Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
U.S. Social Security Trust Fund Running Out Faster than Expected / Politics / US Politics
By: Money_and_Markets
Nilus Mattive writes: We got lots of disturbing news from Washington last week. But the latest updates on Social Security and Medicare really got my blood boiling.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Who Will TARP Bailout America? / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: Michael_Pento
Last week the nation’s number one trucking company, YRC Worldwide Inc., announced that it will seek $1 billion in TARP assistance to bailout the company’s pension plan. Never mind the fact that the request is light years away from the original intention and approval given by congress to purchase toxic assets from banks’ balance sheets. The point is that the troubled company’s request of the government to cover its pension obligations should remind us of the bigger issue; who will bailout our country’s pension plan and can the USA TARP itself?
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Restoring National Sovereignty with A Truly National Banking System / Politics / Global Financial System
By: Stephen_Lendman
Reviewing Ellen Brown's "Web of Debt:" Part VI -
This is the sixth and final article on Ellen Brown's superb 2007 book titled "Web of Debt," now updated in a December 2008 third edition. It tells "the shocking truth about our money system, (how it) trapped us in debt, and how we can break free." This article focuses on establishing a people-oriented banking system. It's high time we had one and reclaimed what's rightfully ours.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Audit the Fed, Then End It! / Politics / Central Banks
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
I have been very pleased with the progress of my legislation, HR 1207, which calls for a complete audit of the Federal Reserve and removes many significant barriers towards transparency of our monetary system. This bill now has nearly 170 cosponsors, with support from both Republicans and Democrats. Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced a companion bill in the Senate S604, which will hopefully begin to gain momentum as well. I am very encouraged to see so many of my colleagues in Congress stand with me for greater transparency in government.
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Monday, May 18, 2009
Obama's Road to Economic Ruin and Higher Taxes / Politics / Economic Stimulus
By: Gerard_Jackson
The inimitable Adam Smith once quipped that "there is a great deal of ruination in a country". But then Mr Smith had never met President Obama whose idea of financial responsibility would make the feckless and cynical Louis XIV look like a nineteenth British treasurer. This ideologue has set the United States on a spending and borrowing binge that is unprecedented in its history and which is impossible to sustain.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Obama is Disastrous for the U.S. Economy, Recession Worst is Yet to Come / Politics / Recession 2008 - 2010
By: Mike_Shedlock
Howard Davidowitz, chairman of Davidowitz & Associates has an interesting take on the economy that I happen to agree with.
Monday, May 18, 2009
MP's Blame Greedy NHS GP's for Expense Claims Abuse / Politics / UK Politics
By: Nadeem_Walayat
Humiliated MP's across all parties that have been drowned out by the public chorus of outrage and indignation of the abuse of the MP expenses system have repeatedly stated how MP pay has failed to keep pace with that of NHS GP's which is one of the key reasons as to why they have resorted to what amounts to legalised theft from the electorate.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
American's Did Not Vote For This Obama / Politics / US Politics
By: Mike_Whitney
Anyone who has ever wasted good money on a clunker only to drop the transmission 15 minutes after leaving the car-lot, knows the feeling. It's like a swift-kick in the groin followed by weeks of fist-pounding rage. It's called buyer's remorse; "Gawd, I wish I hadn't bought that piece of dogshite!"
Friday, May 15, 2009
Bubble Blower Greenspan Continues to Denie Responsbility for U.S. Housing Bust / Politics / US Housing
By: Peter_Schiff
When, during the invasion of Iraq, the United States Government issued its famous deck of playing cards with the 52 arch villains of the Iraqi police state, Saddam Hussein's face adorned the Ace of Spades. If the Obama Administration wanted to engage in a similar public relations campaign for the real estate crisis, the top card should be reserved for Alan Greenspan.
Friday, May 15, 2009
The Bank Bailout Bubble – The Bubble to End All Bubbles / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: LewRockwell
Gerald Celente writes: The biggest financial bubble in history is being inflated in plain sight. This is the Mother of All Bubbles, and when it explodes, it will signal the end to the boom/bust cycle that has characterized economic activity throughout the developed world. Either unwilling or unable to call the bubble by its proper name, the media, Washington, and Wall Street describe the stupendous government expenditures on rescue packages, stimulus plans, buyouts, and takeovers as emergency measures needed to salvage the severely damaged economy.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik Sets Expenses Scandal Claim Record / Politics / UK Politics
By: Nadeem_Walayat
The Justice Minister, Shahid Malik, became the latest MP to be named in the ever expanding expenses scandal in the Daily Telegraph which states that Mr Malik claimed the maximum allowed for the second homes allowance amounting to £66, 827 over 3 years for his London home with an original purchase price of £85,000 (2001), whilst at the same time nominating a rental property as his main residence in his Dewsbury constituency for less than £100 per week.
