Trump in 2016. Trump's victory was a sign of the deep dissatisfaction with the status quo. It was also a sign of the rise of a new kind of politics, a politics of resentment and fear.

Trump's presidency has been a disaster. He has alienated our allies, cozied up to dictators, and undermined our democratic institutions. He has also implemented a number of policies that have benefited the wealthy at the expense of the poor and middle class.

A Better Future

The Seeds Of Today Were Planted In The 80s is a timely and important book. It is a reminder that the problems we face today are not new. They are the result of decades of neoliberalism and consumer culture. But Fisher also offers a message of hope. He argues that we can still imagine a better future. This future will require a radical break with the past. It will require a new kind of politics, a politics of hope and solidarity.

TURNING 30: The Seeds of Today were Planted in the 80's

by Jerry Beller

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	654 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	84 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE