Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Chinese Metaphysics Meet Mayan End of the World Apocalypse / Politics / Social Issues
By: DK_Matai
Transitioning from the 'Lucky' Water Dragon to the 'Wise' Snake -- 2012 to 2013 -- A Chinese Perspective
Speaking to a senior Chinese delegation recently about Hurricane Sandy's ongoing impact on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States including New York and New Jersey, we were struck by the remark that water on earth and floods are not entirely inconsistent with 2012, the year of the "Water Dragon" according to Chinese metaphysics. In parallel, as we approach the end of the year 2012, believers and sceptics alike are studying the Mayan calendar and Eschatology: the branch of theology concerned with final events or the end of the world. As a myriad of experts and self-styled prophets announce the impending end of the world on December 21st, 2012, the day that marks the winter solstice, we wondered what the Chinese delegation might have to say on this subject.
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Saturday, November 03, 2012
Were Ancient Spartan's the First Socialists? / Politics / Social Issues
By: MISES
Alexander Gray: At what point a history of socialism should begin is a question which might give occasion to high argument. There are some who hold that we merely becloud our judgment if we allow ourselves to speak of socialism before the middle of the 18th century, or perhaps even somewhat later. On this view socialism is essentially a manifestation of the proletarian spirit; or, if socialism is not necessarily proletarian in character and origin, it at least postulates a society which tends to be comprehensive in its membership. Accordingly, it is suggested that a society which assumes for its efficient working the existence of a slave population, denied all rights, may at times speak a language suggestive of socialism, but it can know nothing of socialism as that word has been understood in the 19th and 20th centuries. The existence of a serf or slave population may in certain respects add a complication to life; but in other directions it quite obviously enormously simplifies the social and political problems of existence, as these are presented to that section of the population who are not slaves. On this view, a history of socialism should probably begin among these first ripples and disturbances which presaged the deluge of the French Revolution.
Saturday, November 03, 2012
U.S. Jobs Report Trick or Treat Economic Depression, Nearly 25 million Jobless Americans / Politics / Employment
By: Stephen_Lendman
Friday’s headline number belies dire economic reality. Main Street’s in protracted Depression. Nearly 25 million Americans are jobless.
Real unemployment approaches 23%. On November 6, Americans vote. Neither candidate proposed ways to create jobs. Obama’s done more to destroy them than create them.
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Saturday, November 03, 2012
Global Wealth 2012, Highs and Lows of World Salaries / Politics / Social Issues
By: Pravda
Last year, the smallest wages in Europe were paid in Ukraine, Moldova and Albania. The most highly paid professionals live in Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. However, the "low-income" Ukraine lives on labor migration. The Ukrainian citizens working in other countries, send billions of dollars to their home country every year.
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Friday, November 02, 2012
State Budget Deficits Grow as Millions of People Continue to Evade Taxes / Politics / Taxes
By: InvestmentContrarian
Sasha Cekerevac writes: One of the common themes around the world is the growing level of government debt due to high budget deficits. Budget deficits occur when spending is greater than revenue. Taxes are the main source of revenue for governments; taxes decrease with a slow economy. A slow economy means fewer employees, which means less revenue from income taxes and lower taxes on goods purchased. This increases budget deficits, which then adds to the rising total of the government debt.
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Thursday, November 01, 2012
Spain Offers Yet Another Impossible Solution to Its Debt, Economic Problems / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Graham_Summers
Spain continues to heap one impossible idea on top of another.
The latest “plan” consists of Spain creating a bad bank called SAREB that will buy up bad assets in Spain in an effort to clean up the country’s finances.
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Fiscal Cliff's Biggest Surprise Could Be a Rising U.S. Dollar / Politics / US Dollar
By: Money_Morning
Keith Fitz-Gerald writes:
My grandmother Mimi had a saying that was as blunt as it was uncouth. "When the stuff hits the fan," she used to say, "it will not be evenly distributed."
This one came up often when she sensed that world events were about to take a turn for the worse.
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
EU Banking Union, European Commission Single Supervisory Mechanism / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: BATR
The lack of enthusiasm for the latest effort to centralize all banking and monitory regulation within the European Central Bank suggests that the surreal struggle for continental unanimity still resides in the minds of banksters. Elites still seek to perfect the class distinguish of century old traditions, into a modern version of feudal serfdom. Globalism is the brainchild of the cabal of international banking. As long as a financial monopoly dominates political institutions, the end result will be more consolidation of the rule of the House of Rothschild.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Summary of Super Storm Sandy's Fierce Assault / Politics / Environmental Issues
By: DK_Matai
• Vast destruction zone spans the United States -- from North Carolina on the east-coast to as far west as Michigan -- and then beyond into Canada;
• Death toll has crossed 50, including 18 in New York;
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Hurricane Sandy Draws Out Political and Economic Fallacies / Politics / US Politics
By: Jeff_Berwick
Gary Gibson writes: Throughout the next few days in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy you will repeatedly hear two great untruths:
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We need government to protect us from natural disasters.
