tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post1917117815911000881..comments2023-11-05T22:35:31.766+00:00Comments on Neil Clark: Hungary is counting the cost of capitalismNeil Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10479041156190090119noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-49337272526709008922009-06-08T18:27:39.815+01:002009-06-08T18:27:39.815+01:00"It was the ex-communist country that did eve..."It was the ex-communist country that did everything the West and its neo-liberal economic 'experts' said it should do."<br /><br />Greetings from Hungary! First of all, I am astonished what a bunch of socialist, anti-capitalist, ignorant lie this whole article is. The economic policy of Hungary from 2001 until now has nothing to do with neo-liberalism. On the contrary, socialists have run out of our money because they are unable to comprehend basic mathematics, thus they are unable to do cost management. Why don't you leave your comfortable job and build socialism instead in North Korea? Which is contrary to your opinion is a true socialist country where the communist nightmare has come true. Good luck Sir in your further endeavors! As Lenin says: lifelong learning is very important. Europe does not need socialists everybody had enough of your isms and their inability to manage the economy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-58154829967457197682008-10-31T18:52:00.000+00:002008-10-31T18:52:00.000+00:00Hungary is counting the cost of neo-liberal capita...Hungary is counting the cost of neo-liberal capitalism. <BR/><BR/> Even social democracy is compatible with a diverse economy in which capital is still essential. <BR/><BR/> It isn't a question of 'either-or'. <BR/><BR/> Just a state in which enough people have a say through a democratic process and the politicians care not always about money but the condition of the nation too.<BR/><BR/> Which dovetails with long term reforms as regards the infrastructure of Britain not cowardly short term greed and deby fuelled consumerism.KNaylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05172872947972286430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-9238133206982729402008-10-29T06:53:00.000+00:002008-10-29T06:53:00.000+00:00'So where you could once in the UK go to a NHS den...'So where you could once in the UK go to a NHS dentist fairly easily, official pressure is now indirectly exerted to make you go private'<BR/><BR/>This is how the australian Medicare surcharge leverage works...people above $50000 in earnings, if they dont have private insurance are slugged with this surcharge...the idea was to force higher income people to go private:BUT over the years wages haev risen while the surcharge has quietly been left unchanged.....<BR/>Efforts to raise it are being blocked by the big business friendly liberal opposition.<BR/><BR/>BrianAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-77239298436757507502008-10-28T22:11:00.000+00:002008-10-28T22:11:00.000+00:00A good article. I agree with the general trend you...A good article. I agree with the general trend you describe, but I would add a slight nuance: The post-communist period has been marked by both the disastrous social consequences you describe and superficial 'progress' otherwise. This includes the building of lots of shopping centres (or indeed for a really positive note better roads). The fact that nearly every district of Budapest has a Tesco (and a lot of provincial towns) is sold as a sign of progress and choice. This is why there hasn't really been widespread unrest despite the dreadful social conditions of the post-communist period. <BR/><BR/>It is of course also the case that some people are better off, and this is the crux. While most in the lower income bracket have faced real hardship, the urban socialites have enjoyed every minute of unfettered capitalism. However, it looks like this latest economic crisis is going to affect them, too. Perhaps it is this wide-scale meltdown that might usher in a sea change in Hungary, east-central Europe, and perhaps Europe as a whole. Hungary certainly deserves better.olchinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12155200018404294369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-15418297456731230552008-10-28T19:36:00.000+00:002008-10-28T19:36:00.000+00:00I agree. Excellent post from DBC.I agree. Excellent post from DBC.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-88226760774084237612008-10-28T19:27:00.000+00:002008-10-28T19:27:00.000+00:00Hi Robin,you ask 'why trash can'? (and not rubbish...Hi Robin,<BR/>you ask 'why trash can'? (and not rubbish bin') and all I can say is that it just came out that way. I just wrote 'trash can'. It came out naturally, it wasn't as if I first wrote rubbish bin and then changed it. Perhaps it shows just how strong a process Americanisation is. Or perhaps I've been reading/watching too much Ellery Queen of late.<BR/><BR/>dbc reed: good post.Neil Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479041156190090119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-36556066174569279092008-10-28T17:20:00.000+00:002008-10-28T17:20:00.000+00:00As regards the final joke about large government d...As regards the final joke about large government debt,it often appears that the whole neo-con experiment in social enginneering is meant merely to shift debt off the government onto the backs of the citizens.So where you could once in the UK go to a NHS dentist fairly easily, official pressure is now indirectly exerted to make you go private.The same things has happened in spades with housing.<BR/>So the total amount spent on the basics of health,housing, travel etc has gone up so the amount of disposable income left for more discretionary and sophisticated goods and services continues to decline.In other words privatising the necessities of life constricts the capitalist economy.Brilliant.DBC Reedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17891849727783879145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-59064943251252886722008-10-28T12:46:00.000+00:002008-10-28T12:46:00.000+00:00The First Post is a UK website - so why "trash can...The First Post is a UK website - so why "trash can"?<BR/><BR/>Just a minor point, but one that is directly relevant to the subject of the article.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com