Are Trump and Brexit about freeing the rich to exploit the poor?

I have said so for some time. I accept many of the criticisms of the EU and of the Democratic establishment but I fear that people have voted for greater evils. 'Taking back control' of the EU has removed power from Brussels bureaucrats but placed it in the hands of a hard-right Conservative Party determined to make Britain even more of a tax-haven free-market island. Trumps appeal is largely the logical extension of long-standing Republican tactics which use fear the culture war to support the agenda of the rich.

More important that rhetoric or the mock-able palace intrigue, are the underlying agendas at work. People should look at policies and the people involved to find out what the agenda is. Both these things gained consent because of populist outrage against the establishment which - though somewhat deserved - has been redirected further against the interests of the population. The real winners are not ordinary citizens of Britain and America but the billionaires who thought that the old statues quo did not leave them dominant enough. Crocodiles drain the swamp and look what happens.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/04/ripping-up-protections-brexit-trump-freedom

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tynamite · 31-35, M

No. Trump and Brexit don't give or take away any power from politicians.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

They will take away economic power from people though, which is what the article is about.

tynamite · 31-35, M

@Burnley123: From who? Unelected politicians who create thousands of millions on everything?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@tynamite: The EU does have a democratic deficit, as does the House of Lords and don't get me started on our own electoral system. Or the American one for that matter.

Both Trump and Brexit are driven by people who resent Government regulation. For regulation, read protection for the environment or from employer exploitation. The article is really good.

tynamite · 31-35, M

@Burnley123: The EU is NOT democratic. I'd be more concerned about zero hour contracts and workfare than how leaving the EU will affect workers rights.

Ynotisay · M

@Burnley123: It might be driven by those who resent regulation but it's fueled by the very people who BENEFIT from the regulations they end up losing.
That's where it gets really tricky for me.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Ynotisay: Absolutely. It will get tricky for them also but alas the right excel at distraction and re-direction.

Ynotisay · M

@Burnley123: The always well-reasoned and sharp bijouxbroussard posted a meme today that I actually saved because it was so on the nut.

Not in terms of the "redneck American" but in the "watch the shiny object" strategy.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@tynamite: [quote]I'd be more concerned about zero hour contracts and workfare than how leaving the EU will affect workers rights.[/quote]

Er... well. Those two things directly concern workers rights. They are not things that happened because of the EU but because of a Conservative Government that wants that kind of economy. They have now just been freed from their biggest constraint.

tynamite · 31-35, M

@Burnley123: Oh really? The EU can't do jack shit about the government making people poorer.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@tynamite: The EU did indeed stop things getting worse. In addition, regional development money helped a lot of places in this country that national government rejected.