MovieChat Forums > Battle in Seattle (2008) Discussion > Why is it so cool to be pro-establishmen...

Why is it so cool to be pro-establishment these days?

posted 14 years ago by roycant07
5 replies | jump to latest

So many people in here are taking the word of economists that work, support or advocate WTO, World Bank and IMF policies and eat up their cartel propaganda.

What do protesters who barely have a nickel to scratch have anything to gain from going out in the street and fighting for the rights of workers across the world?

The WTO, World Bank-IMF policies are disastrous. Most nations gained their standard of living from deviating from the World Bank and IMF, and later these rich nations formed the cartel WTO.

Read the books from great economists like Ha Joon Chang from Cambridge University who counters this propaganda.

So why is it hip to be pro-establishment and it's un-hip to be anti-establishment these days?

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] decroissance 13 years ago

[–] CCRider01 12 years ago

I wonder if kids growing up these days are more brainwashed than earlier generations, due to the ever-expanding corporatization of the USA, and think capitalism and corporatism is just the way it is, the way it was, and the way it shall be, and think that people who say otherwise are stupid because that's what they hear from TV and movies and advertising and having athletic fields and stadiums and anything that can be sold have a corporate name slapped on it, and maybe their brains are numb from staring at a screen all day every day."

Yes, over the past decade, there has been a DRASTIC increase in brainwashed herd like thinking, IMO caused largely by an increased dependency on technology and the large corporations that produce it. Kids today spend their time consumed with and dependent on, electronic gadgets, cannot be free for even 10 minutes, such is the addiction. Be it computer or smart phone, tap tap tapping away, like a laboratory mouse hitting a lever in search of chemical reward. Its not just kids though, as many adults have become brain washed. In the past, people took holidays to escape the "MAN", now most vacationers cannot leave home without him. That dependency on technology / corporations (for work, school or pleasure), has bred a conformist and pro-establishment mentality.

You need look no further than this very website for proof of the pro-establishment, capitalist mindset that is so prevalent today. Many a board will have postings by teens, twenty somethings about the opening weekend box office of their favorite film, or the concert $$$$ sales of some "flavor of the month" pop star. Growing up, I might have known the chart position of my favorite musical artist, but the gross revenue of their latest CD or concert tour, was never given a thought. Most of my favorite bands / singers produced land mark music that also sold well, but these artists still had a bit of a "*beep* you" attitude towards the media and big business. That edge or intensity was a factor behind why their music was so memorable.

[–] CadenGodard 12 years ago

In the edition of No Logo I've got, there's a short chapter added on called Two Years On The Street (that might not be the exact title, I've not got the book to hand right now, but it's along those lines - basically a reflection of what has happened since the book was first released).

In that, Naomi Klein talks about how anti-establishment (by 'establishment' I assume you mean American capitalism, globalisation, WTO etc.) went out of style because of 9/11. The symbolic home of global and American capitalism was attack, and the country formed (from my outsiders point of view) into a 'us vs them' mentality.

And with the 'us' of America you get capitalism, globalisation, etc.

This is interesting, but my personal theory is that there has been a rise in the amount of people who term themselves as middle class: not at the top of the ladder, but also not slaving away in factories, and with half-decent houses, education, surroundings etc. Therefore, they see less reason to rise up, even though there is still huge amounts of inequality, probably more at any other point in the last few decades.

Also, you could argue that the criminalisation of dissent, as shown in the film, has stopped people turning out to protest. After all, I believe in the causes shown in the film, but I'm wary of ever going to a protest like this because of the actions of the police.

Sorry if that's over-long, I always get like this when I'm talking about politics.

[–] lightningcows 10 years ago

...I would agree that 9/11 had a lot to do with shifting focus away, as well as the economic recession when banks became the target instead. Occupy Wall Street, etc. Moreover, it has become clear that some countries have benefited from globalization, including China and India, which somewhat undercuts some of the arguments against globalization.