The current global financial crises is a result of the long-term policy of unconstrained free market, privatisation of traditional government services, globalisation, military conflicts and corporate greed from the early 1970's.

Free trade agreements have resulted in shutting down the manufacturing industry across the western world and moving it to the countries with fewer environmental safeguards and workers rights. Sweat shops, and other forms of workers exploitation combined with their new lifestyle based on the consumption growth in countries such China or India has resulted not only in the global environmental problems, but also in the considerable polarisation of the western societies.

Unemployment in the west, lower wages in the service industries and limiting workers rights are examples. Middle class is disapearing almost in a way as it would be part of the current mass extinction of species resulting from the environmental imbalance. However, this is also beneficial to corporations and many western politicians whose political campaigns are funded by the corporations. Members of the society with low socio-economic background are typically less environmentally conscious and less politically involved.

This also coincides with moving away the western economies from the Keynesian welfare state concept and or even democracy, often through economic 'shock therapies' in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters (see for example the Katrina aftermath in the US or post-war Iraq) which results in even a greater privatisation of traditional government services (e.g. education, public housing, security, water supply). As a result, corporations compete with the government and demand privatisation of what is still yet left in the public hands.

Natural disasters and wars can actually be beneficial to corporations. A few of them cares about the climate change, the future of the world or sustainability (though they have often sustainability reporting and environmental policies). Their growing greed and shareholders' interest prevail.

At present, not only the carbon emission stabilisation is at stake, but the whole western livestyle and our freedoms. Fewer taxes imposed on corporations will not help to resolve the current financial problems, but will exacerbate the environmental problems and finally the government budget deficit.

Agreed Rob. Corporate greed rules. And it is doing us in.

So, what do you think we can do about it?

BTW, welcome to OLO.

Thank you, Ludwig. What can we do about it ? The first what comes to mind are our political leaders. This actually depends on us going to the polls.

When we finally elect our representatives, we need to be prepared to bear cost of the policy they introduce because we wanted them by voting for them.

Julia Gillard has actually done what we all wanted introducing the carbon tax legislation. In theory, all have agreed, but when came to the policy implementation, we all rather against it. Media have not helped with its scare tactic and misinformation about climate change, carbon tax economic impact, as preached by their corporate masters, or by paraphrasing popular opinions to keep readers (and shareholders) happy.

Though the scientific evidence is crystal clear (see IPPC reports based on 1000's research papers), media say often about 'global cooling' or that global warming will be reversed by itself (based single publications often used out-of-context). No human intervations are needed. Sit back and relax.

Australian Government has shown its leadership in climate change issues. The world needs such examples. We need to give it our full support. The next time it might be too late.

How to control corporate greed in general ? The lesson learnt from the carbon tax case gives us a quite clear guidance. Elect proper political leaders, give them support and do not be fooled by corrupt media. The only problem with this is that it is hard to find trustworthy politicians :-(

Efficient government and government services (security, water, education, etc.) will set aside the need for their privatisation. If they become even partly privatised, the corporations will do everything what they can to get the rest. (Further guidance in the global or U.S. context you can find in books on this topic, for example, by Noam Chomsky, Noami Klein or Chris Hedges.) Any other ideas ?

Rob Canoe:"Middle class is disapearing "

erm, I think you've got that barse-ackwards. The middle-class has grown like topsy, with lots of people who should ttraditionally be considered working class aspiring to the description.

Not only have the traditional working class occupations reduced their numbers, some of them have moved up-market, like nursing and many fields within bureaucracies that have suddenly acquired the "need" for a degree and the extra status that it implies, while outcomes don't seem to be as important as they once were.

Part of our problem in this country is that there are too many people who don't want to have to get their hands drty for a living and that's a distinctly middle-class phenomenon.

Antiseptic, what is the definition of the middle class? Is it rather based on the family income than on the dirty / clean job classification ?

The manufacturing industry which paid decent wages, has ceased to exist in Australia. Factories have been moved overseas long time ago. Wages in the service industry, at McDonald's or as a taxi driver, are substantially lower. What about such jobs' security ?

How many farmers went broke due to El Ninjo weather pattern a few years back (closely associated with global warming) ? They moved to the town doing odd jobs? Are they better off ? The next El Ninjo is just beginning.

The construction industry has not recovered and is unlikely to recover to the pre-GFC level. Fewer young people could effort their own home (working in the service industry). Fewer high school dropouts could, therefore, find a job in the construction industry.

We are lucky that Aussie dollar exchange rate is still so high. What will happen if it drops?

But, you might be right. People could still try to find a job in the mining industry to dig out more coal for our power stations. (Renewable energy sector has not yet been developed in Aus.) Mining still pays not bad

Rob Canoe, I'd say that middle-class is all about job description and what that has usually implied about income.

In today's world, where the 45% of Government revenue that is devoted to redistributive measures distorts the picture, not to mention the demand-side pressure from the mining sector for some skilled trades, some occupations have access to funds at far above what their traditional income level might have been and so have moved up the "class" scale.

I'd go so far as to say that nearly everyone you might like to speak to about their self-identification with a particular class would claim to be middle-class, except when it comes time to cry poor and ask for another handout, of course. There are few of us who proudly claim to be part of the working class any more and in my own case, it's all about the work.