Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
How Edward Snowden Strengthened the NSA / Politics / Intelligence Agencies
By: Gary_North
It has been a year since Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the NSA.
I appreciate what Snowden did. His decision to leak the stolen documents has done the conservative movement an enormous favor. It has blown to smithereens the greatest single myth of conservatism: “If the American people knew about this, there would be an uprising.” No, there wouldn’t.
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Saturday, May 17, 2014
Mainstream Press Amazingly Deceptive Headline on U.S. Debt / Politics / Mainstream Media
By: John_Rubino
Reporters and their editors (and the corporations that employ them) have the power to shape readers’ perceptions by, for instance, choosing what fact to put first in a story or which expert to quote in what context. But the most powerful tool is the simplest: the headline. Because many people read only that, and many others have their perception of an article shaped by the first words they see, this sentence fragment is frequently as important as everything that comes after.
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Friday, May 16, 2014
The Fall of Mainstream Media - When Propaganda Fails, Humanity Awakens... / Politics / Mainstream Media
By: Jeff_Berwick
It doesn't happen often, but The New York Times (NYT) has truthfully reported on something recently.
On what did it report? Well, on itself, and how alarmed it is due to its own increasing irrelevance in the face of new sources of information.
NYT is well-aware of the "New Media," as a 96-page internal report, sent to top executives last month, makes clear. Obtained by Buzzfeed, the report "paints a dark picture of a newsroom struggling more dramatically than is immediately visible to adjust to the digital world, a newsroom that is hampered primarily by its own storied culture."
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Friday, May 16, 2014
Europe Imitates The Fall Of The Roman Empire / Politics / European Union
By: Raul_I_Meijer
In essence, it’s really simple. We’ve seen over the last few days that the European Union is a federation of sovereign countries whose leadership has been found painfully – if not criminally – lacking in democratic principles, and several leaders of member states have been accomplices, on more than one occasion, in assaults on elected fellow leaders. That should say enough, and there is no doubt that down the line it will. It’s now a question of how do we get here from there, of how will Brussels be dismantled.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
High Tide for the U.S. Dollar: Revenge of the Sith / Politics / US Dollar
By: Jesse
I have certainly considered this scenario many times, of how the dollar regime might evolve, and the one discussed below remains one possible outcome.
There is an intense international discussion going on about the future of the international currency system, and relations in general. I have referred to this generally as the 'currency wars' for some time.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Are Russia and China About To Announce The End Of The US Dollar Era? / Politics / US Dollar
By: Jeff_Berwick
Countries all over the world are meeting for a purpose that concerns you greatly, whether or not you're American: disuse of the US dollar.
Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis the end of the US dollar seems closer than ever. In move-after-move, Russia and China have become closer allies. There are numerous examples of this. For brevity's sake, two recent examples catch the eye. Gazprom issued bonds in the Chinese Yuan and Russia and China also signed a gas deal. There are many more examples. 40 central banks have even placed bets on the yuan as the future reserve currency.
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Thursday, May 15, 2014
U.S. Mainstream Media Ignores Putin’s Peace Plan / Politics / GeoPolitics
By: Mike_Whitney
“Let me repeat again, that in Russia’s view, the blame for the crisis in Ukraine lies with those who organized the coup d’etat in Kiev on February 22-23… But whatever the case, we must look for a way to solve the situation as it is today….And, as I said, what is needed is direct, full-fledged and equal dialogue between the Kiev authorities and the representatives of people in southeast Ukraine….I don’t know whether a Geneva-2 round of talks.. is realistic. (But) I believe that if we want to find a long-term solution to the crisis, there must be an open, honest and equal dialogue . That is our only option.” -Russian President Vladimir Putin, press statement, OCSE meeting, Moscow, May 7, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Boko Haram Kidnappings an Excuse to Invade Another Oil-rich Muslim Country? / Politics / US Military
By: LewRockwell
We are told that a radical Islamic group called Boko Haram has kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria. This classic good-vs.-evil tale pits crazed Muslim extremists against adorable innocent children. The whole world demands the rescue of the girls, and deplores the evils of “radical Islam.”
It is a terrific story – the stuff Hollywood films are made of. But is it true?
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
FATCA Causing Chaos Worldwide For Americans / Politics / Taxes
By: Jeff_Berwick
The Illegitimate Revenue Agency (IRS) has just announced that the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) has been postponed from July 1, 2014 until January 1, 2016.
This is good news in many ways for both those with assets that they wish to internationalize as well as for the dollar and US banking system itself but in many ways the damage has already been done.
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Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Dr Dre Forgot THIS When He Claimed To Be Hip Hops First Billionaire / Politics / Social Issues
By: Jeff_Berwick
In his 1996 hit song "Been There, Done That," Dr. Dre rapped, "I ain't got no time to wait around for illuminati, I gotta make a billion before the year 2-G." Whether or not you believe in the so-called "illuminati," Dr. Dre was hinting at an underlying urgency he felt to strike it rich in a big way before society went down the drain. 14 years after the year 2000 and his last album, Dr. Dre has struck it big again. But is he a billionaire?
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
The US Dollar’s Fragile Reserve Currency Status / Politics / US Federal Reserve Bank
By: Paul_Craig_Roberts
Is the Fed “tapering”? Did the Fed really cut its bond purchases during the three month period November 2013 through January 2014? Apparently not if foreign holders of Treasuries are unloading them.
From November 2013 through January 2014 Belgium with a GDP of $480 billion purchased $141.2 billion of US Treasury bonds.
Somehow Belgium came up with enough money to allocate during a 3-month period 29 percent of its annual GDP to the purchase of US Treasury bonds.
