Reading

Yanis Varoufakis, Australia & the New Cold War in the Age of Technofeudalism

https://www.ppesydney.net/australia-the-new-cold-war-in-the-age-of-technofeudal…
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 10:02

Join economist and former Greek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis for a special talk at the University of Sydney. Yanis will discuss his new book, Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism, and its implications for Australia as the world enters a ‘New Cold War’ of geopolitical tensions between the United States and China.

The post Yanis Varoufakis, Australia & the New Cold War in the Age of Technofeudalism appeared first on Progress in Political Economy (PPE).

War Is Bad for You — And the Economy

https://tomdispatch.com/war-is-bad-for-you-and-the-economy/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 09:36

Joe Biden wants you to believe that spending money on weapons is good for the economy. That tired old myth — regularly repeated by the political leaders of both parties — could help create an even more militarized economy that could threaten our peace and prosperity for decades to come. Any short-term gains from pumping in more arms spending will be more than offset by the long-term damage caused by crowding out new industries and innovations, while vacuuming up funds needed to address other urgent national priorities. The Biden administration’s sales pitch for the purported benefits of military outlays began in earnest last October, when the president gave a rare Oval Office address to promote a $106-billion emergency allocation that... Read more

A Very Addled Demagogue

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/25/a-very-addled-demagogue/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 09:00
“Nobody can ramble like this. They’ll say: ‘He rambled, he’s cognitively impaired.’ Well, it’s really the opposite. It’s total genius – you know that.” — Donald Trump That’s Trump’s latest bullshit, from his CPAC speech. The crowd went wild in ecstasy when he said it. Trump’s Heinrich Himmler, Stephen Miller obviously wrote it. It was American Carnage on steroids. But it also featured Trump’s personal riffs like the one above. It was a nightmare and everyone should watch it. The Guardian did a good rundown if you don’t have the stomach for it. A few highlights: “For hard-working Americans, November 5th will be our new liberation day,” Trump told a packed ballroom at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at National Harbor in Maryland.

This. Is. A. Cult.

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/25/this-is-a-cult/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 07:00
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like that. Did they not get what had just happened? Are they that slow? Or do they just not care and think robotically defending Donald Trump under any and all circumstances is normal. I’m a little bit baffled by people able to smoothly deal with this kind of dissonance. It suggests something …. bad. Update— More evidence: Republican primary voters in South Carolina said former President Donald Trump, 77, is more physically and mentally fit to be president than former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, 52. Despite Trump’s 25 years on Haley, South Carolina GOP primary voters were more confident in Trump’s physical and mental fitness than hers. In CBS News’s exit polls, 72% believed Trump was healthy enough in both aspects to be president, with just 27% disagreeing. Haley fell short of Trump, with 60% saying she has the physical and mental faculties to be commander in chief. Per ABC News, 71% said that Trump’s physical and mental health were satisfactory for a president, but just 59% said the same of Haley.

Q&A O’ The Day

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/25/qa-o-the-day/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 06:00
This is how you do it: Q: Do you think it’s responsible for Joe Biden to be at the top of the ticket? Gov. Gavin Newsom: Responsible? I revere his record. What he’s done in three years is a masterclass. Close to 15 million jobs is eight times more than the last three Republican presidents combined. It’s because of his age that President Biden has been so successful. He has character and wisdom. We’ve seen his bipartisan approach result in the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS Act, border security solutions. What a gift to have that for four more years. He’s not going anywhere and people need to get a grip and start making the positive case for his reelection instead of sitting around calling for the fainting couch like Aunt Pittypat. Here’s James Fallows who says all that needs to be said on this subject: A possible end for magical thinking about an ‘open convention.’ When it comes to the Democrats choosing a 2024 ticket other than Biden-Harris, I’ve long been in the “it’s too late” camp.

Ukraine highlights our defence procurement shambles

https://johnmenadue.com/ukraine-highlights-our-defence-procurement-shambles-2/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:59
The Ukraine invasion has thrown into sharp focus the massive failure of successive Australian government’s defence procurement programs to strengthen our military capability. A repost from March 11, 2022 With the Russian invasion in full swing and the collateral havoc of civilian casualties and mass evacuations before our eyes on TV it is premature to Continue reading »

Heatwaves and blackouts: Australia’s climate crisis is now

https://johnmenadue.com/heatwaves-and-blackouts-australias-climate-crisis-is-no…
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:58
As Western Australia endures another extreme heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 47 degrees Celsius in the Pilbara, the reality of the impacts of climate change is becoming impossible for Australia to ignore. Escalating and unprecedented heat is harming our communities, ecosystems, and economy. Last week Victoria was battered by fires and storms that destroyed Continue reading »

The despoiling of public life: Scott Morrison and authoritarian paranoia

https://johnmenadue.com/the-despoiling-of-public-life-scott-morrison-and-author…
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:56
There are few surprises regarding the final episode of Nemesis, the three-part account on how the Liberal Party, in partnership with the Nationals, psychotically and convulsively disembowel itself from the time Tony Abbott won office in 2013. Over the gore and violence concluding the tenures of Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, one plotter rose, knife bloodied Continue reading »

‘Horrific’: Israeli escalation would kill another 85,000 Gazans in 6 months, study shows

https://johnmenadue.com/horrific-israeli-escalation-would-kill-another-85000-ga…
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:55
“Even in the best-case cease-fire scenario, thousands of excess deaths would continue to occur,” said the authors of a new report. In an effort to put “at the front of people’s minds and on the desks of decision-makers” the human cost of the U.S.-backed Israeli onslaught in Gaza, scientists on Wednesday said an escalation in Continue reading »

