The Truth, Not Myth

  Austerity, slashing public spending, gutting welfare, deregulating markets—is not an economic necessity but a political weapon. It deepens inequality, destabilises societies, and cements elite power. Noam Chomsky, Mark Blyth, Thomas Piketty, and Joseph Stiglitz argue that austerity is a choice designed to serve the wealthiest. The absence of a global tax system—one that curbs offshore evasion and ensures the rich pay their fair share, reveals the priorities of neoliberal governance: capital over democracy, privilege over justice. Austerity is a myth sold as fiscal responsibility. Mark Blyth’s  Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea  dismantles this fiction, proving that it shrinks economies, fuels unemployment, and worsens debt, all while funnelling wealth upwards. Joseph Stiglitz calls post-2008 austerity a self-inflicted wound, arguing that cutting spending in a recession only deepens the crisis. The only beneficiaries are those seeking to dismantle the state. Dav...

  While avoiding direct labelling, we can analyse elements of Trump’s and Farage’s political rhetoric and strategies that resemble tactics historically associated with fascist movements. Using academic frameworks such as Umberto Eco’s  Ur-Fascism , Robert Paxton’s  Anatomy of Fascism , and Roger Griffin’s concept of palingenetic ultranationalism, we can identify authoritarian, nationalist, and anti-democratic tendencies. These elements do not equate to full-fledged fascism but reflect a selective adoption of its methods. Both leaders promote a form of mythic nationalism, evoking an idealised past -Trump’s  “Make America Great Again”  and Farage’s vision of pre-EU Britain-as a means of framing politics as cultural and ethnic restoration. This aligns with Griffin’s theory of palingenesis, in which national rebirth is central to fascist ideology, portraying decline as reversible through authoritarian leadership. Scapegoating plays a central role, with marginalised ...

Long celebrated as the pinnacle of liberal democracy and free-market success, the United States now stands exposed as a nation in profound systemic crisis. Through the lenses of Richard Wolff's Marxist political economy and Noam Chomsky's institutional critique, America appears not as an exceptional beacon of progress but as a failing state. Its economic structures breed inequality, its political institutions serve oligarchic interests, and its imperial ambitions are unsustainable. This analysis reveals an advanced capitalist society where living standards deteriorate for ordinary citizens while corporate and political elites consolidate power under a carefully maintained illusion of democratic legitimacy.   At the heart of America's crisis lies an economic system fundamentally hostile to the wellbeing of its people. Wolff’s analysis of surplus value extraction shows how capitalism systematically transfers wealth from workers to owners, generating extreme inequality while s...

The Emperor’s New Clothes: A Fable Reawakened We all know the timeless tale: The Emperor’s New Clothes, penned by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen in 1837. A vain ruler, obsessed with appearances, is duped by swindlers who promise him garments visible only to the wise. He parades naked through town, cloaked in illusion until a child dares to speak the obvious: the emperor wears nothing at all. This fable endures because it exposes the anatomy of collective delusion. It warns of vanity, cowardice, and the fear of truth. It reminds us that honesty, especially from the least expected voice, can rupture the spectacle. Andersen’s tale finds chilling resonance in Donald Trump’s presidency. The parallels are not poetic coincidence - they are forensic. Trump as the Emperor Obsessed with image, allergic to truth. Trump’s branding eclipses substance. Like the emperor, he demands loyalty over logic, spectacle over scrutiny. The Weavers: Advisors and Media Allies They spin “alternative facts,...

  Walter Benjamin didn’t just predict the rise of fascism—he explained how it seduces. In an age of deepfakes, viral propaganda and algorithm-driven rage, his most explosive idea is more relevant than ever:  Fascism doesn’t win through arguments. It wins through aesthetics. Fascism thrives on spectacle, not substance. Benjamin’s line— “Fascism sees its salvation in giving the masses not their right, but a chance to express themselves” —explains everything from MAGA rallies to TikTok nationalism. People aren’t voting for policies; they’re joining a vibe. The red hats, the chants, the enemy-blaming—it’s all theatre. Fascism doesn’t fix poverty; it turns poverty into a cinematic experience of victimhood and revenge. Today, Leni Riefenstahl’s films have been swapped for viral clips of “based” strongmen. Same playbook. The more shareable the rage, the stronger the movement. Benjamin wasn’t fooled. He saw fascism as capitalism’s backup plan—a way to keep the masses from realising th...

 T he claim that Brexit failed because it “wasn’t implemented properly” is a  dishonest deflection  used by Brexit supporters to avoid admitting that the entire project was built on lies, contradictions, and impossible promises. Here’s why that argument is  total rubbish : There Was Never a Single Brexit Plan to Implement The Leave campaign  deliberately avoided  presenting a concrete plan because doing so would have exposed its flaws and split its voters. Instead, they sold  contradictory versions of Brexit  to different groups: • To businesses : A Norway-style deal (staying in the Single Market). • To anti-immigration voters : “Take back control of borders” (meaning hard Brexit). • To free-market ideologues : A Singapore-on-Thames deregulation fantasy. • To working-class Leavers : Protectionist promises (despite Brexit being a neoliberal project). You can’t “implement Brexit properly” when “proper” means something different to everyone. ...

  The rich and powerful control the system. That’s the uncomfortable truth behind why governments cut welfare and punish the vulnerable instead of taxing the wealthy. It’s not about balancing budgets or economic efficiency—it’s about power and control. The poor are easy targets because they lack the political and economic clout to fight back. 1. The Rich Dictate Policy Money buys influence. In modern democracies, elections and policymaking are shaped not by popular will but by elite interests. The wealthiest fund political campaigns, think tanks, and media outlets, ensuring that their priorities—like tax cuts and deregulation—dominate the agenda. • In the UK, billionaire donors shape party policy and influence political appointments. • After funding politicians, the wealthy expect returns in the form of tax breaks, subsidies, and relaxed regulations. Politicians deliver because biting the hand that feeds you is political suicide. The result? A tax system that favours capital ov...