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Natural disasters are good for the economy.
Monday, October 29, 2012
How Immoral Government Creates the Perfect Investment / Politics / US Politics
By: Investment_U
Alexander Green: If insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, you really have to wonder about California Governor Jerry Brown.
The two-time Democratic Governor is calling for a 3% tax hike on the state’s richest 1% to help pay for the state’s perpetually cash-strapped education system. He calls it “a moral issue.”
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Monday, October 29, 2012
Super Storm Sandy Attacks the US: Wall Street Shuts Down as Climate Chaos Impacts Financial Markets / Politics / Environmental Issues
By: DK_Matai
The United States, at least the eastern seaboard of the country, is under attack. Not from extremists, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Venezuela or any of the usual suspects. The offender who dares to assault the world's only superpower is a super storm innocuously named Sandy. Is this the defining confrontation of the 21st century -- between Humanity and Mother Nature -- as long predicted and debated by distinguished members within ATCA 5000? Hurricane Sandy is yet another ambassador of Mother Nature, who no one can mess with; not even a superpower.
Monday, October 29, 2012
The Global Banking ‘Super-Entity’ Drug Cartel: The “Free Market” of Finance Capital / Politics / Banksters
By: Andrew_G_Marshall
I would like to introduce you, the reader, to some realities of our global banking system, resting on the rhetoric of free markets, but functioning, in actuality, as a global cartel, a “super-entity” in which the world’s major banks all own each other and own the controlling shares in the world’s largest multinational corporations, influence governments and policy with politicians in their back pockets, routinely engaging in fraud and bribery, and launder hundreds of billions of dollars in drug money, not to mention arms dealing and terrorist financing. These are the “too big to fail” and “too big to jail” banks, the centre of our global economy, what we call a “free market,” implying that the global banks – and corporations – have “free reign” to do anything they please, engage in blatantly criminal activities, steal trillions in wealth which is hidden offshore, and never get more than a slap on the wrist. This is the real “free market,” a highly profitable global banking cartel, functioning as a worldwide financial Mafia.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Why I Burned My Social Security Card / Politics / UK Politics
By: Investment_U
Mark Skousen: “Social Security may not be worth anything when the recipient gets it, but he is going to get his benefits paid.” – Senator William Proxmire (1979)
Today, I reached the “retirement” milestone of 65 years of age. Fortunately, my health is good and I still play basketball, golf and other sports, and feel young as ever. I have no plans of retiring. I hope to write Forecasts & Strategies for at least another 20 years!
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Saturday, October 27, 2012
A Message From the 1%, Why Vilification of Wall Street is Disgusting / Politics / US Politics
By: Bloomberg
Billionaire financier and Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone told Bloomberg Television's Trish Regan on "Street Smart" today that he is "proudly part of the 1%. I worked like hell to become part of the 1."
Langone said that, "I have been in Wall Street all of my life. I love it. It has been good to me... This vilification of what is going on in America today is disgusting."
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Friday, October 26, 2012
Voluntary Servitude Begins With A Debt / Politics / Debt & Loans
By: Richard_Mills
Should we leave the creation of new money in the hands of bankers or place its creation solely with our government?
“The financial system used by all national economies worldwide is actually founded upon debt. To be direct and precise, modern money is created in parallel with debt…
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Friday, October 26, 2012
How Many Bubbles in a Bar of Soap? / Politics / US Politics
By: Jeff_Berwick
Quick, can you name all the people who were in the room when you were born? Could you give the name and number of every supervisor you've ever had? Or tell me the address or addresses of both your parents one year before your birth?
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Hospitals Unsafe at Any Blood Pressure, Socialism By Installments / Politics / Healthcare Sector
By: MISES
Christopher Westley writes: What if the unintended consequences are actually intentional?
That's the thought I had recently upon learning about upcoming Medicare fines on hospitals that readmit patients due to complications within 30 days of an initial discharge. The logic is straightforward: If hospitals do not make a patient well the first time, then they suffer the additional cost of a fine.
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Thursday, October 25, 2012
Secession Fever Sweeping Europe Meaningless Without Debt Repudiation / Politics / Eurozone Debt Crisis
By: Ron_Holland
While regional independence is superior to both the failing European Union and the façade of special interest controlled democracy, one further action should taken by any jurisdictions that choose secession: Newly restored sovereign nations should repudiate their share of the illegitimate sovereign debt when they exit existing unions and nation-states. Created by distant banking elites buying national politicians and parliaments to load up on sovereign debts that can never be paid off, this massive national debt load is illegitimate and destructive to existing and new national economies.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
So, How Can I Make A Living In Mexico? / Politics / Social Issues
By: Jeff_Berwick
Jim Karger writes: So, why don't they pick up and leave?
Money.
They don't have enough to live on the income generated by their savings for the rest of their lives. (Many actually do and believe they don't, but I will save that topic for another article.)
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