If we assume the best in people, we can radically redesign our democracy and welfare states.
Rutger BregmanRead
Since the 70s and the 80s you see the rise of neoliberalism. The central dogma of neoliberalism was that most people are selfish. So, we started designing our institutions around that idea, our schools, our workplaces, our democracies. The government became less and less important.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques neoliberalism, focusing on how it shapes societal institutions based on the belief that people are inherently selfish.
In this quote, Rutger Bregman discusses the emergence of neoliberalism from the 1970s and 1980s, emphasizing its foundational belief that humans act primarily out of self-interest. This ideology has influenced the design of various institutions, including schools and democracies, leading to a reduced role for government and communal values, which in turn may compromise collective well-being and social responsibility.
Themes
NeoliberalismSelfishnessInstitutionsSocietyGovernmentCollectivism
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a debate about the impact of neoliberal policies on society.
More from Rutger Bregman
All quotes →Since long workdays lead to more errors, shorter workdays could reduce accidents. Overtime is deadly. Tired surgeons have been found to be more prone to slip'ups, and soldiers who get too little shuteye are more prone to miss targets.
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My hope is that the corona crisis will help bring us into a new age of cooperation and solidarity and a realization that we're in this together.
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This is what a crisis does: It makes you question the status quo. That doesn't mean that after a crisis we move into some kind of utopia. But it is an opportunity for political change.
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While it won't solve all the world's ills - and ideas such as a rent cap and more social housing are necessary in places where housing is scarce - a basic income would work like venture capital for the people.
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Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and generals. That we can trust people to govern themselves and make their own decisions.
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