Party Focus Question

[Antonio the Sixth]

Stopping the deadly advance of neoliberalism is the absolute priority.

[Antonio the Sixth]

We should through this dichotomy out the window, along with vague polemic uses of the term "neoliberalism."

There's nothing vague about neoliberalism. It's a very specific, very definite set of political, economic and moral beliefs and assumptions with a very narrow base of advocates (although a plethora of useful idiots) and translating into very concrete policies.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Here's a good description.

If I had to take one issue with it, I'd say I wish he gave more importance to the moral tenets that underscore neoliberalism (namely the idea that the value of anything - including human beings - is determined by "the market", ie by how much people are willing to pay for it). This is why you end up with beliefs that the rich and successful ought to be admired, and that the poor are undeserving moochers. It's the ultimate conflation of might and right.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Here's a good description.

If I had to take one issue with it, I'd say I wish he gave more importance to the moral tenets that underscore neoliberalism (namely the idea that the value of anything - including human beings - is determined by "the market", ie by how much people are willing to pay for it). This is why you end up with beliefs that the rich and successful ought to be admired, and that the poor are undeserving moochers. It's the ultimate conflation of might and right.

I think using "neoliberalism" to describe all of this has the danger of conflating a cluster of economic theories, particular policies and institutions, and these moral tenets you are describing.  These things don't necessarily run together, and in fact may diverge quite considerably.

See, that's where I disagree. I think the various components of neoliberalism only start making sense when understood as a whole. The economic works of Hayek, Friedman and their heirs are deeply ingrained into these moral assumptions, and conversely the wide acceptance of neoclassical economic theory has been exploited to push forward these moral tenets. Taken together (and along with its third branch - the political) they form a totalizing system of thought that explains almost everything wrong with modern society.