In May 1921, the wives of miners from Platt Bridge in Wigan organised a football match against the neighbouring village of Abram. The final score was 4-1 to Platt Bridge, who ‘quickly commenced a lead which they maintained until the end’, according to the Wigan Observer’s contemporary match report. It was a kickabout between two […]
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Hysteria over balloons is a strange thing, writes Dr Binoy Kampmark. read now...This is Part 6 of a series on Deep Adaptation, Degrowth and MMT that I am steadily writing. I have previously written in this series that there will need to be a major change in the composition of output and the patterns of consumption if we are to progress towards a sustainable future. It will…
It’s true. Here’s what the book is about: The charming, acclaimed book about a cat who is teased for the food she brings for school lunch—and that launched the beloved series about Yoko—is about accepting and embracing our differences. Mmm, Yoko’s mom has packed her favorite for lunch today—sushi! But her classmates don’t think it looks quite so yummy. “Ick!” says one of the Franks. “It’s seaweed!” They’re not even impressed by her red bean ice cream dessert. Of course, Mrs. Jenkins has a plan that might solve Yoko’s problem. But will it work with the other children in class? = I suppose it is too much to ask that these people actually try to teach their kids to be polite, decent citizens, tolerant of differences with other people. After all, they are cretinous morons themselves and only want their kids to grow up to be just like them. But what the hell? I think maybe we need to start looking at what books they want the schools to teach. A child’s guide to Mein Kampf? The Jim Crow Reader?
Unlike the federal government, individual states really do need to “find the money” to pay for their spending. And since more than 60 percent of the nation’s wealth resides in these states, it’s easy to see why lawmakers have focused on their high net worth residents.
The Lens
Eight States Have Joined Forces to Raise Taxes on America's Wealthiest
Stephanie Kelton | Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stony Brook University, formerly Democrats' chief economist on the staff of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and an economic adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders
Eight States Have Joined Forces to Raise Taxes on America's Wealthiest
Stephanie Kelton | Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Stony Brook University, formerly Democrats' chief economist on the staff of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee, and an economic adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders
I guessed that most people would think that industrialists like Ford and Edison were opposed to fiat money, and in favour of "sound money"—money backed by gold or some other commodity. As this post will show, that is a false belief. These two industrialists were outright fans of fiat money—money created by the government—and critics of both the gold standard and, to some degree, private bank-created money as well./.…Building a New Economics
Ford and Edison, the anti gold bugs
Steve Keen
"I've never seen anything like it"
Ken Paxton, Texas AG, just settled a defamation suit brought by his former deputies and Texas taxpayers will foot the bill. And why did he defame his former deputies? Because they blew the whistle on Paxton’s criminal conduct, a case which is still in limbo. Attorney General Ken Paxton and four of his former top deputies who said he improperly fired them after they accused him of crimes have reached a tentative agreement to end a whistleblower lawsuit that would pay those employees $3.3 million. In a filing Friday, attorneys for Paxton and the whistleblowers asked the Texas Supreme Court to further defer consideration of the whistleblower case until the two sides can finalize the tentative agreement. Once the deal is finalized and payment by the attorney general’s office is approved, the two sides will move to end the case, the filing said. The agreement would bring an end to the lawsuit over the firing of the staffers, but would not end Paxton’s legal troubles. The allegations by the former aides of bribery and abuse of office prompted an FBI investigation, though no charges have been filed and Paxton has denied wrongdoing.
We know some of the companies and individuals who paid big money to political parties, but we don’t know them all, reports Alan Austin. read now...The post Son Down appeared first on scheerpost.com.
“To defend civilization, defeat Russia.” Writing in the unfailingly bellicose Atlantic, an American academic of my acquaintance recently issued that dramatic call to arms. And lest there be any confusion about the stakes involved, the image accompanying his essay depicted Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Hitler mustache and haircut. Cast Putin as the latest manifestation of the Führer and the resurrection of Winston Churchill can’t be far behind. And, lo, more than a few observers have already begun depicting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the latest reincarnation of America’s favorite British prime minister. These days, it may be Western-supplied missiles downing “kamikaze drones” rather than Spitfires tangling with Messerschmitts over southern England, but the basic scenario remains intact. In... Read more
You hear a lot about how police officers have to be allowed to shoot first and ask questions later because it’s so dangerous for them on the streets. But many of them are against gun safety laws which seem counter-intuitive. Some are going so far as to refuse to enforce them: Law enforcement’s reaction to the recent assault weapons law approved by Gov. JB Pritzker has been largely negative, with many sheriffs saying they believe the law is illegal. More than 80 sheriffs, including those in Peoria, Woodford and Tazewell counties, have said they will not ask those with a valid Firearm Owners Identification card to register their weapons as required by the law. Others have gone further, saying they will not arrest people “solely for noncompliance with the act.” But can a sheriff refuse to enforce a law? Is it legal for a sheriff to decide what laws are legal, or is that the purview of the courts?