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Mealy Mouthed MP's Blasted Over Expenses Abuse on Historic BBC Question Time / Politics / US Politics
By: Nadeem_Walayat
If MP's were in any doubt as to the outrage amongst the British public then last nights BBC Question Time programme should bring home the serious situation which threatens literal rebellion amongst the British voters away from the three main parties in favour of the fringe parties such as the Greens, UKIP and the BNP.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Countries Should Use their Central Bank Reserves to Tame the Speculators / Politics / Global Financial System
By: Global_Research
Michael Hudson writes: Yevgeny Primakov explains where Russia’s Neoliberal Model Went Wrong - Last week Izvestiya published an interview with former Premier Yevgeny Primakov, now president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. (Johnson’s Russia List published a translation on May 8). The discussion centered on a universal problem – what China and other Asian countries, as well as OPEC and Europe should do with the export surpluses and proceeds mounting up in their central banks from mortgaging or selling off their real estate and industry. Or to put matters in retrospect, what should they have done to avoid the neoliberal monetarist ideology that governments should do nothing at all with these surpluses, not even use them to fuel economic growth.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Who Rules America? / Politics / US Politics
By: Paul_Craig_Roberts
What do you suppose it is like to be elected president of the United States only to find that your power is restricted to the service of powerful interest groups?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Debt Spider Captures America - American Workers Consigned to Debt Serfdom / Politics / Global Financial System
By: Stephen_Lendman
Reviewing Ellen Brown's "Web of Debt:" Part IV - This is the fourth in a series of articles on Ellen Brown's superb 2007 book titled "Web of Debt," now updated in a December 2008 third edition. It tells "the shocking truth about our money system, (how it) trapped us in debt, and how we can break free." This article focuses on America's "web of debt" entrapment.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Bankrupt California Seeks Federal Bailout / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: Mike_Shedlock
MarketWatch is reporting California formally asks Geithner for TARP assistance
California Treasurer Bill Lockyer asked U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Wednesday to authorize assistance for his state from the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program, warning that depressed tax revenues may cut into basic services and halt the building of infrastructure.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Secrets of the Federal Reserve Bank Revealed / Politics / Central Banks
By: Global_Research
Bob Chapman writes: The Federal Reserve Act was legislated in 1913 to end recessions, panics and depression. Over that almost 100-year period they have been eminently no more successful then their predecessors. The Fed is a private corporation, which guides US monetary policy. Its staff is from Wall Street, banking, and transnational conglomerates and occasionally from academia. Of the 12 Federal Reserve banks the New York bank is the most powerful. The staffing of the Fed at the least is incestuous, because the member banks take part in the staffing, as they filter to the Fed what actions they should take.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Brave New World of Government Finance / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: LewRockwell
Eric Fry writes: Eighty-two steps back…one step forward. Last fall, without so much as a grunt from an elected official, the former Treasury Secretary of the United States doled out $170 billion dollars to the incompetents at AIG. Yesterday, the current President of the United States announced triumphantly that his new budget would “save” $17 billion, thanks to the elimination of 121 federal programs.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Fascist Star Trek Federation Vs Free Market Aliens / Politics / Financial Markets 2009
By: LewRockwell
John Bowman writes: Several years ago, I remember reading an historical analysis of alien movies and other popular media, with an interesting conclusion that went something like this: With a few notable exceptions, during times of war, widespread geopolitical strife or general oppression or misery, E.T. is generally depicted in popular media as a benevolent visitor, yet in times of peace or general prosperity, E.T. is instead portrayed as a merciless invader.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Banks Modern Day Pirates Without Boats / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: Pravda
Pirates are all the rage these days. The brazen audacity of Somali Pirates seems to make headlines every other day. Not only does crime pay, it pays lavishly; over $15 billion a year by some estimates. Traditionally, a Pirate is someone who robs or plunders on the high seas. The most successful or notorious villains in history passed into folklore.