Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Who Destroyed The Middle Class? / Politics / Social Issues
By: James_Quinn
"Over the last thirty years, the United States has been taken over by an amoral financial oligarchy, and the American dream of opportunity, education, and upward mobility is now largely confined to the top few percent of the population. Federal policy is increasingly dictated by the wealthy, by the financial sector, and by powerful (though sometimes badly mismanaged) industries such as telecommunications, health care, automobiles, and energy. These policies are implemented and praised by these groups’ willing servants, namely the increasingly bought-and-paid-for leadership of America’s political parties, academia, and lobbying industry.” – Charles Ferguson – Predator Nation
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Hollywood's New Propaganda Movie Hostage Thriller Glamorizes The CIA In Iran / Politics / US Politics
By: Danny_Schechter
Earlier this year, I was in Tehran for a conference on Hollywood’s power and impact. It was called “Hollywoodism,” featuring many scholars and critics of the values and political ideologies featured in many major movies with a focus on the way Israel (a.k.a., “the Zionists”) are continually portrayed as if they do no wrong.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Conservatives Hand Over Control of UK Police Forces to Labour Gravy Train Riders / Politics / UK Politics
By: N_Walayat
Labour who opposed the creation of Police and Crime Commissioner posts, announces its candidates for the jobs across England and Wales 41 police forces, who will be standing at the November 15th public elections which in most cases will just be a formality as the Conservatives, supposedly the party for law and order have effectively scored a huge own goal by handing over control of most of Britain's police force's to an assortment of Labour characters including ex Ministers and MP's, many of whom were criticised over their abuse of MP expenses, and a number had to repay tens of thousands of pounds and were lucky not to be prosecuted for alleged expenses fraud.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Meredith Whitney: Jamie Dimon is the Antithesis of Blankfein / Politics / Credit Crisis 2012
By: Bloomberg
Meredith Whitney appeared on Bloomberg Surveillance with Tom Keene this morning and talked about Jamie Dimon's testimony before Congress, saying that "He is, like nobody else, the antithesis of Blankfein. He charms. He's incredible. He gave the senators a massage and they gave him a massage back."
Whitney also said that, "I don't think this could have happened at a worse time for the banking industry."
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Monday, June 18, 2012
Greece Election Result Will Postpone Europe's Economic Recovery / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Bloomberg
Today on "Market Makers" with Erik Schatzker and Stephanie Ruhle, Mike Novogratz of Fortress Investment Group said that the results of the Greek election will postpone a recovery in Europe. He said, "If we had the Lehman moment it would have forced the European authorities to decide, are they in or are they out. But we've pushed the ball down the field."
Novogratz also said, "for your children's money you should be short every fixed-income instrument on the planet, or at least in the developed world...we're going to continue to have a lot of tension in the markets for awhile."
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Monday, June 18, 2012
Greece Crisis Through The Looking Glass / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Ian_R_Campbell
Why Read: Because in some (and perhaps many) respects Greece can now be seen as a small, and hence comparatively easily understood, 'microcosm' of what may happen in other developed countries going forward.
Featured Article: Multiple articles and other media last evening and this morning have reported and discussed yesterday's New Democracy Party victory in yesterday's Greek election.
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Friday, June 15, 2012
Former Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta Found Guilty on Four Counts of Insider Trading / Politics / Market Regulation
By: Jesse
Jury deliberated only two days, finding Gupta guilty on four counts of insider trading, and innocent of two counts.
This was clearly a case of failing to maintain GPS coordinates when burying the bodies for your masters, and failing to provide sufficient campaign donations to the plutocracy.
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Friday, June 15, 2012
EU’s Real Agenda is “Lie Until You Are About to Die” / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Graham_Summers
The big news that the markets are attempting to digest this week is the €100 billion Spanish bailout. This action and the upcoming Fed FOMC meeting on June 19-20 will dictate the market’s action over the next two weeks and possibly for the remainder of the year.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Overview of Greek Elections / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: Simit_Patel
Greece is holding elections this weekend, and the results of these elections could determine how Greece relates to the European Union. This in turn could significantly impact the Euro, which in turn will impact everything else, which means it's potentially a big deal.
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Friday, June 15, 2012
Greece Sunday Election Bigger Than Romney/Obama / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Money_Morning
Martin Hutchinson writes:
What happens this Sunday, June 17 , may be the trigger for a final resolution of the Eurozone debt crisis.
