During the era of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher we were lulled into a false feeling of economic safety. As their policymakers prophesied of the great golden age that was soon to be upon us, we believed them. Deregulation and privatization of state owned enterprises would bring us freedom. Freedom not only when talking economic and social mobility, but also political freedom, the fulfillment of the American Dream for all human beings that thrive on this Earth. The opportunity to climb the tree of success, from meager beginnings at its roots, pulling oneself upward on the branches of free enterprise to attain goals; the leaves of happiness. And was it not Fukuyama who saw the end of history looming on the horizon? Soon western liberalism would triumph as the empire of evil came tumbling down, just as Reagan had worked to achieve. The world was opening up and would soon become nothing more than a large hamlet, filled to the brim with opportunities and freedom for all, driven forth by economic prosperity where the invisible hand would from then on steer the ship of history. Verder lezen →