Neoliberalism... freedom and autonomy in New Zealand?

Neo-liberalism can be described as the individuals right to autonomy. Farquhar, (2008)  describes it as “a form of political reasoning in which the freedom of the individual from the state intervention is seen as vital to economic and individual wellbeing” (p.49).  This may well be true for those living above the poverty line and able to meet basic needs, but those who are poor often have less rights and freedom than the wealthy.  Access to the law and information has associated cost rather than actually being free, as most liberals would assume (Wikipedia, 2013).  The wealthy are able to choose options of privatisation and deregulation, often for personal gain.  Therefore, those who are poor do not experience such economic and individual wellbeing as the wealthy in light of neoliberalism.

It is those that have wealth that are able to advocate a neo-liberal view, rejecting the welfare state and “almost all state activity as that which undermines the individuals freedoms” (Crawshaw, n.d).  It is fair to say that those who live in poverty are not supportive of these neoliberal views.  Instead, in support of state intervention, with equal access to services and information reguarding health, education, housing and employment.  It is this form of equality that would decrease New Zealands rates of poverty and associated effects.  It would then allow each individual both freedom and a right to autonomy, regardless of class or social status.