Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Looming Reversal of Centralization as Empires Disintegrate / Politics / Social Issues
By: Gary_North
"Centralization induces apoplexy at the center and anemia at the extremities." ~ Lamenais
The present political system is clearly insane. It suffers from schizophrenia. Around the world, almost no one trusts the politicians, yet almost everyone votes for incumbent politicians who promise to reform the government.
Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Phlogging Phlogiston: The Real Origins Of Global Warming Hysteria / Politics / Climate Change
By: Andrew_McKillop
Global warming lives on in the minds, or at least the somber pronouncements of leading politicians, corporate chiefs and some opinion manipulators, but is now essentially dead.
To quickly reach the status of a Great Cause it was necessary to decorate the "theory" of global warming with scientific credentials, and above all make it idiot-friendly. At its most basic, global warming theory (called "anthropogenic global warming" theory or AGWT) is as idiot-friendly as the official story of what happened on September 11, 2001 in the USA. We are told that five airplanes were hijacked by dangerous Islamic fundamentalists by order of Afghanistan's Taliban or only with their friendly help. They flew around for rather a long time but America was so terrified no fighter planes were sent to bring down the hijacked planes. Two of the planes disappeared, but three were crashed into carefully chosen targets, not including nuclear power plants, oil refineries, pesticide factories, the White House or suchlike. Three immense tower blocks in New York then collapsed, one of them without being hit by an airplane at all, and the Pentagon was slightly damaged, probably not by an airplane. Afghanistan was then invaded in a colonial war rampage, by the USA and some other countries described as "democratic".
Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, May 20, 2012
From the Chilean Winter to the Maple Spring, Solidarity and the Student Movements in Chile and Quebec / Politics / Canada
By: Andrew_G_Marshall
On the night of May 16, thousands of Montréal students and supporters took to the streets for the 23rd consecutive night of protests, this time spurred on by the Government of Québec’s announcement that it would legislate an end to the 14-week student strike which has gripped Quebec for the past three months. The government’s proposed bill would “impose strict conditions on students wanting to demonstrate against the planned tuition fee hikes,” which could “include stiff fines against anyone attempting to block entrances to the colleges and universities.” Québec Premier Jean Charest announced that the current school session will be postponed by the government, “We are suspending the session. We are not cancelling it … This will allow us to finish the session in August and September.” Students warned that they would challenge the law in court “if the legislation limits their right to demonstrate and to block classes if the majority of members of a school or student association votes to do so.”
Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Destroy Greece to Save the Euro as Merkel Makes 'Growth Proposals' Whilst Asking for Referendum on Euro / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Mike_Shedlock
...Elections Provide Yet Another Attempt to Snatch Defeat From Jaws of Victory; New Democracy Leads Latest Poll
Greek elections are set for June 17th following the impasse of the last election where no majority government formed.
The "Destroy Greece to Save the Euro" clowns led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are out in force hoping to turn the vote into a direct referendum on the Euro. The election is of course a direct referendum on the Euro, but Greek citizens are under three Fantasyland ideas.
Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, May 20, 2012
South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Labour Candidates / Politics / Sheffield
By: Submissions
The Labour party has short listed four candidates as the potential Labour candidate for South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner whom some 5,000 Labour party members will vote on in a June postal ballot as their representative in the public vote on November 15th, 2012.
Read full article... Read full article...
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Elites Deterrence is Dead / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Ashvin_Pandurangi
With Greece potentially on the brink of exit from the Eurozone before year's end, a lot of analysis out there has turned to what the consequences of such an event would be, and, specifically, what punishment Greece would receive from the EU and other international organizations, such as the IMF and perhaps even NATO. The general line of thinking here is that Europe will make such a devastating example out of Greece that no one else will dare to question the status quo setup ever again. While Greece is dragged down the Green Mile in shackles to its final destination, all the other prisoners will watch with an unmistakable sense of dread, and the ceiling lights will ominously flicker as the "juice" is turned on, electro-frying Greece into a crispy black corpse.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Greece: Dump the EU Now For An Economic Recovery! / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Ron_Holland
"Attempts to form a government in Greece collapsed on Tuesday, jolting financial markets at the prospect leftists opposed to the terms of an EU bailout could sweep to victory in a June election and nudge the euro zone crisis into a dangerous new phase." – CNBC
Friday, May 18, 2012
We Need A Media War On All Fronts / Politics / Mainstream Media
By: Danny_Schechter
When do you feel like you are over the hill?
When you get letters like this one from Jose Hevia after writing an op ed featuring an essay (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...) from your recent book Blogothon, (http://www.1888pressrelease.com/...) recounting your experiences as a network TV insider turned independent media outsider. The essay offered a case study of how the nominally non-commercial network, PBS, turned its back on a human rights TV series I co-produced. It is about the challenges progressives face in offering a counter-narrative to parochial mainstream thinking.
Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Global Implications Of French Presidential Election / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: Dan_Amerman
Forget the anemic latest US jobs report - the world is in play, and the election of Francois Hollande as the President of France may do more to determine US unemployment rates (and global investment results) in the next year than anything that Ben Bernanke and US government policies will accomplish.
There is a near-term risk that a process has been set in motion that could plunge the entire globe into currency chaos and economic depression within the next year, with the failure to form a government in Greece acting as only one of a number of possible triggers.
Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Demystifying Global Warming / Politics / Climate Change
By: Andrew_McKillop
At its simplest and most basic, global warming theory (called "anthropogenic global warming" theory or AGWT) is as idiot-friendly as the official story of what happened on September 11, 2001 in the USA. Five airplanes were hijacked by dangerous Islamic fundamentalists by order of Afghanistan's Taliban or only with their friendly help. They flew around for rather a long time but America was so terrified no fighter planes were sent to bring down the hijacked planes. Two of the planes disappeared, but three were crashed into carefully chosen targets, not including nuclear power plants, oil refineries, pesticide factories, the White House or suchlike. Three immense tower blocks in New York then collapsed, one of them without being hit by an airplane and the Pentagon was slightly damaged, possibly not by an airplane. Afghanistan was then invaded in a colonial war rampage, by the USA and some other countries described as "democratic".
