Greens president criticizes ‘free market ideology’
Balthasar Glättli denounces the “throwaway society” which believes in “unlimited” growth. It calls for giving the economy a more sustainable foundation.
The free market ideology does not assume its responsibilities towards human beings, the climate and the environment, complains the president of the Greens Balthasar Glättli. Zug, August 20, 2022.
KEYSTONE/Alexandra Wey
Greens President Balthasar Glättli criticized “free market ideologues” at his party’s assembly of delegates in Zug. The Federal Council also operates according to this ideology. It has to be put to an end.
“Our throwaway society believed – and still believes – in unlimited growth, fueled by oil. She believed herself – and still believes herself – to be the climax and the end of history, but she has no future,” said Balthasar Glättli. And to add that there is no end to the story. There is only the arrogance of believing in it, the arrogance of those who believe in the market, who think that “the invisible power of the free market” directs everything.
Even the Federal Council operates according to this ideology: apply the old recipes as much as possible, above all do not touch Switzerland, continued the President of the Greens. And to denounce a faith in the market “which passes itself off as pragmatism, because it no longer sees – or no longer wants to see – the ideology that is hidden there”.
This ideology denies politics because it conceives the rules of the market as a natural law. It therefore rejects any responsibility towards human beings, towards the climate and the environment, he added.
“I don’t mind being an ideologue when it means defending values: justice, solidarity, sustainability and green values.”
Balthasar Glättli recalled that the market is a human achievement, not an end of history by divine right or a primitive state of nature. Any market is shaped by political laws or regulations. It is this framework, and therefore politics, that decides whether the market makes the rich richer and the environment sicker.
The assembly of delegates of the Greens this Saturday in Zug.
KEYSTONE/Alexandra Wey
For the National Councillor, the solutions for the future must be driven by the ideal of giving the economy and society a fairer and more sustainable foundation. “I don’t mind being an ideologue when it means defending values: justice, solidarity, sustainability and green values,” he said.
Bourgeois blockage
Balthasar Glättli recalled that green proposals have been on the table for years and that they would have prevented the coming energy crisis. They would have made Switzerland more independent of autocrats like Vladimir Putin and thus strengthened democracy and human rights.
In recent years, the bourgeois majority has constantly blocked the most ambitious stages of ecological transition, denounced the president of the Greens. And to note that in view of the next votes, big capitalism and the peasant lobby are teaming up, with the motto “pesticides and subsidies for the peasant community, tax underbidding for multinationals”. It is a lose-lose “fool’s market” for nature, health and ordinary taxpayers.
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