Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn't filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.
Naomi KleinRead
Since the 1980s, we've been living in this era, really, of corporate rule, based on this idea that the role of government is to liberate the power of capital so that they can have as much economic growth as quickly as possible, and then all good things will flow from that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the belief that prioritizing economic growth will lead to societal benefits.
Naomi Klein's quote reflects on the prevailing ideology since the 1980s that promotes corporate rule and the idea that a government's primary role is to facilitate economic growth by empowering capital. It suggests that this focus on rapid economic development overlooks the complexities of society and may neglect the well-being of individuals and communities, raising questions about the true benefits of such a system.
Themes
Corporate RuleEconomic GrowthGovernmentCapitalSocietyCritique
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about economic policies during a town hall meeting.
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Everybody that's trying to get anything progressive done in this country knows that the biggest barrier is getting money out of politics.
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I think I would say that there is absolutely no way to reconcile an austerity agenda with climate action. Our political class needs to understand that the fight against austerity and the fight for climate action are the same fight.
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I think the fossil fuel industry is genuinely freaked out by the combination of the price collapse, the divestment movement, and that fact that renewable energy is getting so cheap so fast.
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