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Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Flash Boys - Wall Street Has Always Been Corrupt Or About To Be Corrupted / Politics / Market Manipulation
By: James_Quinn
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”― Upton Sinclair – I, Candidate for Governor: And How I Got Licked
“The U.S. financial markets had always been either corrupt or about to be corrupted.” - Michael Lewis, Flash Boys
I finished reading Michael Lewis’ Flash Boys take-down of Wall Street banks, hedge funds, government regulators and high frequency traders last week when I had spare time created by a weeklong denial of service attack on my website. It appears to me technology is being utilized more frequently as a mechanism for malevolence rather than a mechanism for good. The smartest guys in the room are figuring out ways to steal you blind in the financial markets, pilfer your personal information, spy on your electronic communications, and censor your right to free speech by taking away your ability to communicate freely on the internet. After reading Lewis’ maddening tome and experiencing the frustration of an attack that reached 50 million hits per day on my website, I’m reminded of two quotes from the brilliant dystopian visionary Aldous Huxley.
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Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Puerto Rico’s Stunning New Tax Advantages / Politics / Taxes
By: Casey_Research
By Nick Giambruno, Senior Editor, International Man
Chances are that you have heard something about the stunning new laws in Puerto Rico that give unbelievable tax benefits for mainland Americans who move to the island. Benefits that are so incredible that many at first thought they were simply too good to be true… but they most certainly are not.
With strategies that purport to legally allow US citizens to avoid having to pay taxes, the first thing that usually comes to mind is some sort of cockamamie scheme. This is because the US government is no slouch when it comes to shaking down its citizens. It’s mind-boggling expenditures necessitate this. It would be dangerously foolish in the extreme to think you could slip one past them.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
The Mythology of the U.S. Supreme Court / Politics / US Politics
By: MISES
Ryan W. McMaken writes: The Supreme Court’s recent decision on prayer at government meetingsreminds me that Supreme Court “season” is upon us, and for the next two months or so, we can expect to see the court decide on a variety of cases that can have profound impacts on the lives of citizens and non-citizens alike. The court’s decision in Town of Greece vs. Galloway has produced a lot of commentary on both sides, with much discussion about the dynamics between justices, and how Justice Kennedy must have been in a pro-prayer mood that day, since his decisions appear to be made on a variety of unknowable whims.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
American Crimes Against Humanity / Politics / US Politics
By: Raul_I_Meijer
Every people has the right to self-determination, but only if it pleases a bunch of self-elected overlords and if it serves their purpose. How else can we interpret the fact that the Donetsk self-organized referendum was rejected by the West and even labeled criminal by the Kiev government that in turn is labeled criminal in Donetsk, all of whom say the May 25 across-Ukraine election is the real and legal thing, as the Donetsk region has already vowed to boycott that election? You can have a referendum to separate yourself from Ukraine, but only under Ukraine law. That is, the law of a government that has threatened to ban your language from being used where you live and that has been put in place, and maintained there, by armed groups that are shooting at you, must decide your right to self-determination.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Third World America - U.S. Suburbs Become Ghettos / Politics / Social Issues
By: John_Rubino
Not so long ago, a reasonably-presentable American could live an hour outside of a city and commute in for a government or banking job, thus getting the best of both worlds: city-level wages and a 3,000 square foot house with a big yard for the kids.
But then municipal governments ran out of money and started laying off, while banks, traumatized by their 2009 near-death experience, cut back on mortgage and consumer lending and fired the related staff. The only other jobs available were in service industries like food and retail that paid next to nothing and didn’t offer benefits.
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Monday, May 12, 2014
Done Deal For Independent East Ukraine / Politics / Ukraine Civil War
By: Andrew_McKillop
Novorossiya Starts in Crimea
In interview with CBS, May 11, former US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates firstly said that Russia's annexation of Crimea was “a done deal” and that “there’s nothing we can do to change the situation.” He openly questioned what the real motives of Vladimir Putin in eastern Ukraine may be. Gates said: “I’m not sure he knows at this point, other than to....protecting the Russians and making sure the Ukraine ultimately leans back toward Russia”. For Gates the done deal in Crimea can easily morph into eastern Ukraine becoming a Russian satrape. He said. “I don’t think he’ll rest until there’s a pro-Russian government in Kiev or a federated Ukraine where the eastern part of the country, for all practical purposes, looks to Russia.”
Monday, May 12, 2014
Ukraine Separatists Ask Putin to Annex Donetsk Following Referendum; Sanctions Hypocrisy / Politics / Ukraine Civil War
By: Mike_Shedlock
Separatists in Donetsk claim a turnout of 74.9% in a referendum on self-determination with 89.7% voting in favor of self-rule.
Ukraine says turnout was 32%. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between but that's a pretty wide gap. Even 32% turnout seems respectable given the circumstances.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Russian Borderlands: The View from Azerbaijan / Politics / GeoPolitics
By: STRATFOR
I arrive in Azerbaijan as the country celebrates Victory Day, the day successor states of the former Soviet Union celebrate the defeat of Germany in World War II. No one knows how many Soviet citizens died in that war -- perhaps 22 million. The number is staggering and represents both the incompetence and magnificence of Russia, which led the Soviets in war. Any understanding of Russia that speaks of one without the other is flawed.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Ron Paul Asks - What Does The US Government Want in Ukraine? / Politics / US Politics
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
In several eastern Ukrainian towns over the past week, the military opened fire on its own citizens. Dozens may have been killed in the violence. Although the US government generally condemns a country's use of military force against its own population, especially if they are unarmed protesters, this time the US administration blamed the victims. After as many as 20 unarmed protesters were killed on the May 9th holiday in Ukraine, the State Department spokesman said "we condemn the outbreak of violence caused by pro-Russia separatists."
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