Poverty expert Jason Hickel says the living standards of the poorest of the poor are rising while the living standards of people who are slightly wealthier are falling.
In the past, the right wanted to maintain civilized standards of behavior (which was always a lie). The left wanted to radically restructure society to create universal prosperity.
Nowadays, the left says that if everyone moderates their greed, we can all have a reasonably good life. The right says that if you let us get rid of those parasites, “we” can all be rich, rich, RICH!!!
The point I want to emphasize is that the right’s program, despite being made up of lies, sounds more radical. The more radical side will always form the more powerful coalition.
1. Why is this?
Those whose living standards are falling feel like they have nothing left to lose.
Those whose living standards are rising feel like the promised land is just over the horizon. One last assault!
2. Why didn’t this happen before?
In the recent past, the wealthiest countries were afraid of the Soviet Union. They forced their capitalists (a historical fact) to pursue policies that universally raised living standards across society.
This looked like the inevitable march of progress and bound all classes to a common project.
It took decades to sink in that conditions had irrevocably changed.
3. How would doing away with capitalism improve things?
By cutting the power of merchants down to size, all countries can pursue policies that raises the living standards of the majority while halting the insane money grubbing activities of the upper class.
If this happens, the majority will vote for policies that advance a common project once again.
Snapshots of the Labyrinth 