GUEST BLOG: Bryan Bruce – The Peoples’ Solutions
“There is no alternative.” That’s what we were told when Labour introduced neoliberal economics into New Zealand back in 1984. It was a lie. There was – and is -always an alternative.
The problem is that neoliberalism favours the few at the expense of the many – and it is the few who have controlled the narrative of our nation over the last 30 years to the point where the richest 10% of us now own 60% of the wealth of our country while the poorest 40% of us own barely 3% of it.
How have they done this?
Answer- through professional political lobbying, political donations and the hiring of PR agencies to influence what you see and hear in our commerical mainstream media.
One of the purposes of my site is to stimulate alternative thinking and yesterday’s post about free buses drew out some very thought provoking comments .
Clearly such a plan would have to not punish people who really have to use their car for some legitimate reason – such as having a disability . But such exceptions could be accommodated without too much difficulty.
Your considered responses to posts such as yesterday’s one has made me think about how I should start put these thought provoking discussions all in one place so they can be ongoing.
My Website was hacked a year or so ago but I am hopeful it will be up and running by this time next week.
I will run a topic based blog on it where you can contribute your comments and they will not disappear into the ether and I hope you will contribute your thoughts to it there as well as here.
Because we need to have bottom up solutions to the issues we face every day – Peoples’ Solutions if you like – because our democracy has been highjacked by the vested interests of the wealthy few and it’s time we took it back.
PS I’d also commend to you New Zealand Public Television – it’s free and it offers programmes you won’t see on mainstream media You can find it at www.nzptv.org.nz
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
Brilliant article Bryan,
Yes this happend; Labour sold Neo-liberal economics to us in 1984 saying ‘there was no other way’.
Bryan says this;
“How have they done this? Answer- through professional political lobbying, political donations and the hiring of PR agencies to influence what you see and hear in our commercial mainstream media.”
Yes so now we all know why these rogues all paid for buying all our ‘independent media platforms” up firstly now don’t we?
Thank you Bryan for simply clearly exposing these ‘rogues and barons of media’ elaborate plan to extort illegal amount of money from the 99% of us all poor and middle class combined for the ‘one % filthy rich’. percent.
The neoliberalism is very invasive and carries with it the dogma and propaganda from Empire USA.
Our state owned RNZ showed its colours again today with a long session of propaganda, lies and distortions about the fresh attempt at US driven coup of Venezuela reported this morning. A total distortion of information.
Washington spokes people, quotes from Washington and absolutely no balancing story off offered
To see what is really happening, a readers/ listener has to go on line to more reputable agencies outside of the neoliberalism Anglo/ US regime changing propaganda network.
Our taxpayer dollar being spent on feeding US bullshit and lies supporting an aggressive oil grab by neoliberal criminals attempting over throwing legitimately elected Govts.
There has to be collusion inside RNZ management fro this to happen.
True you are John,
I know this as I actually called the RNZ hotline tip-off number and told them that I had vital information about the insurance scams that the insurance companies under AIG and she said she would take my details and “pass them on and have someone call me but nothing happened all day so they firstly ask for public input but seem to hide the evidence to help the insurance companies rorting of us all now as they are increasing home insurance rates blaming climate change but they don’t help to change the climate do they?.
I wrote to RNZ re their continual echo chamber, talking head “journalism” – particularly world news. They quote BBC and CNN propaganda as gospel truth. I asked where was the balance? There were numerous public statements from the Venezuelan Foreign Minister calling this what it undoubtedly is, a CIA managed, attempted overthrow of a sovereign and legal government. As usual, no response from RNZ. They are contemptible.
Mainstream media in NZ is utterly pathetic and a danger to all of us.