Episode 6 of the Smith Family Manga (Season 2) is now available – Environmental disaster strikes

Today (October 3, 2024), MMTed releases Episode 6 in the Second Season of our Manga series – The Smith Family and their Adventures with Money. Have a bit of fun with it while learning Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) and circulate it to those who you think will benefit. Episode 6 was delayed by two weeks due to a family tragedy within the team.

There was an article in the UK Guardian yesterday (September 18, 2024) – More floods are coming to Britain, but you ought to know this: the system that should protect us is a scandal – which details the “legacy of underinvestment, neglect and corruption” in authorities that have been entrusted with delivering essential infrastructure and services in the UK. The underinvestment, in part, comes from the way the British government has starved the local councils of funds in its manic austerity pursuit. The example in the article are just one of many that have arisen as a result of privatisation, outsourcing, funding and oversight neglect in the austerity years.

It is a classic example of the myopia of neoliberalism.

Cut outlays now to generate even larger outlays in the long-term with the attendent damage thrown in.

It just happens that Episode 6 of the Smith Family MMT Manga touches on this topic.

The Smith Family are a middle-class family living in a city somewhere in the world. The second-generation parents are university educated and have professional occupations. Their two kids attend the local public school.

In Episode 6, with the economy mired in a deep recession following the government’s austerity push, we find the jobless Ryan out of work and now confronting the reality of a major environmental disaster in the local community brought about by the failure of the privatised water utility company to maintain the essential infrastructure and pursue a strategy of profit gouging instead.

There is a major flooding of the local streets, parks and school of waste sewage that has major impacts on the community.

Ryan, however, is in denial and claims it is the fault of the government which he says cannot manage anything properly.

But Elizabeth points out that the government actually privatised the service and the company has failed to meet its obligations.

Ryan then claims the privatisation was essential to reduce the debt mountain.

Except the family reply that the costs of the repairs wil dwarf the so-called ‘savings’ that drove the privatisation.

Later, the kids are at a loose end because the schools are closed due to the flooding and decide to hang out at the local student haunt – the Underground.

The gang try to steer Kevin away from thinking he has a chance with Allison, and it is clear that Kevin hasn’t worked out yet that Allison is gay and fancies Rose.

Some heartbreak is coming on that front.

And they all learn that the talent quest is coming up and Daniel convinces Minako to enter.

She hopes to sing the famous Japanese folk song – Omoide – by the famous singer Tsunekichi Suzuki.

Here is the original version of the song (it is a really beautiful guitar pattern by the way):

But she will be up against Kevin’s band and the competition will be intense.

If you think you resemble any of the characters then either continue spreading MMT knowledge or get our textbook and get up to speed, depending on which character you might identify with.

If you have any feedback we will appreciate it, other than ‘this sucks’.

ACCESS SITE

The manga is available in both English and Japanese.

Next episode – Episode 7 – will be available on October 18, 2024.

And while on the Japanese theme, I will coming to you from Kyoto for the next several weeks where I will once again work at Kyoto University and run along the Kamo River.

Good times in a troubled world.

That is enough for today!