A profound political question is suddenly on the table: Must the country continue to give precedence to private financial gain and market determinism over human lives and broad public values?
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Too often we shape our public positions on the basis of our economic connections. That brings us dangerously close to economic determinism.
The new social question is: democracy or the rule of the financial markets. We are currently witnessing the end of an era. The neoliberal ideology has failed worldwide. The U.S. movement Occupy Wall Street is a good example of this.
Is Wall Street the rightful master of our economic fate? Or should we choose a broader form of sovereignty?
Markets are very important but for the government the citizens are more so.
Let us not be defeated by the tyranny of the world financial markets that threaten peace and democracy everywhere.
Countries are not like financial markets. Social change cannot be executed as swiftly as credit-default swaps. You cannot sell short on social commitments and practical responsibilities.
When governments are selling, you should be buying. And when governments are defaulting, we should look at that as an opportunity.
Global markets must be balanced by global values such as respect for human rights and international law, democracy, security and sustainable economic and environmental development.
In human life, economics precedes politics or culture.
Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger.
No opposing quotes found.