Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Regime Change in Turkey? More Likely Than You Think / Politics / Turkey
By: Mike_Whitney
On Friday, the United States rejected a draft resolution by Russia that was intended to prevent a Turkish invasion of Syria. Moscow had called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to address its growing concern that Turkey is planning to send thousands of ground troops and armored vehicles it has massed on its southern border, into Syria to protect Turkish-backed militants and to block the Kurdish militia, the YPG, from establishing a contiguous state in northern Syria. Moscow’s one-page resolution was a thoroughly-straightforward document aimed at preventing a massive escalation in a conflict that has already claimed the lives of 250, 000 and left the country in ruins.
Friday, February 26, 2016
More Than 30 Blocks of Fiscal Irresponsibility / Politics / Social Issues
By: James_Quinn
I’ve written dozens of articles about the 30 Blocks of Squalor over the years. The 30 blocks are essentially from 69th Street to 39th Street encompassing the wretched potholed route from unsafe Upper Darby through the killing fields of West Philly. The fine union government workers in the Streets Department have consistently maintained Chestnut Street in a constant state of disrepair. Not that drivers notice.
When there is an accident on the Schuylkill Expressway in the morning I’m forced to run the 30 Blocks gauntlet down Chestnut Street. I’ve had to do it a few times in recent days. The expletives flowed in waves as I hit four unmarked craters in the center lane. These were not the common everyday West Philly potholes that pock the landscape like it’s the moon. At least if you see a local resident fishing in the pothole, you can avoid it.
Read full article... Read full article...
Friday, February 26, 2016
UK Out of Control Immigration Crisis Continues, Tax Credits, EU Referendum and BrExit / Politics / Immigration
By: Nadeem_Walayat
The latest ONS data released on 25th of Feb shows no let up in what amounts to a continuing 17 year long trend of out of control immigration with net migration of +323k in the year to Sept 2015, that follows the previous record busting ONS data release of net migration of 336k. Which literally translates into a DAILY flood of near 1000 people turning up on Britain's shores and demanding housing, education, school places, jobs and benefits such as tax credits, housing and child benefits, health & social services that have been buckling and breaking right across Britain as social housing in many cities has been in a state of paralysis for many years.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
The Balkanization of Europe / Politics / European Union
By: Raul_I_Meijer
When my mate Steve Keen took me to meet Yanis Varoufakis for dinner last week when we all happened to find ourselves in Athens together, I at least sort of regretted not having the time and space to talk to Yanis about his DiEM25 project for the democratization of Europe. It was a private occasion, there were other people at the dinner table, Steve and Yanis had no seen each other for a while, it was simply not about that.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
The 5 Worst Days in American Economic History / Politics / US Federal Reserve Bank
By: Andy_Sutton
I’ll be upfront going in and say that some of this material is going to double a bit with a fantastic message preached by Chuck Baldwin a few weeks ago. As I listened, some different angles came to mind, and some different events altogether. As we get further and further into the silly season otherwise known as an election year, it is important to remember that sometimes we really do get what we wish for.
I guess what hit me the hardest about all of this is the fact that we are watching a circus right now; and that circus has a pre-defined outcome. The winners have already been decided in the major national elections. What is more baffling is that it doesn’t even matter if the winners were already decided, the outcome will be the same regardless of who ‘wins’. There seems to be little doubt among voters that America is on the wrong path – regardless of political affiliation (of which I have none, by the way – I am an American – that’s it) but there is a huge argument about what the ‘right’ path might be and how to get the country on that path. Hence the Laurel and Hardy-esque two bit cheap show we witness every four years.
Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Catholic Church based upon Roman vs Anglo Saxon Law / Politics / Religion
By: BATR
Whatever you think or believe about the Catholic Church, the latest dust up between the current Pontiff and Donald Trump may seem trite, but actually reveals a fundamental difference in the meaning of being a Christian. When Pope Francis Suggests Donald Trump Is ‘Not Christian’, such a troubling account reported in the New York Times, should alarm believers and non-believers alike. An integral part of this issue must acknowledge a startling distinction on the basei of law and how it relates to the concept of a Christian Church.
Monday, February 22, 2016
Ron Paul on U.S. Intervention Failure: Back to Libya / Politics / US Military
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
The use of the US military overseas seems to have become so commonplace that the Obama Administration can bomb a country with no Congressional input and very little media interest at all. Such was the case on Friday, when the US military killed some 49 people in a bombing run near Tripoli, Libya.
We had to bomb Libya, we are told, because Libya has become a hotbed of ISIS activity. The group has been moving training facilities into the country, taking advantage of the chaos. Ironically, it was five years ago this week that the "Arab Spring" uprising began in Libya -- an uprising that was supported by US military force and led to the overthrow of the Libyan government and the murder of its leader, Gaddafi.
Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Latest Turkey Ankara Blast: Terrorism or False Flag? / Politics / Turkey
By: Stephen_Lendman
Put nothing past fascists running Turkey, led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a megalomaniacal international outlaw, a lunatic capable of anything to further his Ottoman empire delusions.
False flags are perhaps the oldest dirty trick in the book, a longtime US tradition, dating from at least the mid-19th century, 9/11 the mother of them all.
Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, February 18, 2016
War on Cash: Summers, Others, Launch Strong Campaign for Cashless Society / Politics / War on Cash
By: Jeff_Berwick
Your average person probably doesn’t even notice. And they certainly don’t seem to care.
But an incredibly nefarious plan to get rid of all cash is well in process.
Your average person probably doesn’t even mind. Credit cards and smartphone payments are very convenient. So, what’s the big deal if there was no physical cash?
They’ll find out, very soon, what it all means.
Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
EU President Tells David Cameron to Get Stuffed on Migrant Benefits Reforms / Politics / EU_Referendum
By: Nadeem_Walayat
The un elected President of the European Parliament, warned David Cameron that even the heavily watered down agreement due to be announced by the end of this week would not be legally binding and subject to debate and revision by MEP members AFTER the UK votes to stay in the European Union, members who will be guided by their respective UK benefits recipient governments such as Poland, Hungary, and a dozen other eastern european UK benefits claiming states.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The Phantom Free Syrian Army Moderate Rebels / Politics / Syria
By: Stephen_Lendman
So-called Free Syrian Army moderates exist only in US-led Western and media scoundrel propaganda reports - along with deliberate deception from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other regional rogue states.
No such forces exist. All anti-Syrian elements are US-created terrorist groups, including ISIS, Al Qaeda, Jabhat al-Nusra and their offshoots.
Read full article... Read full article...
Monday, February 08, 2016
Government Mandatory Depression Screening is A Depressing Thought / Politics / Government Intervention
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently recommended mandatory depression screening for all Americans. The task force wants to force health insurance companies to pay for the screening. Basic economics, as well as the Obamacare disaster, should have shown this task force that government health insurance mandates harm Americans.
Read full article... Read full article...
Sunday, February 07, 2016
Western Double Standards on North Korea / Politics / North Korea
By: Stephen_Lendman
North Korean military related activities are solely for self-defense - given longstanding US-led Western hostility and forced isolation.
Provocative US-led NATO military activities are far more extensive and menacing, preparing for premeditated wars alliance members frequently wage.
Read full article... Read full article...
Saturday, February 06, 2016
The End of Tax Havens? / Politics / Taxes
By: Casey_Research
By Jeff Thomas
The image above is of a World War II German Panzer tank. So, what does that have to do with tax havens? I’ll get to that soon.
But first, let’s look at the Isle of Jersey, one of the islands in the English Channel. Most people think of it as a British tax haven, but it’s not, strictly speaking, a part of the UK and not a member of the EU. It’s a self-governing parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy and has its own legal, judicial, and, most importantly, financial systems. For decades, it’s been a choice location for those who seek to avoid taxation.
Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, February 04, 2016
BrExit EU Referendum - Britain's FINAL Chance for Freedom From Emerging European Superstate / Politics / EU_Referendum
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron emerged on Tuesday waving a piece of paper 'Chamberlain' style of a 'draft' deal that follows several months of negotiations that had the PM running around Europe begging the likes of Donald Tusk (former Polish Prime Minister) and former eastern block nations for some return of sovereignty to Britain. A piece of paper that whilst heavy on number of pages but is light on substance of anything that comes even close to matching the Conservative Manifesto pledges of a series of supposed red lines ahead of Britain's EU In / Out referendum.
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
David Chamberlain Cameron, Britain's Last Chance for Freedom From Emerging European Super State / Politics / UK EU Referendum
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron emerged Tuesday waving a piece of paper Chamberlain style of a 'draft' agreement that follows several months of negotiations that had the PM running around europe begging the likes of Donald Tusk (a former Polish Prime Minister) and former eastern block nations for some return of sovereignty. A piece of paper that is heavy on printed pages but light on anything that even comes close to matching the Conservative Manifesto pledges of a series of red lines ahead of Britain's EU In / Out referendum.
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
EU UK Draft or Daft Agreement By Donald Tusk to Members of the European Council in Full / Politics / EU_Referendum
By: Nadeem_Walayat
David Cameron's The long awaited agreement with Donald Tusk that was said would settle the UK's place in the European Union for once and for all ahead of an EU in out referendum. On first glance the lengthy 150 page+ proposal looks confusing and contradictory in places whilst weak on actual substance of what David Cameron had set out as his red lines on benefits and controlling unlimited EU migration. I am going to have to spend several hours trying to understand this MESS, but it does appear to be complete and utter slap in the face for Britain, which itself will be heavily watered down by predominantly eastern european states that are on the receiving end of £15 billion per annum in transfer payments from UK tax payers such as benefits claimed sent home to support eastern european economies.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Ron Paul - Is U.S. Congress Declaring War on ISIS...or on You? / Politics / US Politics
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
Passage of Senator Mitch McConnell's authorization for war against ISIS will not only lead to perpetual US wars across the globe, it will also endanger our civil and economic liberties. The measure allows the president to place troops anywhere he determines ISIS is operating. Therefore, it could be used to justify using military force against United States citizens on US territory. It may even be used to justify imposing martial law in America.
Read full article... Read full article...
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Deep State: Inside Washington's Shadowy Power Elite - Video / Politics / US Politics
By: Jesse
“Our plutocracy, whether the hedge fund managers in Greenwich, Connecticut, or the Internet moguls in Palo Alto, now lives like the British did in colonial India: ruling the place but not of it. If one can afford private security, public safety is of no concern; to the person fortunate enough to own a Gulfstream jet, crumbling bridges cause less apprehension, and viable public transportation doesn’t even compute. With private doctors on call and a chartered plane to get to the Mayo Clinic, why worry about Medicare?”― Mike Lofgren, The Deep State: The Fall of the Constitution and the Rise of a Shadow Government
Read full article... Read full article...
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
A Dangerous Moment for Social Security / Politics / Social Issues
By: Casey_Research
By Justin Spittler
Social Security funds are drying up…will there be any money left when you retire?
Social Security is America’s largest federal program. In 2015, it paid out $870 billion to more than 59 million Americans.
Most Americans see Social Security as a retirement savings program. During your working life, you pay 6.2% of every paycheck to Social Security. In return, the government sends you a check every month after you retire.
Read full article... Read full article...