Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends

The analysis published under this topic are as follows.

Monday, December 19, 2016

While dismantling Obamacare, U.S. Congress aims for Social Security reform / Politics / Social Issues

By: Michael_T_Bucci

Humans are woefully unprepared to deal with a surprise asteroid or comet, said NASA researcher Dr Joseph Nuth at the annual meeting of American Geophysical Union this month. Woefully, Americans are as unprepared to deal with the most ideologically driven reactionary Congress in this nation’s history that will convene on January 3 and decide the future of Obamacare, safety net programs, housing, EPA, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, among others.

In the elections of Nov. 8, Americans gave Republicans unified control of government. The policy and budget priorities of Congress promise to reflect a center-right conservative ideology for years to come.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Freedom in America Disappearing in Plain Sight / Politics / US Politics

By: Stephen_Lendman

The republic was founded “in strict secrecy,” Benjamin Franklin explained. When asked “what have we got, a republic or a monarchy,” he responded “(a) republic, if you can keep it.”

Today he’d say a coup to destroy it is underway in plain sight, the last vestiges of freedom fading with it - a fascist dictatorship emerging, far more ruthless and dangerous than others in world history.

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Trumping the Environment / Politics / Environmental Issues

By: Walter_Brasch

Whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump was elected, the environment is going to suffer.

Both have supported horizontal fracking, the destruction of the earth to extract oil and gas. The use of fracking is so harmful to the environment and public health that numerous banks refuse to lend funds to individuals who wish to build or sell their houses near drilling operations. Numerous lenders have also refused to loan money to corporations that wish to drill.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

US Congress Votes To Give Jihadists Anti-aircraft Missiles / Politics / Syria

By: Mike_Whitney

On Thursday, the Senate passed a bill that puts every American who travels by plane at risk.  It is among the stupidest pieces of legislation ever written and it explains-- to a great extent-- why the US Congress has a public approval rating of 13 percent and is among the most loathed institutions in America.
 

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Russian President Putin Plans Surprise Christmas Aleppo Visit to Celebrate Syrian Government Victory / Politics / GeoPolitics

By: Nadeem_Walayat

President Vlad Putin plans a surprise visit to formerly Syria's most populous city, Aleppo, which after 4 years of civil war and the recent Russian military backed onslaught has been turned to rubble. Nevertheless a celebratory Christmas scene will be set to include an orchestra playing "Carol of the Bells", russian jets flying over, a military parade through cleared of rubble and white washed streets, all topped off with Vlad Putin's grand finale that follows in the footsteps of whom he was named after Vlad the Impaler, as the pinnacle of festivities will involve Vlad Putin disrobing and bathing in the blood of hundreds of dead Syrian children harvested earlier from the rubble of East Aleppo, leaving fellow Dictator Assad to take notes whilst looking on, on how to truly frighten the people into obedience, which Vlad Putin is the master of.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Europe Crisis - Italy’s “No” Vote Is Just the Beginning / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis

By: John_Mauldin

BY ANTONIA COLIBASANU AND JACOB SHAPIRO : An important vote recently occurred in Italy. Italians said “No” to a referendum on government reforms. The vote was broadly viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. He has since tendered his resignation.

The result of Italy’s referendum means three things. First, the slow devolution of the European Union rumbles on. Second, Italy has declared itself in open revolt internally and against the EU. This is a challenge not just for the EU, but for Germany in particular. Third, this is the beginning of a major political shift in the third largest economy in the Eurozone.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Trump Got an Edge over China with a Single Phone Call / Politics / China

By: John_Mauldin

BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : Donald Trump spoke on the telephone with the president of Taiwan, causing deep upset. It was counter to an understanding in place since Richard Nixon opened the door with China in 1972.

This understanding included an American endorsement of the one-China policy. This policy held that Taiwan is part of China, but would continue to behave as if it weren’t. The US agreed not to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and pretend it isn’t a close ally.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Maps That Explain US Main Economic Strength Over Russia / Politics / GeoPolitics

By: John_Mauldin

BY JACOB L. SHAPIRO : Power is a relative concept. To say one nation is powerful means nothing. Power derives meaning only when assessed in comparison.

Two nations whose powers we constantly reevaluate are Russia and the United States. Much of our analysis is driven by how weak we believe the Russian Federation is.

There are different ways to evaluate this. Comparing US and Russian regional economies is particularly striking.

Monday, December 12, 2016

2017 Will Be A Pivotal Year For Europe / Politics / European Union

By: John_Mauldin

Many people in the EU disapprove of EU economic policies. Greece is by far the unhappiest with Brussels. Italy is next, with France and Spain not far behind. The UK, where people are angry enough to have voted themselves out of the EU, looks even-tempered in comparison.

