Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Wednesday, April 08, 2015
Russia’s Central Bank Governor Is Way Smarter Than Ours / Politics / Central Banks
By: Raul_I_Meijer
It wouldn’t be a first, but it would certainly be a – bigger – shock. That is to say, the Bank of England hijacked the head of Canada’s central bank some time ago, but, while unexpected enough, that would pale in comparison to the US hiring the present Governor of the Russian central bank, Elvira Sakhipzadovna Nabiullina. It would still seem to be a mighty fine idea, though.
Not that I think it will happen, not to worry if you think Yellen is just what it takes at the Fed. But Nabiullina is both razor sharp and fiercely independent. Yellen is obviously neither; she’s a cog in a machine that huffs and puffs and pumps and dumps to make sure her overlords in the blissful world of US finance make ever more profit no matter how bad things get in American society.
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Tuesday, April 07, 2015
Best Government - Governs Least / Politics / Government Intervention
By: BATR
Once upon a time the Founding Fathers were considered to be the personification of the American Republic. Most notable among giants, was Thomas Jefferson. The significance of his authorship of the Declaration of Independence is heralded as the very essence of the purpose for fighting the revolution. Jump onward to the present era and examine the sentiment held by the populace. The seeming disconnect from the political thought of the 18th and 19th century to the attitudes in this 21st totalitarian collectivist mindset that dominates the culture, often resembles life on a different planet.
Tuesday, April 07, 2015
Russia Nervously Eyes the U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal / Politics / Nuclear Weapons
By: STRATFOR
Reva Bhalla writes: When a group of weary diplomats announced a framework for an Iranian nuclear accord last week in Lausanne, there was one diplomat in the mix whose feigned enthusiasm was hard to miss. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov left the talks at their most critical point March 30, much to the annoyance of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who apparently had to call him personally to persuade him to return. Even as Lavrov spoke positively to journalists about the negotiations throughout the week, he still seemed to have better things to do than pull all-nighters for a deal that effectively gives the United States one less problem to worry about in the Middle East and a greater capacity to focus on the Russian periphery.
Monday, April 06, 2015
U.S. Democratic Party - Requiem For The People’s Party / Politics / US Politics
By: Stephen_Merrill
The Democratic Party of the United States is the oldest political party in the world by far. Some would suggest the Democratic Party is also the most successful political party at any time over modern history. It led the United States, in largest part, from near its beginning into becoming the sole superpower on the planet. Democrats have held a majority in one or both houses of Congress for 124 years of the past 188 years. There have been 15 Democrats elected to the Presidency serving 92 years in office, including 16 of 24 years through 2016. Democrats today control 41 of 99 state legislative chambers along with 18 governorships. Of US voters, 40% favor or lean toward the Democratic Party outpacing Republicans considerably at their 34% of the national vote.
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Monday, April 06, 2015
Jesus Christ - Neither The Prophet Nor The Only Son Of The God: A View Opposing Both The Islam And The Christianity / Politics / Religion
By: Dr_R_M_Mathew
While the Christians believe Jesus as the Only Son of the God, the Muslims believe Jesus as a Prophet. For the last 1500 years or more, these two predominant beliefs about Jesus have been there, besides treating Jesus as a mystery by the rebels, the reformers, the revolutionaries, the atheists or even his enemies and critics. This has made me conduct my own study of Jesus, exploring the scriptures, besides Sanadhana Dharma- the Ancient Indian Wisdom. For I have already supervised doctoral works based on the Bible, the Koran, the Vedas and Upanishads, besides several other areas.
Sunday, April 05, 2015
“Destroying Nation After Nation”: American Hell for Yemen / Politics / US Military
By: Global_Research
Margaret Kimberley writes: The U.S.-spawned whirlwind of carnage and destruction has wrecked the societies of Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen, yet most Americans feel themselves blameless. “The people, the corporate media and the political system all accept that their government has the right to intervene in the affairs of other nations and that it is always right and moral in its claims.” They behave like zombified cogs in an imperial death machine.
Sunday, April 05, 2015
Soil Isn't Sexy Between Us and Extinction / Politics / Environmental Issues
By: Richard_Mills
After watching Interstellar w/Matthew McConaughey I was motivated to update and republish an article, Between Us and Extinction, I wrote a couple of years ago.
"Soil is the earth's fragile skin that anchors all life on Earth. It is comprised of countless species that create a dynamic and complex ecosystem and is among the most precious resources to humans...Half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years." WWF
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Friday, April 03, 2015
More Unofficial U.S. Capital Controls: PFIC Rules / Politics / Taxes
By: Casey_Research
By Nick Giambruno
It ranks at the very top of potential tax nightmares, especially if you invest internationally.
This nightmare could become a reality if you happen to invest in what the IRS deems a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC), which are taxed at exorbitant rates and have highly complex reporting rules. Most foreign mutual funds are PFICs, as are certain foreign stocks.
Friday, April 03, 2015
Warren Buffett is Everything That’s Wrong With America / Politics / Social Issues
By: Raul_I_Meijer
I think I’ve never understood the American – and international – fascination with money, with gathering wealth as the no. 1 priority in one’s life. What looks even stranger to me is the idolization of people who have a lot of money. Like these people are per definition smarter or better than others. It seems obvious that most of them are probably just more ruthless, that they have less scruples, and that their conscience is less likely to get in the way of their money and power goals.