Now I understand that you probably don't follow Greek elections. But this is one you'll want to keep an eye on. At the moment, it dwarfs the contest between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Compassion – Killer of Society? / Politics / Social Issues
By: Casey_Research
Rex van Schalkwyk, Casey Research Writes:
In politics, it is the idea that counts. So also in philosophy, pop music, pedantry and philanthropy. The idea is everything. And between the idea and the reality, there lies that vast uncharted terrain of promises unfulfilled, of lies and deceit and of naked hypocrisy, all of which account for the failure of the public discourse and of public life. In short, this self-inflicted deception accounts for the failure of society.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The Institutional Flaw At the Heart of the Federal Reserve / Politics / Central Banks
By: Jesse
This is a long 'thought piece' by Simon Johnson, an eminent US economist and professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
It exposes the inherent conflicts of interest at the New York Fed, the history behind that structural flaw, and the problems it creates in a time of high powered money and financialization, with the Fed assuming even more regulatory powers from a craven Congress.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Spain Bailout Big Lie, How Can a Non-Existent Entity Bailout Spain Or Anyone Else? / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Graham_Summers
Spain’s Bailout is one big lie.
I know, I know… Spain is “saved” thanks to a €100 billion bailout.
But no one is asking just where this money will come from?
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Thursday, June 14, 2012
Iran Looks to China and Russia for Military Support as Western Pressure Increases / Politics / Middle East
By: OilPrice_Com
Beset by rising rhetoric about a possible Israeli attack against its nuclear facilities, Iran is seeking full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as an additional layer of international diplomatic "life insurance." On 12 November 2011 Iranian Supreme National Security Council's Secretary Assistant Ali Bageri said that Iran is seeking full membership in the SCO, upgrading its current observer status, telling journalists in Moscow, "We have already submitted a relevant application."
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Capital Controls, Border Controls and Bank Freezes: European Union Prepares For Emergency / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: DK_Matai
Bank runs in Greece are now in full swing. Withdrawals from Greek banks ahead of the weekend elections have spiked to more than 800 million euros per day. Is the Greek exit or "Grexit" now imminent? If so, what is the European Union going to do about it?
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Out of Order / Politics / US Politics
By: Peter_Schiff
While JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been credited for a confident and feisty performance today in front of Congress, he was careful to not criticize their efforts thus far to regulate the financial services industry. Given that JP Morgan has been on the receiving end of federal bailouts, this should not be surprising. Last week I showed no such reluctance when I testified in front of the Congressional House Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity. The fact that my firm is unlikely ever to receive a dime from government was undeniably liberating in that regard.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Unemployment as a Lifestyle / Politics / Unemployment
By: BATR
All one hears is that the lack of jobs is the number one economic problem. Well documented are endless examples of systemic destruction in employment opportunities. The negative consequences of off shoring corporate jobs are undeniable. Up until now, the little attention placed on the psychological mindsets that build the structural impediments for a healthy main street economy, keep a serious discussion on jobs, just going in circles.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Euro-zone Slow Motion Bank Run, Spain Bailout / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Mike_Whitney
“The burden of recapitalizing insolvent banks or loss-making acquisitions of solvent banks will fall on Spanish citizens.”
– Karl Whelan, economist at University College, Dublin.
Before EU finance ministers approve the 100 billion euro bailout for Spain, they might want to ask themselves one question: Will it really help?
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Wednesday, June 13, 2012
EU Banking-Union Proposal Dead Before Arrival, Lessons the EU Needs to Learn / Politics / Credit Crisis 2012
By: Mike_Shedlock
A group of eurozone Nannycrats has agreed to meet later this month to devise a master plan for a eurozone fiscal and banking union. Here is a synopsis from my post on Sunday Details of the Secret "Nannyplan" Emerge; Proposed Nannygroup Uniforms
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Spain, Debt and Sovereignty / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: STRATFOR
Eurozone countries on June 9 agreed to lend Spain up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) to stabilize the Spanish banking system. Because the bailout dealt with Spain's financial sector directly rather than involving the country's sovereign debt, Madrid did not face the kind of demands for more onerous austerity measures in exchange for the loan that have led to political instability in countries such as Greece.