International DUers: Are you seeing the same sort of developments "there" as we're seeing here?

[matt819]

Attacks on teachers
Attacks on unions and workers generally
Gutting education budgets
Ravaging government regulations
Stripping women's rights generally, reproductive rights specifically
Politicians bowing and scraping to ultra right-wing religious groups
Overt and increasing racism
Rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant attitudes
Erosion of church/state barrier
Rampant unemployment and underemployment
Denial of global climate change
Subjugation of state to corporate demands
Anti-intellectualism

You get the idea. That's what's happening here and has been for years. Only now it's getting worse.

So, for our fellow DUers in developed countries - are you seeing the same? Sure, we know you're all Socialists who prefer vacations and government handouts over work and self-reliance, but are you seeing the same sorts of attitudes there - wherever there is for you - as we're seeing here?

[Capitalocracy]

1. What's happening there already happened here

with the military dictatorship (I'm in Argentina).

[AnneD]

2. I have been studying....

The collapse of Argentia with great interest. This might be the way we fall.

[arikara]

3. Now that Harper has a majority

in Canada, its anybody's guess. He is a r/w corporatist freak but until now he didn't have total power to do everything that he wanted. He's already started cutting the federal civil service. He hates abortion and unions, loves American policies like jails and wars.

[malaise]

4. Our Shock Doctrine is 30 years over

I am able to predict US developments based on our experiences.

[Horse with no Name]

5. Please share. Those of us that think we are in for a bad fall

aren't crazy, are we?

[socialist_n_TN]

8. After reading the Shock Doctrine, I'm also able to

predict what's going to happen. The difference is forwarning. I HOPE we're able to take advantage of that forewarning.

[Prometheus Bound]

6. For the sake of comparison

1.no
2.no
3.no
4.no
5.no
6.no
7.no
8.no
9.no
10.no
11.no
12.YES
13.no

from Hong Kong, China

[LeftishBrit]

7. To a certain extent, yes, since Cameron took office

Individual questions:

Attacks on teachers- Yes

Attacks on unions and workers generally: Oh, blimey, yes!

Gutting education budgets: Yes

Ravaging government regulations: Not really

Stripping women's rights generally, reproductive rights specifically: Not yet, but there are definite attempts to do so. Probably not going to succeed, but worrying.

Politicians bowing and scraping to ultra right-wing religious groups: No, not in general. There are a few politicians and journalists who do, however.

Overt and increasing racism: Some. One of the few good things that happened recently, is, however, the electoral trouncing of the BNP.

Rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant attitudes: Yes, though this has always been Britain's downside; it's not new. Probably getting worse since the economic crisis, however.

Erosion of church/state barrier. We never had a church/state barrier; however we're in practice much more secular than the USA! However, anti-secularism and religious-right attitudes are increasing IMO. Still, not to anything like the American level.

Rampant unemployment and underemployment: Ooh, yes - and we haven't hit bottom yet; wait for the cuts to bite FULLY.

Denial of global climate change: Not as a major feature of our politics. There are a number of loud-mouthed fringenuts who do, however (e.g. it's a key theme of UKIP).

Subjugation of state to corporate demands: Some definitely; but not nearly as extreme as in America.

Anti-intellectualism: Always a problem in England; much less in Scotland or Wales. I don't perceive any recent increase, however.


What has worsened the most recently, since Cameron came to power, is (a) a fanatical government obsession with cuts; and (b) a political and media war against benefit claimants and the poorest people in Britain, and revival of the concept of the 'undeserving poor'. Some of it seems to be a blatant divide-and-rule tactic to set the somewhat-poor against the very poor; some of it is an ideological fanaticism that is now surfacing since the Tories came to power.

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. Re reproductive rights:

Nothing definite yet, but still quite worrying, see here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/05/abortion-rights-prochoice-diane-abbott

[Esra Star]

10. When the progressive party (mildly progressive) controls

the treasury benches we are relatively free from all that fascist control.
Unfortunately when the regressives have their inevitable turn, the built up social
capital is eroded dramatically.
It's cyclical.
I'm in Australia btw.
Cheers

[chowder66]

11. Speaking to a friend in Dublin yesterday

each time he talks about politics there... it matches the U.S. almost too well.

Corruption, banks, housing bubble/fraud, austerity measures, corporate tax rate's are too low, etc.