Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Monday, October 05, 2009
NATO's Global Military Roadmap / Politics / New World Order
By: Rick_Rozoff
Not content with expanding from 16 to 28 members over the past decade in a post-Cold War world in which it confronts no military threat from any source, state or non-state, and not sufficiently occupied with its first ground and first Asian war in Afghanistan, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – the world’s only military bloc – is eager to take on a plethora of new international missions.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
The U.S. Constitution Never Had a Chance / Politics / US Politics
By: John_Kozy
An eminent North Carolina jurist, with whom I served on a Criminal Code Revision Commission, once told me that the law is what the last court that looks at it says it is and even then, its Justices usually disagree. I told him that there must be something very wrong with such a system. Thinking about this issue and attempting to isolate the arguments in Supreme Court decisions for use in my logic classes over decades, I came to the conclusion that so many things were wrong that even selecting the most egregious would be difficult. Perhaps that is why I have not attempted to write this piece until now.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Understanding the Costs of Healthcare / Politics / Healthcare Sector
By: D_W_MacKenzie
Rising costs are the main issue in the debate over healthcare reform. Most everybody thinks of healthcare as expensive, but there is much confusion over these costs. On September 9, President Obama attempted to clarify cost issues concerning the medical industry. The federal government will supposedly reduce costs, curtail abuses, and make healthcare services more affordable.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
How Goldman Sachs Lobbies the Senate / Politics / Market Manipulation
By: Matt_Taibbi
The SEC is holding a public round table Tuesday to explore several issues around securities lending, which has expanded into a big moneymaker for Wall Street firms and pension funds. Regulation hasn’t kept pace, some industry participants contend. Securities lending is central to the practice of short selling, in which investors borrow shares and sell them in a bet that the price will decline. Short sellers later hope to buy back the shares at a lower price and return them to the securities lender, booking a profit. Lending and borrowing also help market makers keep stock trading functioning smoothly.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Mainstream Zombie Media, Top 25 Censored Stories of 2008-2009 / Politics / Mainstream Media
By: Stephen_Lendman
For 33 years, Sonoma State University's (SSU) Project Censored (PC) has engaged in pioneering research on, and advocacy for, First Amendment issues. Founded by Carl Jensen in 1976, it's now headed by Professor Ben Frymer. On July 1, he took over from Professor Peter Phillips who stepped down after 13 years of distinguished service as Director.
Friday, October 02, 2009
Iran Sanctions and the Doomsday Scenario / Politics / Iran
By: John_Mauldin
Recently I had a discussion with a colleague about university athletes. I was previously unaware that NCAA colleges set up guidance programs that develop the well-roundedness of student athletes. 'Life coaches' ensure that these individuals balance their rigorous athletic commitments with personal and academic accomplishments. I'm not judging your ability to run a mile or catch a football, but well-roundedness is an element to being successful - whatever your area may be.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
The Risk of Less Risk; The "Yeah, But" Syndrome / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: Paul_Petillo
As Ben Bernanke, the Federal Reserve Chairman testifies before Congress, we will come to the conclusion that there is risk, we should do something about it and we still have no idea exactly what. Referring to the problem as systemic risk, both in the creation of firms seeking to reach, through acquisition, the "to-big-to-fail" status and the inability of one agency to oversee every player in this complicated, global game of finance, Bernanke admits that we are far from where we need to be but much closer than we think.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Hedge Funds One of the Last Bastions of Capitalism Left in the United States / Politics / Financial Markets 2009
By: Dan_OConnor
We Call Upon the Hedge Funds - The brains and talent of the financial industry have been moving enormous pools of wealth away from the highly regulated commercial and investment banks into the fast-paced, creative, and aggressive hedge funds. This is because, in many ways, the hedge funds represent a more pure capitalist system.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Japanese Politics and the Yen / Politics / Japanese Yen
By: Axel_Merk
The U.S. dollar has been getting a beating from all sides, but its woes may be far from over – recent developments in Japan, China, Germany and the United Kingdom, not to speak of domestic developments in the U.S., are pointing to a rocky road ahead. Today’s focus is on Japan and, more specifically, how a country on a downward economic spiral can have a strong currency.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
The Dieing Sun Shines on the Tory Party / Politics / UK Politics
By: Nadeem_Walayat
The Sun, Britains most popular newspaper publically announced its backing of the Conservative party some 6 months ahead of the next General Election. Whilst it is bad news for Labour, however it is not surprising given Labour's low poll rating and the Sun's own highly critical reporting of Gordon Browns government where it had resumed the role of pumping out biased Tory propaganda barely weeks within Gordon Brown taking over from Tony Blair in July 2007.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
A Somber G20 / Politics / Recession 2008 - 2010
By: John_Browne
As a part-time member of the press corps, I had the good fortune to attend many of the public sessions at last week's G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh. As impressive as it was to closely witness the gathering of countries representing some 85 percent of the world's GDP (along with the governors of the World Bank, the IMF and the European Central Bank), it was equally remarkable to witness the immense security forces deployed to restrain those who feel the gathering harbored the forces most responsible for the world's economic and financial problems.
