Monday, November 29, 2021

@10:30, , 11/29/21

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1

Ian Welsh26 minutes ago
Groups and Coalitions: Politics Chapter V
[image: Story 512397934] Previous: Identity (Introduction and Table of Contents) Politically active groups form because of ideology and identity: they have beliefs about how the world should be; those beliefs are emotional and create both identification with other people who have the beliefs and shared desire to change the world or keep the world in line with how the ideologies prescriptions. Identification is necessary, but without ideology there would be no direction: a group wouldn’t know who should rule or what they should do. Should we convert everyone to our religion and di... read more
NYT > U.S. > Politics48 minutes ago
 
"In the US as of this writing the Republican party could be seen an alliance between traditional fiscal/corporate conservatives, libertarians and conservative “populists”. They vote together and can rarely be broken apart: they on occasionally make separate peaces. The democratic party, however, has some neoliberals who will make separate peace, and since the Senate is 50-50, that means Biden can’t pass his agenda since he can’t hold all 50 votes, while Republican leader Mitch McConnell can hold all 50 of his votes." 

There is not much to argue with here.

2
Matthew McConaughey Says He Will Not Run for Texas Governor
With about two weeks before the candidate filing deadline for the Texas primary, the actor said a run for office is “a path that I’m choosing not to take at this moment.” read more
 
Let the Texas Republicans self destruct.
 
3
Taliban and 9/11 Families Fight for Billions in Frozen Afghan Funds
The White House must figure out what to do with the Afghan central bank’s account at the Federal Reserve, now blocked under U.S. law. read more
 
Those funds belong to the Afghans.
The 9/11 group should collect from the Saudis. 

4
Esper Claims Defense Dept. Is Improperly Blocking Parts of His Memoir
The former defense secretary sued the agency, saying that portions of the book were being concealed “under the guise of classification.” read more
 
Esper must prove his contention in court.
 Trump will claim "Executive Privilege".
 
5
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/28/us/politics/china-nuclear-arms-race.html
 
China is in the same Mutual Assured Destruction trap.
The Red Army may have difficulty understanding the problem.

6
Carrie P. Meek, 5-Term Florida Representative, Dies at 95
She was the first Black person to represent the state in the House since Reconstruction, and she fought for programs to create jobs. read more
 
She was on the proper side as far as I can tell.
She lived a full life.
 
7
Ian Welsh16 hours ago
Reading List
[image: Story 512115526] A few years ago someone asked me for a reading list. I recently came across it again when someone else asked, and I thought I’d share it with everyone. I wouldn’t necessarily read this exactly in order, and what you need to read will will depend on your background, the person asking had very little in the social sciences and humanities. Writers who had an outsize affect on me compared to how others view them are Randall Collins, Jane Jacobs and Damasio. “Conflict Sociology” is dense and long and many would be served by skipping it, but it’s also the book I... read more
 
I have sought understanding rather than"mastery"
I have an amateur interest. 
Start with:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nullius_in_verba

8
Fetal Viability, Long an Abortion Dividing Line, Faces a Supreme Court Test
On Wednesday, the justices will hear the most important abortion case in decades, one that could undermine or overturn Roe v. Wade. read more
 
The woman decides.
Medicine can help.
 
9
Years of Delays, Billions in Overruns: The Dismal History of Big Infrastructure
The nation’s most ambitious engineering projects are mired in postponements and skyrocketing costs. Delivering $1.2 trillion in new infrastructure will be tough. read more
 
The Republicans should stop whining.
Everything costs more later.
 
10
Ian Welsh21 hours ago
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – November 28, 2021
[image: Story 512042758] Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – November 28, 2021 by Tony Wikrent *Strategic Political Economy* Destroying Democracy Is Central to the Privatization of Public Goods [Jacobin, via Naked Capitalism 11-22-2021] How Delaware Became the World’s Biggest Offshore Haven [Foreign Policy, via Naked Capitalism 11-21-2021] The American Ruling Class Has Never Let Us Build Back Better [Jacobin, via The Daily Poster, November 21, 2021] The defeat of Reconstruction was the nation’s first failure to build back better, and it set the stage for the failures th... read more
 
Boycott commerce.
We can all eat less food.
 
11
Local News Outlets May Reap $1.7 Billion in Build Back Better Aid
A small paper like The Storm Lake Times in Iowa would receive a big tax credit. So would Gannett, the nation’s largest news publisher. read more
 
Real news is necessary.
 
12
The Disconnect Between Biden’s Popular Policies and His Unpopularity
Voters often punish a president for pushing an unpopular agenda. But President Biden has been learning that they rarely reward a president for enacting legislation. read more
 
There is a large group for whom Biden's programs are not fast enough.
 
13
Democrats Struggle to Energize Their Base as Frustrations Mount
Even as President Biden achieves some significant victories, Democrats are warning that many of their most loyal supporters see inaction and broken campaign promises. read more
 
A solution is to follow the news more closely.
 
14
Ian Welsh2 days ago
Open Thread
[image: Story 511590057] Please use to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn read more
 
Anything starts with live negotiation.
Sooner is better.  As soon as you can is best.
 
15
Ian Welsh2 days ago
Preparing for Bad Times Thread
[image: Story 511589477] This is a thread for comments on how to prepare for bad times. All off-topic comments will be deleted. The thread will be re-upped every Saturday so that resources can build over time. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn read more
 
There will be economic hard times before climatic hard times.
Preparation will consist of personal wealth.
 
16
U.S. to Place Travel Restrictions on South Africa, Other Countries
Starting Monday, travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi will be barred unless they are citizens or permanent residents. read more 
 
That will be almost pointless.
Security theater.
 
17
Seeking Backers for New Fund, Jared Kushner Turns to Middle East
Former President Donald J. Trump’s son-in-law is trying to raise capital for his investment firm and is turning to a region that he dealt with extensively while in the White House. read more
 
The Saudis are smarter than that.
 
18
Interior Dept. Report on Drilling Is Mostly Silent on Climate Change
The department recommended higher fees for oil and gas leases, but there was no sign the government planned to take global warming into account when weighing new applications. read more
 
The Interior Department follows executive instructions.
 
19
Ian Welsh3 days ago
Fundraising Update
[image: Story 511145045] A little over 1 week in, and we’ve raised approximately $2,400. The first tier is at $5.000: A longer article on the collapse of the USSR, putting everything I’m aware of together. In particular I want to discuss the steps Gorbachev took which seem like either gross stupidity or intentional destruction. The fall of the Soviet Union was studied in great detail by the Chinese Communist Party, and has informed their actions since. Donations this year have been the slowest I remember, probably both because of Covid and doing the fundraiser around Thanksgiving.... read more
 
I will send Ian Welsh about one hundred dollars.
 
20
Edward Durr Jr.: The Trump Republican Who’s Riding High in New Jersey
“If anything, my election showed nobody’s untouchable,” said Edward Durr Jr., who pulled off a stunning victory to win a New Jersey State Senate seat. read more
 
I do not vote in New Jersey and will not support idiocy.
 
 
 
 
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