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What Was Global Warming ? / Politics / Climate Change
By: Andrew_McKillop
Relatively soon, this question will be asked: global warming has traced a wipeout curve like any failed Great Cause, mixing junk science, porkbarrel politics, cash-gouging corporate greed and deliberate promotion and falsification of any real danger or risk for society by self-serving media barons seeking the latest Big Thing to bemuse what they cynically treat as their witless "media consumers".
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Germany Faces Political Isolation / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: John_Browne
One month ago it appeared that Germany held the whip hand in its titanic struggle against those seeking to cure all economic ills with the snake oil of currency debasement. Now, it appears that the ground beneath its feet is being swept away in a flood of popular unrest and political exploitation. The recent elections in Europe, which highlight both the strong grass roots revolt against Germanic demands in Greece and France show that the cause of sound money and fiscal prudence to be a lonely and difficult endeavor.
Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Coming Generational Storm, Living Beyond Our Children's Means and Doing Ponzi Proud / Politics / Demographics
By: John_Mauldin
There are plenty of books about the entitlement disaster in our future, but few come with the backing of an academic press. The Clash of Generations is an exception. Written by economist Larry Kotlikoff, one of the creators of generational accounting, and my good friend of long standing, Scott Burns, Clash shows what current policies have already done to young people, tells stories about how both parties have allowed it to happen, and offers actual policy solutions– for banking, taxes, healthcare, and Social Security.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Sarkozy's Engame Economics / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: Andrew_McKillop
Although he drank Diet Coke rather than fine wines, preferred chocolate bars to ripe and smelly French cheeses and in front of the Pope was so squeaky cool, modern and arrogant that he checked for messages on his Blackberry (if he really knew how to use a Blackberry), French voters plucked up enough courage to evict the brash, egotistical and hyperactive President Bling-Bling, the so-called Hyper President from the Elysee Palace. After just one term in office this was courageous - the last time it happened was in 1981- but Sarkozy was out. He was finished along with his less-than-respected Italian supermodel spouse, so proud of having been a live-in sex toy of Mick Jagger (or possibly Keith Richards). Whatever her horizontal claims to fame, she was a lousy singer.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Ron Paul - End of Mend the Fed? / Politics / Central Banks
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
Last week I held a hearing to examine the various proposals that have been put forth both to mend and to end the Fed. The purpose was to spur a vigorous and long-lasting discussion about the Fed's problems, hopefully leading to concrete actions to rein in the Fed.
Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
France's Struggle For European Dominance / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: STRATFOR
New political leaders do not invent new national strategies. Rather, they adapt enduring national strategies to the moment. On Tuesday, Francois Hollande will be inaugurated as France's president, and soon after taking the oath of office, he will visit German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. At this moment, the talks are expected to be about austerity and the European Union, but the underlying issue remains constant: France's struggle for a dominant role in European affairs at a time of German ascendance.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Why U.S. Politicians Are Quiet About Europe's Meltdown / Politics / US Politics
By: Shamus_Cooke
After the Greek elections struck fear into the hearts of the global banksters, the fallout remains uncertain. If the next Greek election produces an anti-austerity government, Greece will almost certainly make a speedy exit from the euro. If this happens — and it is looking increasingly inevitable — the consequences for the global economy are spectacularly gloomy. Yet U.S. media and U.S. politicians are largely silent on the issue, almost as if nothing were happening.
Monday, May 14, 2012
How to Fix Financial Services Regulation / Politics / Market Regulation
By: Paul_Tustain
As I was reading of yet another spectacular mismatch between bank managers' competence and their remuneration, and this time at JP Morgan no less, I realized there is a simple solution which really could be implemented.
Make the cost of regulation zero - or very nearly - for unlimited liability partnerships. Then let judicious self-interest, exercized by the partners themselves, do the rest.
Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, May 14, 2012
Taiwan: The Democratic China / Politics / China
By: EconMatters
In the 60 years since Chinese Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, the tiny island country has transformed itself quite differently from the mainland China. Thanks to a series of financial and economic reform by the Nationalist Party (KMT), Taiwan got a head start on economic and democratic development, while Mao's Cultural Revolution had left the Mainland in an over-a-decade-long developmental vacuum.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Carbon, Low Carbon, And No Cash / Politics / Climate Change
By: Andrew_McKillop
STIRRING TIMES FOR SOME
Opening the IEA's high level conference by-lined "Clean Energy Progress" in London, late April, the IEA's deputy director Ambassador Richard H. Jones didn't beat around the bush: he said that global average temperatures were set to rise by "at least 6 degrees centigrade by 2050", and we should all be very unhappy to leave that behind us, as our legacy to future generations. To be sure, getting that surge in global temperatures in an eyeblink of planetary time would need something rather special and strange, in fact catastrophic. This could include the most intense and quickest acting explosion of volcanic activity the planet has ever known - but Ambassador Jones told the respectful audience, including serried ranks of the world's media and Britain's PM David Campbell, it was all due to tailpipe emissions from four-wheel-drives and fossil fuelled power stations. So low carbon was right back high on the menu ! Like the loudest shills in the global warming business, such as Britain's James 'Lysenko' Lovelock had always shilled for, through an incredibly long decade in which global warming junk science ruled and it was absolutely OK - despite Lovelock himself recanting and admitting, also in late April that basically speaking he had been lying. Lysenko had also been contrite, at the end.
Read full article... Read full article...