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Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Russian TV And Me, Michael Moore, And Using Capitalism To Challenge Capitalism: Oh, The Ironies! / Politics / Credit Crisis 2009
By: Danny_Schechter
When the CBS suits shuttered WBCN in Boston, the radio station I used to work for, one more institution that at time was known for offering critical and independent news was snuffed out.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Iran, IAEA, Another War in the Works / Politics / Iran
By: Paul_Craig_Roberts
Does anyone remember all the lies that they were told by President Bush and the "Main Stream Media" about the grave threat to America from weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? These lies were repeated endlessly in the print and TV media despite the reports from the weapons inspectors, who had been sent to Iraq, that no such weapons existed.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Cap & Tax , The Sun Causes Global Warming and Cooling…Climate / Politics / Climate Change
By: Mark_B_Rasmussen
The Sun Causes Global Warming and Cooling…Climate Change!!
This is not my opinion; links to the most comprehensive and current scientific reports are included below.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Real Reasons Behind Fed Secrecy / Politics / Central Banks
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
Last week I was very pleased that the Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, HR 1207. The bill has 295 cosponsors and there is also strong support for the companion bill in the Senate. This hearing was a major step forward in getting the bill passed.
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Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Geopolitical Intelligence Report, Obama's Move on Iran and Afghanistan / Politics / GeoPolitics
By: STRATFOR
During the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign, now-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that like all U.S. presidents, Barack Obama would face a foreign policy test early in his presidency if elected. That test is now here.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Labour Government Benefits Culture Results in Rampaging Feral Youths / Politics / UK Politics
By: N_Walayat
The easy money for nothing benefits culture that Labour has implemented over its 11 year rule, which is in part to reward a large section of its natural voter pool has resulted in the expansion of the benefits culture far beyond that of the preceding decades where invariably the operative strategy in maximising the amounts claimed in benefits is to produce increasing number of children, with little if any effort put into raising a large proportion of the children into decent members of society but instead resulting in rampaging literally untouchable feral youths roaming the estates and city centres of Britain wreaking havoc amongst the rest of the population.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Founding Fathers Of Our New Country - Part2 / Politics / US Politics
By: James_Quinn
Civil Liberties
George Washington warned against the usurpation of civil liberties by those seeking power in his Farewell Address:
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Monday, September 28, 2009
Founding Fathers Of Our New Country / Politics / US Politics
By: James_Quinn
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” – George Washington“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” – George Washington
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Monday, September 28, 2009
World Health Organisation Admits No Deadly Mutation of H1N1 Swine Flu / Politics / Global Pandemic
By: F_William_Engdahl
The World Health Organization, the UN agency (ir-) responsible for declaring a Phase 6 “PANDEMIC” global alert over what it calls H1N1 Influenza A or Swine Flu, whose chief Dr Margaret Chan has repeatedly warned that while Swine Flu to date had been rather mild, that the emergency declaration was necessary because it “could mutate” aggressively into a deadly pandemic killing millions, now admits well into the flu season in the Northern Hemisphere that H1N1 has apparently not mutated.