The main points of neo-liberalism include: 1. THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating "free" enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers' rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say "an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone." It's like Reagan's "supply-side" and "trickle-down" economics -- but somehow the wealth didn't trickle down very much. 2. CUTTING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES like education and health care. REDUCING THE SAFETY-NET FOR THE POOR, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, water supply -- again in the name of reducing government's role. Of course, they don't oppose government subsidies and tax benefits for business. 3. DEREGULATION. Reduce government regulation of everything that could diminsh profits, including protecting the environmentand safety on the job. 4. PRIVATIZATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs. 5. ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF "THE PUBLIC GOOD" or "COMMUNITY" and replacing it with "individual responsibility." Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves -- then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy." In conclusion, neo-liberal policies and its austerity measures can only work if a nation is indebted to private interests. The issuance of interest-free loans by the state owned BoC as was the case in Canada from 1938 & 1974 solved this problem, no debt to private interests therefore no need for these public crushing policies. Neo-liberalism is a tool for private interests to grab state owned assets (on the cheap) which results into further impoverishment of the citizens of that country, it is a scam in slow motion, pure and simple. In essence, the “money-gods” of this world want monopolies and that is the end result of capitalism. IF YOU HAVE EVER PLAYED THE GAME “MONOPOLY”, THEN YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE WINNER. It is a form of feudalism when pushed to the end. They use governments to create barriers to entry where they see competition and push for freedom once monopolies are achieved. The fact that we are imposed “austerity” and in turn theft of our collective sovereignty should outrage us all, our governments no longer answer to us the people of this country.