One last chance for the low paid to receive tax equity

https://johnmenadue.com/one-last-chance-for-the-low-paid-to-receive-tax-equity/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:52
21 days after the Federal Government did an about-face on its earlier promise to maintain the previously legislated income tax regime, it has secured passage through the House of Representatives of major changes to Australia’s income tax legislation. But speed and the evident equity in the major part of those changes, principally directed at “middle Continue reading »

Amidst rising American poverty, $6M per missile response in US war on Yemen

https://johnmenadue.com/amidst-rising-american-poverty-6m-per-missile-in-us-war…
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:51
In October last year, Time Magazine reported a serious lift in poverty levels across America. You can read the full chilling report here. General poverty in the US has almost doubled (to 12.4% or around 40 million), while child poverty has more than doubled, since 2021. Briefly, the cost-cutting, non-renewal of critical government support programmes Continue reading »

Washington is the supporter of genocide who sits in judgment of others

https://johnmenadue.com/washington-is-the-supporter-of-genocide-who-sits-in-jud…
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:50
China’s contrasting political repression and economic development in Tibet and Xinjiang does not hold a candle to US-sponsored state terrorism by Israel against the Palestinian people. Sometimes I wonder whether politicians in Washington are not humanoids preprogrammed by some master alien race to wreak havoc on earth. It’s simply hard to imagine lawmakers who are Continue reading »

Meanwhile, Across Town

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/25/meanwhile-across-town/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 04:30
The Never Trumpers held a rival CPAC called Principles First My what a different rhetorical atmosphere: Why ever would he say such a thing? That’s what needs to be said. Standard Disclaimer: Many of these folks were miserable partisan character assassins during the Clinton and Obama administrations. I am aware, believe me. And I am fully in the “trust but verify” camp when it comes to them. But among them are some who have had a full reckoning with what they helped foment during those times and most of the others are, at least, dedicating themselves to the task of defeating Trump and the MAGA Movement as part of the popular front against fascism. We need them, whether we like it or not.

Ass Kissers For Trump

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/25/ass-kissers-for-trump/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 02:30
“As perfect a being as the Good Lord ever made” “And he doesn’t have a racist bone in his body.” SNL: ICYMI, He’s Not OK. Perhaps it’s catching. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● For The Win, 5th Edition is ready for download. Request a copy of my free countywide GOTV planning guide at ForTheWin.us.

In The Land Of Lost Causes

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/25/in-the-land-of-lost-causes/
Created
Mon, 26/02/2024 - 01:00
Magical thinking across the political universe Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cupThey slither wildly as they slip away across the universe To no one’s surprise, Donald “91 Counts” Trump handily defeated former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in her home state on Saturday. If there is any news there it is that Haley did not lose more badly than she did. The New York Times offers five takeaways from the day, the Washington Post only three. The Post mentions an exit poll showing that “31 percent of voters said Trump wouldn’t be fit to serve as president if he’s convicted of a crime. South Carolina becomes the third early state to show that at least 3 in 10 voters said a convicted Trump wouldn’t be fit.” But that doesn’t mean they won’t vote for him anyway. “Today is not the end of our story,” Haley told supporters. “I know 40 percent is not 50 percent, but I also know 40 percent is not some tiny group. There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative.” Where have I heard that before?

The pretense of justice meted out to Assange by the Rules Based Order has come undone

https://johnmenadue.com/the-pretense-of-justice-meted-out-to-assange-by-the-rul…
Created
Sun, 25/02/2024 - 22:27
The approval of Julian Assange’s extradition is not only morally wrong, it appears to be wrong in law, and serious questions should be asked of the UK Home Secretary, as well as the Australian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and the former incumbents of those positions. This follows a barely reported revelatory exchange between the Continue reading »

Spotlight: Recent BD reissues worth a peek

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/24/spotlight-recent-bd-reissues-worth-a-peek/
Created
Sun, 25/02/2024 - 12:39
I thought I’d play a little “catch-up” and spotlight some noteworthy Blu-ray reissues that have been released within the past 6 months. With one exception (noted below), all of the discs are Region ‘A’. American Pop (Columbia/Sony) – Within the realm of animated films, Ralph Bakshi’s name may not be as universally recognizable (or revered) as Walt Disney or Studio Ghibli, but I would consider him no less of an important figure in the history of the genre. During his heyday (1972-1983) the director pumped out 8 full-length feature films (Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic, Wizards, et. al.) using his signature blend of live-action, rotoscoping, and  traditional cel animation. In his 1981 film American Pop, director Bakshi  and screenwriter Ronni Kern ambitiously attempt to distill the history of 20th Century American popular music (essentially from Vaudeville to Punk) in 90 minutes. The narrative is framed via the triumphs and travails of four generations of a Russian-Jewish immigrant family (all of whom are involved one way or the other in the music business).

They Were Warned

https://digbysblog.net/2024/02/24/they-were-warned-2/
Created
Sun, 25/02/2024 - 10:30
Here’s a NYT gift link to a thorough deconstruction of the “confidential informant” (dare I say) hoax with which the GOP planned to impeach Biden. Read it all if you have the time. An excerpt: In May 2023, Senator Charles E. Grassley, a chief antagonist of President Biden, strode to the Senate floor with some shocking news: He had learned, he said, of a document in the F.B.I.’s possession that could reveal “a criminal scheme involving then-Vice President Biden.” Mr. Grassley, an Iowa Republican, suggested to any Americans listening that there was a single document that could confirm the most sensational corruption allegations against Mr. Biden — and that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was engaging in a coverup. “Did they sweep it under the rug to protect the candidate Biden?” he asked conspiratorially. Over the next few months, Mr. Grassley’s quest to make public the allegation — laid out in an obscure document known as an F.B.I. Form 1023 — became a fixation, and a foundation of the growing Republican push to impeach Mr. Biden as payback for Democrats’ treatment of former President Donald J. Trump.