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Europe’s ‘Volt’ parties look to counter the continent’s nationalist turn (www.semafor.com)

submitted 1 month ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

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[-] barsoap@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

If you look at the German program they're mentioning increasing income and wealth inequality as a problem and are specifically mentioning the increase in low-wage work as a mistake. They want to make the tax system more progressive as well as bring taxation of capital gains more in line with existing taxation on income. In translation, that means tax hikes for the rich. Also stuff like cracking down on tax evasion and tax havens, also targeted at the rich (practically impossible to evade taxes as a worker, here).

Generally speaking there's a ton of points in there which make them a red flag for parties in ALDE. Greens/EFA (which Volt are part of) might occasionally have neoliberal bouts, but their heart isn't in it, just as with SocDems and Christian Democrats. Have you considered that your image of liberals in general might be unduly coloured by neolibs? There are liberals who understand that capital can be used to attain the very privileges liberals, back in the days, were keen on denying the nobility. Individually, who have about the same opinion of multinationals as the average worker does of the bosses.

[-] shaserlark@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

While it's true that their German program mentions increasing income and wealth inequality as a problem, their proposed solutions seem to be more focused on tweaking the existing system rather than fundamentally changing it.

Tax hikes for the rich are a good start, but it's not enough. We need a more radical transformation of our economic system, one that prioritizes people and the planet over profits. And I'm not seeing that from Volt.

By the way, I'd love to hear your thoughts on Mera25’s proposals, such as the unconditional pension guarantee, the four-day workweek, and the universal basic dividend. Do you think these ideas have merit, or are they too radical for your taste?

[-] barsoap@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

I think that they're just as much reformist as Volt's stuff. And terminally parliamentarist. But that's not so much a criticism as an observation, we certainly should get what we can get out of the parliamentary procedure, imperfect as it is.

TBH I'm not even sure whether revolution is possible any more, we might have already had it with the institution of liberal democracy but still have to get over the hangover. As in: The tipping point has been crossed, but old shackles are still dangling on our collective psyche, getting rid of them will simply take time. The state will not go out in flames, but wither. Or, paraphrasing Kerry Thornley: Failing that, it at least won't annoy anyone any more.

this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2024

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