That suggests to me that if you offered these other countries a chance to ditch the EU and reassured them that they wouldn’t cause the sky to fall, there are some who might take the leap.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Corporations Getting In Bed With The Government / Politics / Social Issues

By: James_Quinn

The recent deal to keep Carrier jobs in the United States is not at all unusual. It only received so much press because Trump made it a campaign issue and saw an opportunity to record a big early PR victory before he even took office. Government and corporations cooperate, negotiate deals, scratch each others backs, kickback ill-gotten gains, and function as a career advancement funnel for corrupt politicians.

Monday, December 12, 2016

War on 'Fake News' Part of a War on Free Speech / Politics / Propaganda

By: Dr_Ron_Paul

A major threat to liberty is the assault on the right to discuss political issues, seek out alternative information sources, and promote dissenting ideas and causes such as non-interventionism in foreign and domestic affairs. If this ongoing assault on free speech succeeds, then all of our liberties are endangered.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

More Thoughts on Trump’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan / Politics / Infrastructure

By: Ellen_Brown

To stimulate the economy, create new jobs and generate new GDP requires an injection of new money. Borrowing from the bond markets or off-balance-sheet in public/private partnerships won’t do it. If Congress won’t issue money directly, it should borrow from banks, which create money on their books when they make loans.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

US Congress Passes Measure Opposing Speech and Media Freedoms / Politics / Censorship

By: Stephen_Lendman

First Amendment rights are America’s most precious. Without them, all others are endangered.

Post-9/11, police state laws destroyed fundamental US constitutional rights, remaining ones eroding toward elimination altogether.

Fascism operates this way. Americans are fooled by government and media propaganda, claiming compromised freedoms provide greater security, not realizing they’re losing both.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

CIA Warns Donald Trump is Putin's Manchurian Candidate! / Politics / US Politics

By: Nadeem_Walayat

The CIA playing to their own agenda, one of concentration of power into their own hands let a political bomb off as we countdown to the inauguration of the America's CHANGE candidate Donald Trump. Change which the establishment elite that the CIA are part and parcel of want to try their hardest to limit the extent of materialising.

Friday, December 09, 2016

Euro-zone Crisis - The Soon To Erupt Euro Experiment / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis

By: Gordon_T_Long

THE EURO EXPERIMENT

It was always blatantly clear that an EU monetary union would inevitably require a political union to centralize decisions about tax and public spending. Without this occurring it was a misconceived and terrible blunder (that some of us argued it was when it was initially constructed) but it is turning out to be even worse than we originally perceived because of its underpinning Euro currency.

We are now witnessing that the EU experiment has become so damaging and divisive that public opinion will now never tolerate a political union. So not only was the cart put before the horse, but the horse will not now contemplate even following the cart at a distance!

Friday, December 09, 2016

The Attack on “Fake News” Is An Outright Campaign for Censorship of the Truth / Politics / Propaganda

By: Jeff_Berwick

The buzzword “fake news” has popped into the popular lexicon in recent weeks.

We’ve been using that term for years, though, when referring to the mainstream media.

While poll numbers show that about 9 out of 10 people don’t trust the information they get from the mainstream media, they likely still have no idea just how fake it all is.

Friday, December 09, 2016

Trump Debunks Notion of Russia Interfering in America’s Electoral Process / Politics / US Presidential Election 2016

By: Stephen_Lendman

Claiming it is utter nonsense. Not a shred of evidence suggests it. Irresponsibly blaming Moscow for hacking DNC emails or any other type interference in America’s electoral process reflects longstanding Russia bashing.

In response to being named Time magazine’s person of the year, Trump told the publication that accusing Russia is politically motivated. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe they interfered,” he said, adding:

Friday, December 09, 2016

Rolling Back America's Empire: Washington’s Proxy-Army Faces Decisive Defeat in Aleppo / Politics / Syria

By: Mike_Whitney

Syrian Army helicopters dropped leaflets on parts of eastern Aleppo on Sunday warning anti-government fighters to surrender while they still had the chance. Hundreds of jihadists have already laid down their weapons and surrendered while a hardline corps of deadenders continue to fend off the  rapidly advancing army.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

The Rise of Anti-Establishment Italy / Politics / Italy

By: Dan_Steinbock

After the UK Brexit and the Trump triumph in the US, the rise of anti-establishment Italy is hardly a surprise. It is the effect of half a decade of failed austerity doctrines in Europe and decades of failed political consolidation in Italy – ever since the notorious Tangentopoli scandals.

While Italy’s constitutional referendum heralds a political earthquake that will eventually affect both France and Germany, the immediate result is more uncertainty in economy, political polarization and market volatility.

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Fake News Didn’t Influence the US Election / Politics / Propaganda

By: John_Mauldin

BY GEORGE FRIEDMAN : Since Election Day, Americans’ focus has shifted to something that’s considered a new phenomenon.

Some suspect that false news may have swayed the US presidential election. Some also claim this false news was planted by Russian intelligence under orders of President Vladimir Putin, who allegedly supported Trump’s election.

Given that a recount of votes in some states is likely—with some saying Russians might have hacked voting machines—it’s no longer a matter of politics but of geopolitics.