John Maynard Keynes
The Architect of Modern Exploitation and the Case for Indigenous Anarchism
John Maynard Keynes: The Architect of Modern Exploitation and the Case for Indigenous Anarchism
John Maynard Keynes remains a towering figure in economic thought, celebrated for reshaping how governments and financial institutions interact with economies. His theories, particularly those presented in The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, laid the groundwork for the modern capitalist framework, emphasizing government intervention, centralized planning, and perpetual growth. His earlier work, The Economic Consequences of the Peace, revealed his ability to predict political and economic instability when punitive financial practices are imposed on nations.
However, Keynes' vision was never one of dismantling exploitation or inequality—it was a framework for stabilizing capitalism, a system deeply rooted in extraction, colonization, and inequality. Over time, Keynesian economics has been weaponized to consolidate power in the hands of technocrats and elites, exacerbating wealth inequality, environmental degradation, and global instability.
Contrasting Keynes’ technocratic vision is the enduring wisdom of Indigenous and matriarchal societies, which offer sustainable, egalitarian models of governance and resource allocation. As we grapple with the crises spawned by Keynesian economics—climate change, economic collapse, and growing inequality—these systems provide a roadmap for a better future.
Keynes’ Vision: Stabilizing Exploitation Through Perpetual Growth
Keynes’ central premise was that economic instability could be mitigated through government intervention. By stimulating demand during downturns and curbing excesses during booms, governments could smooth out the cyclical crises inherent in capitalism. His policies, implemented during the Great Depression and post-World War II recovery, became the backbone of modern economic management.
In The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money, Keynes argued that investing in demand—ensuring consumers had the means to spend—was just as important as investing in supply. This theory led to policies that prioritized infrastructure spending, social programs, and government-backed employment initiatives. While these measures helped stabilize economies, they also entrenched systems of centralized control and reliance on perpetual growth.
This growth-focused model came at a cost. It ignored ecological limits, prioritized profits over people, and created economies that could not function without constant expansion. As industries scaled up, they intensified resource extraction, polluting ecosystems and contributing to climate change.
Keynes’ work in The Economic Consequences of the Peace illustrates his keen understanding of the dangers of economic exploitation. He condemned the Treaty of Versailles, warning that its punitive reparations against Germany would lead to economic collapse and political extremism—a prediction borne out by the rise of Nazism. However, Keynes failed to address the broader imperialist system that allowed such exploitation to exist. His focus remained on stabilizing capitalism rather than dismantling its oppressive structures.
The Bretton Woods Conference: A Missed Opportunity for Sustainability
The 1944 Bretton Woods Conference aimed to establish a new global economic order. Keynes proposed the Bancor, a supranational currency designed to facilitate international trade and prevent economic imbalances. While the Bancor was ultimately rejected in favor of a U.S.-dollar-centric system, its principles of centralized control and perpetual growth became the foundation of the postwar economy.
The decision to reject the Bancor had long-term implications. Tying the global economy to the U.S. dollar concentrated economic power in the hands of the United States, enabling it to dictate global financial policies. This system reached a critical turning point in 1971 when President Richard Nixon abandoned the gold standard, transitioning to a fiat-based monetary system.
By severing the dollar’s link to gold, Nixon enabled unrestrained financial speculation and created an economy reliant on perpetual debt. This decision, while intended to stabilize the U.S. economy, set the stage for global financial instability, wealth inequality, and environmental degradation. The fiat system encourages endless growth, which is fundamentally unsustainable in a world of finite resources.
Interestingly, while the Bancor was never officially adopted, its principles align with how the CIA and financial institutions operate today. Through covert operations and economic manipulation, the CIA has enforced systems of centralized control that align with the interests of multinational corporations. These efforts are often supported by think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, which promote neoliberal policies designed to consolidate wealth and power.
The Heritage Foundation, the CIA, and the Continuation of Colonialism
The Heritage Foundation exemplifies how Keynesian principles have been co-opted to serve colonialist capitalist interests. Founded in 1973, this right-wing think tank has wielded significant influence over U.S. policy, advocating for deregulation, privatization, and austerity. These policies disproportionately harm marginalized communities while enriching corporations and the wealthy elite.
The Heritage Foundation’s ties to U.S. presidents and CIA directors highlight its role in perpetuating colonialist systems. For example, during the Reagan administration, the foundation played a key role in shaping foreign and domestic policies that prioritized corporate profits over human rights. These policies often aligned with CIA operations, such as supporting right-wing regimes in Latin America to suppress socialist movements.
