Johan Sjölander, new CEO of the social democratic think tank Tiden, has written a brilliant essay about the fluctuations of politics since a number of decades back. Sjölander emphasizes the Bildt government's strong residual effects, even if these were destructive. Sjölander seems to believe in a third way as the future path to victory for the broad left.
Sjölander emphasizes the destructive remaining success of the Bildt government's reforms. He seems to think that neoliberalism was introduced first and foremost then. However, the bourgeois government of the 70s had great success with it. With disinformation, it said that Keynesianism was not possible.
Modern research is increasingly showing that Keynesianism works. We stopped subsidizing industry during the crisis in the 70s and instead the assignments went to East Asian countries that subsidized their industry. Of course, industry should ideally stand on its own two feet, but industry has never been able to produce technical and medical inventions without the help of the state.
The tax was perhaps a bit too high in the 70s, but on the other hand, Reinfeldt's employment tax credit was only there to lower wages in the long run.
However, when wages decrease, purchasing power decreases. Then people have to borrow more, which was made possible by the Social Democrats' credit liberalization in the 80s. Then it was also made easier to move capital abroad, which led to a race to the bottom in terms of taxes, wages, welfare and working conditions.
Sjölander's essay seems to advocate a third way between right and left. But I think the choice is between classic left-wing social democracy and right-wing bourgeoisie as always.
On the other hand, I believe in something of a new path in the view of ordinary people's opportunities to design their lives and become a socially and economically functioning and prosperous person. A new left wave must respect the common man's need for freedom under responsibility. We cannot have so many laws that limit the freedom of the common man in everyday life. We must be allowed to make mistakes in more modest matters. This is a return to the classic social democratic view that it is not primarily strict laws and harsh punishments that make people well-mannered, but real socio-economic conditions, equality, welfare and good jobs for everyone at all levels of society.
The climate issues must be solved and this is best done at a structural level with more public and less private consumption, shorter working hours, laws requiring goods to last longer and green, fossil-free energy sources.
Good analysis