Catégorie : Politics

… for any change, know better how it works … Published on VOX (CEPR’s political portal), by Alessandra Bonfiglioli and Gino Gancia, Dec 19, 2015.

The Great Recession highlighted the prominent role that economic uncertainty plays in hindering investment and growth. This column provides new evidence that economic uncertainty can actually play a positive role by promoting the implementation of structural reforms with long-run benefits. The effect appears to be strongest for countries with poorly informed voters. These findings suggest that times of uncertainty may present an opportunity to implement reforms that would otherwise not be passed.   Continuer la lecture de « Volatility and reforms: The overlooked virtues of economic uncertainty »

Published on ZNet (first in Jacobin Magazine), by Luke Stobart, Dec 20, 2015.

At the time of writing, Podemos is making an inspiring late comeback in the Spanish general-election campaign, but few expect that 2015 will be the “year of change” that Pablo Iglesias promised when Podemos was leading in the polls last year. Mass participation in the new party and a lightning rise in popular support in its first year gave way to limited grassroots activity and an electoral slide until this October … // Continuer la lecture de « Spain: A Year of Change Postponed? »

• Workplace Democracy, 12.13 min, uploaded by Workplace Democracy;
• Socialism For Dummies: part 1/2, 49.45 min, part 2/2, 70.51 min, uploaded by Pretty Awesome … Professor Richard D. Wolff explains what socialism is NOT. Where does the American fear of Socialism, Communism and Marxism come from?
• Full Show 11/11/15: How Reaganomics Killed America’s Middle Class, 56.30 min, uploaded by The Big Picture RT;
• How Class Works – by Richard Wolff, 12.36 min, uploaded by Workplace Democracy;
• Les Etats-Unis ont-ils vraiment réussi à isoler la Russie? 0.55 min, uploaded by RT France;
• Geld regiert die Welt – die rechtswidrigen Machenschaften der EZB [S2 – E48], 27.28 min, uploaded by RT Deutsch.

Published on Business Insider.in, by Jim Edwards, Dec 14, 2015.

Several European countries are moving to adopt universal basic income schemes in the next few years. If any of them come to fruition we could finally get an answer to one of the most exciting questions in economics: whether basic income is the best way to end poverty and the welfare state:   Continuer la lecture de « Universal Basic Income UBI could arrive in Europe faster than you think »

about the Greece Dept:

• MONEY AND POWER – Public Lecture by Yanis Varoufakis, Nov 4, 2015, 129.33 min, uploaded by Arno Kathollnig;
• Shocking Disfunction and The Power Of Oligarchs, 62.38 min, uploaded by Minethis1;
• Emotional Varoufakis moved by conservative german MP, 7.08 min, uploaded by trapor, June 18 2015 … he comments a previous intervention of a german MP;

about the US Dept:   Continuer la lecture de « Dept concerns »

Uploaded by kitarotv:

• Mercury (live in China – 2004), 10.04 min;
• Matsuri (live), 7.35 min;
• The Light of the Spirit: live in Zacatecas, Mexico 2010 9.37 min,
  or the original Album 1987, FULL, 48.40 min … and there on track 4 / at 17.15 min included women’s chant;   Continuer la lecture de « KITARO »

dans Les Choristes en Concert a Paris – 2005, 75.45 min, mise en ligne par Maria Luisa – Marilú Magaña Casas;

et dans La suite après les choristes, mise en ligne par Jean-Baptiste Maunier: Part 1/4, 9.46 min; Part 2/4, 7.53 min; Part 3/4, 6.40 min; Part 4/4, 7.52 min;

Published on Dissident Voice (first on Matt’s Blog), by Matt Peppe, Dec 14, 2015.

After 14 people were killed and 22 more injured in the San Bernardino massacre by a couple whom authorities claim were “radicalized” by Islamist ideology, Islamophobia among the American public has seemingly reached a fever pitch. But while many people are fighting back against hateful discrimination against Muslims, many are doing so with a liberal narrative of American values that rationalizes and perpetuates American state violence, while failing to recognize this violence as its own form of extremism … // Continuer la lecture de « Liberal Extremism Disguised as Defense of Muslims »

• Over 10,000 lone children apprehended crossing Mexico-US border in past 2 months, on RT, Dec 14, 2015;
• Ted Cruz, Not Donald Trump, Could Become the GOP’s Nominee, on truth dig, by Kasia Anderson, Dec 13, 2015;
• Is This The Beginning of the Crackup in High-Yield Corporate Debt? on naked capitalism, by David Dayen, Dec 12, 2015;
• Paul Barber on the success of the Sallies, unequal pies, over weight & under informed, a challenge for responsible landlords, Dilbert & more, on interest.co.nz, Dec 11, 2015;   Continuer la lecture de « some small and big concerns »

Published on Al-Ahram weekly online, by Ahmed Eleiba, Dec 10, 2015.

The possibility of Libya taking over from Syria and Iraq as the centre of Islamic State operations is haunting decision-makers in Cairo.

Islamic State (IS) is consolidating its presence in Libya, where post-Gaddafi chaos has provided an ideal climate for the terrorist organisation to flourish. It encountered a setback in Derna, where it faced stiff resistance from the Ansar Al-Sharia militia group which, in April 2014, expelled IS forces from the city, but 18 months later IS has recouped its losses.   Continuer la lecture de « Libya’s nightmare scenario »

Published on ZNet (first on teleSUR english ), by Arun Gupta, Dec 12, 2015.

… The greatest cost is to the countries being bombed and civil society. In November 2001 the global justice movement, which gained prominence after thwarting a free-trade agreement two years earlier, was planning to shut down seven stock exchanges in a worldwide day of protest. That was derailed by 9/11, and the global justice movement fell apart. This time climate-justice activists say the movement is stronger and wiser and the climate crisis is too profound for one episode to end it, but it has been set back.   Continuer la lecture de « The Age of Extremes »

Published on World Socialist Web Site WSWS, by Andre Damon, Dec 11, 2015.

For the first time in more than four decades, “middle-income households” no longer constitute the majority of American society, according to a study published Wednesday by the Pew Research Center. Instead, the majority of households are either low or higher-income. The study concluded, “Once in the clear majority, adults in middle-income households in 2015 were matched in number by those in lower- and upper-income households combined.” Pew called its findings “a demographic shift that could signal a tipping point” in American society … // Continuer la lecture de « The hourglass society: Middle-income households no longer the majority in the US »

Published on The Bullet, Socialist Project’s E-Bulletin No. 1195 (first on teleSUR english), by Gregory Wilpert, Dec 5, 2015.

The current economic, political, and social situation in Venezuela is very complicated, which makes it somewhat difficult for outsiders to make sense of. On the one hand there are many people who defend the Bolivarian revolution, pointing to the successes it has had in reducing poverty and inequality and in increasing citizen participation and self-governance.   Continuer la lecture de « The Roots of the Current Situation in Venezuela »

Published on RWER Blog, by Lars Syll, Dec 6, 2015.

Mainstream economists want to explain social phenomena, structures and patterns, based on the assumption that the agents are acting in an optimizing (rational) way to satisfy given, stable and well-defined goals. The procedure is analytical. The whole is broken down into its constituent parts so as to be able to explain (reduce) the aggregate (macro) as the result of interaction of its parts (micro). Continuer la lecture de « The model of all economic models (wonkish) »