This partnership between the Heritage Foundation, the CIA, and U.S. administrations demonstrates how Keynesian economics has been weaponized to maintain systems of exploitation. By promoting policies that prioritize corporate interests, these institutions have deepened inequality, destabilized nations, and exacerbated global crises.
A Vision for the Future: Indigenous Anarchism
Indigenous anarchism offers a compelling alternative to the centralized, exploitative systems championed by Keynesian economics. Rooted in principles of collective responsibility, reciprocity, and sustainability, Indigenous anarchism prioritizes community well-being over individual gain.
Historical examples abound. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy (Iroquois) operated under the Great Law of Peace, a governance model based on consensus, collective decision-making, and respect for all living beings. Women held significant power in this system, selecting and advising leaders to ensure decisions aligned with communal values.
The Zapatista movement in Chiapas, Mexico, provides a modern example of Indigenous anarchism in action. These autonomous communities reject state control, operating on principles of mutual aid, shared resources, and participatory democracy. By prioritizing local needs over external demands, the Zapatistas have created resilient systems that empower individuals and protect ecosystems.
Indigenous anarchism also offers solutions to the issue of sociopathic narcissists rising to power. Centralized systems, like those envisioned by Keynes, create environments where such individuals can exploit hierarchical structures for personal gain. Indigenous anarchist models distribute power more evenly, ensuring accountability and minimizing the risk of abuse. For example, the Maasai of East Africa rely on restorative justice practices that prioritize reconciliation and communal harmony over punishment.
These principles could address many of the crises facing modern society. By rejecting perpetual growth and embracing sustainability, Indigenous anarchism offers a path toward environmental restoration and economic stability. By prioritizing relationships over transactions, it fosters stronger communities and greater resilience.
Perpetual Growth: The Root of Modern Crises
Keynesian economics is built on the assumption of perpetual growth—a model that has led to widespread environmental destruction and social inequality. The emphasis on consumption and production has created a culture of consumerism, where success is measured by material wealth rather than well-being.
This growth-focused model has also contributed to the climate crisis. Industries driven by profit have prioritized resource extraction and pollution, leading to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and rising global temperatures. The consequences are already evident: record-breaking wildfires, devastating hurricanes, and mass extinctions.
Economic systems based on perpetual growth are fundamentally unsustainable. They rely on finite resources to fuel infinite expansion, creating a cycle of boom and bust that leaves communities vulnerable and ecosystems depleted. Indigenous anarchism, with its emphasis on balance and sustainability, provides a viable alternative.
Current Events: Technocrats and the Collapse of Keynes’ Vision
Today’s technocrats—figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—embody Keynes’ vision of centralized control and perpetual growth. Through companies like SpaceX, Amazon, and Meta, these billionaires have amassed unprecedented wealth and power, shaping the global economy in their image.
Musk, for example, has used his platform to promote misinformation and manipulate markets. His acquisition of Twitter (now X) has turned the platform into a propaganda machine, amplifying conspiracy theories and suppressing dissent. Bezos’ Amazon has been accused of exploiting workers and destroying small businesses, while Zuckerberg’s Meta has faced scrutiny for its role in spreading disinformation and undermining democracy.
These technocrats represent the culmination of Keynesian economics: a world where power is concentrated in the hands of a few, and economic systems prioritize profits over people. Their actions have deepened inequality, accelerated environmental destruction, and eroded trust in institutions.
A Path Forward: The Power of the People
The failures of Keynesian economics have brought us to a critical juncture. Climate change, economic instability, and social unrest are symptoms of a system that prioritizes growth over sustainability and control over community. Yet despite these challenges, there is hope.
Indigenous and matriarchal societies offer a vision for a better future. By rejecting systems of exploitation and embracing principles of reciprocity, collective responsibility, and sustainability, these communities provide a roadmap for creating a more equitable world.
The power of the people lies in their ability to come together, reject systems of oppression, and build something new. Movements for decolonization, environmental justice, and economic equality are growing, fueled by the recognition that a better world is possible.
By reconnecting with each other and rejecting the propaganda fed to us by technocrats and financial institutions, we can reclaim our power and create a world where all people—and the planet itself—are free to thrive. Together, we can dismantle the systems of exploitation that Keynesian economics has upheld and build a future rooted in justice, equity, and sustainability.
anybody care to tell me what if anything makes sense about MMT?