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Ian Welsh1 day ago
Open Thread[image: Open Thread]
Use the comments to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts.
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Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.
Duplex communication is a beginning.
2
Ian Welsh2 days ago
The European Position At The End Of The Unipolar World[image: The European Position At The End Of The Unipolar World]
It’s hard to remember now, but in the early 2000’s the EU appeared to be
the onrushing power. It was gaining new members, who clamored to join, its
economy and the EUro was strong, and it had avoided entanglement in Iraq.
Its prestige was very high (having nations begging you to let them in tends
to do that.)
What I suggested the Europeans do, at the time, was try and make the Euro
into an alternate reserve currency. They also should have increased their
military, making them non-reliant on the US in the guise of NATO.... read more
Europe is nervous rather than injured.
3
Ian Welsh5 days ago
Russia Turns Up The Pressure (And off the Gas) on Germany and the EU[image: Russia Turns Up The Pressure (And off the Gas) on Germany and the
EU]
Well, well…
Russia’s Gazprom has told customers in Europe it cannot guarantee gas
supplies because of “extraordinary” circumstances, according to a letter
seen by Reuters, upping the ante in an economic tit-for-tat with the west
over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Dated 14 July, the letter from the Russian state gas monopoly said it was
declaring force majeure on supplies, starting from 14 June.
Known as an “act of God” clause, a force majeure clause is standard in
business contracts and spells out extre... read more
Russia does not consider the war with Ukraine existential.
It is for Russia.
4
Ian Welsh6 days ago
As The Sun Sets On The United Kingdom[image: As The Sun Sets On The United Kingdom]
In Peter Hall’s “Cities in Civilization” there’s a long chapter on the
destruction of London Port. Hall doesn’t call it that: he is impressed by
the change from a decaying port which was close to a slum, and which was
losing importance to a new neighbourhood, headlined by the huge Canary
Wharf complex, which is 97 acres with 16 million square feet of indoor
space.
The port of London had been the greatest port in the world in the 19th
century, but had slipped into decline in the 20th century, especially after
WWI and II. The problems s... read more
Britain's elite is suffering from hubris.
5
Ian Welsh6 days ago
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 17, 2022[image: Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 17, 2022]
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 17, 2022
by Tony Wikrent
*Stunning new Webb images: baby stars, colliding galaxies and hot
exoplanets *
[Nature, via Naked Capitalism 7-13-2022]
*Strategic Political Economy*
*The Power Game *
W. J. Astore (Lieutenant Colonel USAF ret.), [Bracing Views, via Mike
Norman Economics 7-10-2022]
A book that shook my world was journalist Hedrick Smith’s “The Power Game,”
published 35 years ago in 1987. It was about “How Washington really works,”
and what I remember about it is how ... read more
Socialist dreams.
6
Ian Welsh1 week ago
Open Thread[image: Open Thread]
Use to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts.
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Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.
7
Ian Welsh1 week ago
The Debt Trap That Helped Take Down Sri Lanka Was Not Chinese[image: The Debt Trap That Helped Take Down Sri Lanka Was Not Chinese]
Let’s put an end to this nonsense:
The Asian Development Banks is essentially a US proxy and the World Bank is
mostly controlled by the US. Market borrowings are almost entirely from
Western sources.
The article goes into more detail:
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who spent a significant part of
his life working in the United States, entered office in 2019 and
immediately imposed a series of neoliberal economic policies, which
included cutting taxes on corporations.
These neoliberal policies decreas... read more
Bankers are destructive.
8
Ian Welsh1 week ago
How Standard Media Skews Public Understanding[image: How Standard Media Skews Public Understanding]
I recently had a long conversation with a fellow Canadian about current
events, especially Covid and the economy. He read a lot of newspapers: he’s
well informed by normal standards.
But over the course of the conversation I realized he was terribly informed.
For Covid, he was convinced both that China had only controlled Covid thru
very long lockdowns and that they were lying about results. In particular,
he remembered Shanghai well, but didn’t realize Shanghai was an exception.
Most Chinese cities have locked down much less o... read more
Societies can and have operated with poor health.
9
Ian Welsh1 week ago
How To Think Clearly About Political and Social Issues[image: How To Think Clearly About Political and Social Issues]
One of the most useful things you were probably made to do in school is
argue for points of view you disagree with. Make the choice case if you are
pro-life, make the pro-life case if you’re anti-abortion.
Write the Palestinian case or the Israeli case, whichever you oppose.
Make the best case you can that Russia was right to invade, or the best
case you can that Russia was wrong. Make the case that NATO was
responsible, then make the case it had nothing to do with it. Make the case
Ukraine is Nazi-infested, make the ... read more
People hold opinions based on emotional memory.
Argue with empathy.
10
Ian Welsh1 week ago
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 10, 2022[image: Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 10, 2022]
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 10, 2022
by Tony Wikrent
*Strategic Political Economy*
*Our Entire Civilization Is Structured Around Keeping Us From Realizing We
Can Do This*
Caitlin Johnstone [via Mike Norman Economics 7-9-2022]
Thousands of protesters outraged by the deteriorating material conditions of
the nation’s economic meltdown have stormed the presidential palace of Sri
Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and I guarantee you the aerial footage as
they poured into the building en masse has made every gov... read more
Attention needed.
11
Ian Welsh2 weeks ago
Open Thread[image: Open Thread]
Use the comments to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp LinkedIn
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Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.
12
NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Review Finds Agents Used Unnecessary Force Against Black MigrantsFour Border Patrol agents face discipline over the confrontation last year.
But the 500-page report described deeper problems within the agency amid a
crisis at the border. read more
The racism of the southern border is wrong.
13
NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Shinzo Abe’s Influence Was Still Evident Long After He Left OfficeJapan’s longest-serving prime minister became perhaps the most
transformational politician in the country’s post-World War II history. read more
Japan is still imperial and conservative.
14
NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
At BroadwayCon, Hillary Clinton Celebrates Women in the TheaterThe former secretary of state moderated a discussion on Friday afternoon
about successes and barriers for women working in the theater. read more
There are not enough broken legs.
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NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Can Lisa Murkowski Fend Off Kelly Tshibaka in Alaska?Supporters of the senator hope that the state’s unique nonpartisan primary
system will help her, but allies of Tshibaka, a Trump-backed challenger,
see a path to victory. read more
I do not read minds.
16
NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Under Pressure, Biden Issues Executive Order on AbortionAfter the Supreme Court’s ruling, some of the president’s supporters have
wanted him to push harder to protect abortion access. But details about
what his new order will do remain unclear. read more
Biden may have acted correctly.
17
NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Russia Votes to Shut Down Last U.N. Aid Route Into SyriaMillions of Syrians whose lives have already been shattered by more than a
decade of war may be left without food, medicine and other supplies. read more
Russia can make it happen.
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NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Strong Wage and Jobs Growth Keeps Fed on Track for Big Rate IncreaseThe Federal Reserve is trying to cool down the economy to bring inflation
under control, but the job market is still going strong. read more
Graduated taxes are a better way to fight inflation.
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NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Putting the Public Back in Public ServiceA group of academics and lawmakers, citing a new study that found voters
feel shut out of congressional deliberations, is pushing to engage citizens
more directly in the work of Congress. read more
The representatives in congress are not doing their jobs.
The local press is not informing us about what they are doing.
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NYT > U.S. > Politics2 weeks ago
Wisconsin Supreme Court Prohibits the Use of Most Drop Boxes for VotingThe ruling by the court, which has a narrow conservative majority, comes as
Republicans have tried to limit voting access in the state’s cities
Pruning the electorate is an act of treachery.
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