Tourism Australia has received millions of hits to its web page after airing a mock trailer for a sequel to the classic Australian movie Alvin Purple during yesterday’s Superbowl. “We’ve specifically targeted the randy young bloke with a cheeky sparkle... Read More ›
I certainly hope Norfolk Southern's owners are happy!
What’s a little more suffering? This is depressing. But it’s best that people over 60 understand that it’s every man for himself, accept the fact that their lives are considered expendable and assess the risks accordingly: In early December, Aldo Caretti developed a cough and, despite all his precautions, came up positive for Covid on a home test. It took his family a couple of days to persuade Mr. Caretti, never fond of doctors, to go to the emergency room. There, he was sent directly to the intensive care unit. Mr. Caretti and his wife, Consiglia, both 85, lived quietly in a condo in Plano, Texas. “He liked to read and learn, in English and Italian,” said his son Vic Caretti, 49. “He absolutely adored his three grandchildren.” Aldo Caretti had encountered some health setbacks last year, including a mild stroke and a serious bout of shingles, but “he recuperated from all that.” Covid was different. Even on a ventilator, Mr. Caretti struggled to breathe. After 10 days, “he wasn’t getting better,” said Vic Caretti, who flew in from Salt Lake City. “His organs were starting to break down.
Ambitious social security and health care reforms aim to coax the masses into saving less and consuming more
This could be big. Saving preference is inversely proportional to consumption preference. Saving reduces consumption spending, that is, demand. Low consumption to investment and low domestic to external are a major factors holding the Chinese economy back from expansion.
Even the IMF is recommending a version of this — from the neoliberal perspective, of course. But China has its own plan in the works. Hopefully, it will be more welfare-oriented than stimulative-directed.
Well targeted, that is, welfare-oriented, this kind of program would also be a factor in stabilizing China's population and reversing the present decline that will adversely affect growth over time absent offsetting increases in productivity — which is one factor in China's emphasis on innovation.
This would also make China more self-sufficient, and it is likely that China is observing Russia's demonstrated success in achieving this.
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – February 12, 2023
by Tony Wikrent
War
Seymour Hersh: Navy Divers + Spooks + Norway Took Out Nord Stream 2 on Biden’s Orders, Using Timer
[Naked Capitalism, 2-8-2023]
Human resources (qualified people). This is a failure of education.
He never stops being embarrassing: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) kicked off the first meeting of the House Judiciary Committee last week by cordially inviting an accused murderer to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Under its new Republican leadership, the 118th Congress’ judiciary committee may choose to start each hearing with the pledge ― an amendment to the rules put forth by Gaetz, who said it allowed members to invite “inspirational constituents” to lead it. The first honor went to Corey Beekman, a retired National Guard member accused of killing a man in 2019 whose case has not gone to trial. Gaetz did not mention this aspect of his guest’s backstory. Beekman led the pledge in his military dress uniform on Feb. 1. “It is my pleasure and distinct honor to introduce to the committee Staff Sgt. Corey Ryan Beekman, an American hero and a constituent of mine residing in Pensacola, Florida,” Gaetz said in the video still available on C-SPAN. He rolled through Beekman’s life story.
It is time Australia made a big, if bold, shift in its foreign policy and put up its hand to be a part of the Non-aligned movement. It was refreshing to read ‘Now is the time for non-alignment and peace’ by Prashad and McKenzie in Pearls and Irritations. The Non-aligned Movement has attracted 120 nations Continue reading »
It goes without saying, and even better with saying, that America’s destiny is now tied up with China, which means so too is Australia’s. There has, of course, been a lot of commentary on this and on the diplomatic role that middle powers play in an evolving relationship. What has been absent, to some degree, Continue reading »