Thursday, April 02, 2015
Chicago Shockingly Bad Fiscal Health and the Financial Engineering Used to Hide the Facts / Politics / US Debt
By: Mike_Shedlock
Chicago finances are even worse than I thought which is saying quite a bit because I have written about the sorry state of Chicago finances on numerous occasions.
Kristi Culpepper, a bond guru, has gone over Chicago's annual financial report, bond documents, investor presentations, and CAFRs. She has uncovered things the City of Chicago does not want anyone to understand.
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Thursday, April 02, 2015
Iran Nuclear Talks, Does a Missed Deadline Matter? / Politics / Nuclear Weapons
By: STRATFOR
The Obama administration has slipped past self-imposed deadlines and minced words over red lines before. Although certainly an embarrassment for the White House, another missed deadline in the seemingly never-ending Iran nuclear negotiations — which stretched beyond the latest deadline of March 31 — may not matter much in the end.
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Wednesday, April 01, 2015
America Clueless In The Middle East / Politics / Middle East
By: John_Rubino
Starting with the CIA’s overthrow (and some would say murder) of Iran’s democratically-elected president in the 1950s and continuing through our serial invasions of Iraq and our arming of Al Qaeda and ISIS, American policy in the Middle East has been a textbook case of a superpower with more money than brains, making things vastly worse with every move and counter-move.
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
How the West Invented Individualism / Politics / Social Issues
By: MISES
Roger McKinney writes: Inventing the Individual, by Larry Siedentop, Belknap Press, 2014
I lived in Morocco a few decades ago and needed some furniture for our apartment. A college student I had befriended, Hamid, offered to take my cash and negotiate with the dealer for me while I drank coffee in a nearby qahwa because, as he said, the price of the furniture would triple if the merchant glimpsed an American within a block of his store.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2015
U.S. Isolated in Opposition to Chinese Bank / Politics / Global Financial System
By: John_Browne
Over the past few decades while the economic power of the Chinese has grown exponentially, many observers have been surprised by the relative willingness of China to operate within the financial and economic framework established by the dominant Western order. But it should now be blatantly clear that Beijing prefers to act slowly, deliberately and quietly to advance its agenda. This is the case with the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a Chinese-led lending institution which could emerge as an international rival to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Such an institution could support Beijing's political interests by controlling the flow of infrastructure financing that is vital for developing economies. As we all know, money can often buy loyalty.
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Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Middle East Balance of Power Matures / Politics / GeoPolitics
By: STRATFOR
George Friedman writes: Last week, a coalition of predominantly Sunni Arab countries, primarily from the Arabian Peninsula and organized by Saudi Arabia, launched airstrikes in Yemen that have continued into this week. The airstrikes target Yemeni al-Houthis, a Shiite sect supported by Iran, and their Sunni partners, which include the majority of military forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. What made the strikes particularly interesting was what was lacking: U.S. aircraft. Although the United States provided intelligence and other support, it was a coalition of Arab states that launched the extended air campaign against the al-Houthis.
Monday, March 30, 2015
A Middle East Nuclear Holocaust / Politics / Nuclear Weapons
By: Paul_Craig_Roberts
Foundations and corporations do not support truth-tellers. American foundations underwrite war and US imperialism. Foundations support subversion of countries that are not Washington’s puppet states. Your website has no foundation support, no corporate support; it only has your support.
I have been around for a long time and have experienced more than most. The current situation in my experience is the most dangerous time of all for humanity.
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Monday, March 30, 2015
Why Is the Fed Punishing My Parents? / Politics / US Federal Reserve Bank
By: MISES
Shawn Ritenour writes: In September 1993, President Bill Clinton reassured his radio audience that “if you work hard and play by the rules, you’ll be rewarded with a good life for yourself and a better chance for your children.” Picking up that theme over eighteen years later, President Barack Obama affirmed that “Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that does the same.” The trouble is neither the government nor the financial system backed by the Federal Reserve rewards people like my parents, who have worked hard and played by the rules their entire lives, only to have their savings wither away.
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Monday, March 30, 2015
With Yemen Burning, Arab Spring II Is Underway / Politics / Middle East
By: Money_Morning
Dr. Kent Moors writes: The worsening crisis in Yemen has provided a stark reminder of the immediate impact geopolitical events can have on oil prices.
I was asked to provide my analysis on CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Thursday afternoon, and to discuss the impact the crisis will have on oil prices.
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Monday, March 30, 2015
Economic Recovery, Geopolitics and Detergents / Politics / Social Issues
By: Raul_I_Meijer
Increasingly over the past year or so, when people ask me what I do, and that happens a lot on a trip like the one I’m currently on in the world of down under, I find myself not just stating the usual ‘I write about finance and energy’, but adding: ‘it seems to become more and more about geopolitics too’. And it’s by no means just me: a large part of the ‘alternative finance blogosphere’, or whatever you wish to call it, is shifting towards that same orientation.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Can The Eurozone Survive? Not in Its Current Form Says PIMCO / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Mike_Shedlock
Echoing statements I have made many times, PIMCO says the single currency area must become a "United States of Europe" in order to secure its future.
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