It is simply wrong to define neoliberalism as ‘free-market economics’. It's nothing of the kind. The ‘freedom’ that neoliberals celebrate – which sounds so beguiling when expressed in general terms – turns out to be freedom for the rich to exploit the rest.
As for ‘the market’, when used in the neoliberal context this term disguises a host of power relations. It becomes a euphemism for the power of money. When ‘the market’ decides, it means those with the money decide.
In reality, it’s about who dominates whom. Neoliberalism is a tool used by the very rich to accumulate more wealth and power.
@breadandcircuses I realized long ago that our 401k's and other retirement investment accounts are nothing more than pipelines for wealthy investors and day traders to siphon our nest eggs into thier own coffers.