A good article in The Guardian featuring a collection of photographs by photo-journalist Homa Kahleeli documenting the lives of Bangladeshi garment factory workers. The article reports on deadly accidents that have recently happened in the garment industry there, especially last week’s factory collapse which reportedly killed 327 people. But the photos by Kahleeli are more powerful than words…and all of them against unbridled capitalism.
Two articles appeared recently in the Washington Post that deserve rebuttals as to their slanted positions on certain issues. The first is an op-ed by Robert J. Samuelson titled “The End of Entitlement”. He argues we have reached a point where we are no longer entitled to the things in life we previously believed we deserved if we worked hard for them, such as a peace of mind about job security and retirement. He sums the idea up in one sentence:
We’re not entitled to many things: not to a dynamic economy; not to secure jobs; not to homeownership; not to ever-more protective government; not to fixed tax burdens; not to a college education.
It’s not that he is wrong about this current reality of life. It’s that his attempt at trying to decipher why this is the now case is weak and misleading.
He gives four points that we assumed would work but failed us. The first:
economists knew enough to moderate the business cycle, guaranteeing jobs for most people who wanted them…The Great Recession revealed the limits of economic management. (Emphasis added.)
Working as intended!
This is an incredibly misleading statement. If the Great Recession revealed anything it was that there was (and is) far too little oversight of the financial sector and, when it is allowed to run wild and commit fraud without consequences to the people committing the crimes, most of us get hurt in the end. This isn’t to suggest a communistic approach to the economy but a check and balance on the financial sector’s power (similar to our system of government’s checks on each branch) is clearly what was missing in the housing sector and the derivatives market and what got us to where we are now.
And before anyone tries to make the case Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were government-run programs that were policing the industry, they were not. Here’s how you figure that out. If it has a person called its CEO, kind of like Freddie and Fannie, it’s not government run. Period. They made their decisions without enough oversight and they screwed us in the interest of making a short term profit with painful long term consequences, just like other corporations.
His second point is that the “safety net” provided by large corporations has “shrunk” and does not provide what they once promised. One of the factors he strangely blames considering his first point: “deregulation”. In other words, economists failed at “managing” the economy but the economy failed because of deregulation. Samuelson counters himself here and apparently doesn’t notice it. If deregulation occurs at a level where it becomes problematic, then economists and the government are not actually “managing” anything. They are just observing what is happening without intervening where needed, which is what caused the crash.
His third point is that productivity gains did not translate into expected tax receipts and greater income inequality has compounded the problem of paying for government programs. This ignores two important factors causing this outcome. One, that the attack by the right on workers rights and unions has led to lower wage growth and more money going to the top earners, which is not in any way regulated but could be as Europe is doing. Two, that tax cuts, such as the Bush era cuts that went heavily to the top earners who are earning more of the money, have made tax revenues lower than previously expected when these programs were created. In other words, it was a boosting of right wing economic legislation that made this problem what it is now.
His last point is that broken families and children raised by single parents have helped take away the idea of entitlement. This idea is so ludicrous it’s hardly worth addressing. In other words, his argument is that a child in a household with two parents that fight all the time (or worse) and no longer want to be together is healthier for the child. Argue away on that point. Also, this ignores the fact stagnant wages have led to more hours worked for less pay which will have an obvious effect on the parent rearing the child, whether single or not.
The other article in the Post was a piece by Zachary Goldfarb about “liberals” (as if the government is filled with them) now dealing with the fact the defense cuts they called for are hurting the economy. The article focuses on military spending and is presented as if there is virtually no other alternative in how the government could use its funds. This suggests liberals only want cuts in defense spending and do not want the money diverted to shore up or improve other programs, such as Social Security or education.
He does spend some time on the idea money could go toward other expenditures. 2 whole paragraphs…out of 27. If this article was even a remote presentation of more liberal beliefs about where the government could spend its money, it would give far more time to this aspect and show how the defense budget dwarfs other areas that could produce jobs and help the economy like infrastructure and education. Pointing out that the federal defense budget is roughly $850 billion while federal education spending is just below $100 billion would be a start.
This time it’s The Post’s front-page story on the E.U.’s debate over rather austerity should be maintained to cure economic ills, or should it be more spending.
In the lead-up to this week’s opening of the George W. Bush library, a jaw-dropping poll number was given on CNN’s site:
Eight in ten Republicans now say that Bush’s eight years in office were a success.
A great “success”? Not so much.
After some smelling salts and looking more closely at their data, I realized part of the problem of this poll was no option of a middle choice between “success” and “failure”, for example “mixed” or “somewhat successful”. People were forced to back their party’s guy and we get this result.
But the stat still seems pretty high for the disaster that was the Bush administration. Point being if that was a “success”, then let’s do a little comparison between 43 and 44 and see who we should consider the bigger success.
Obama getting us out of the “mistake” and putting the emphasis of security forces back on those guilty of killing so many then giving the order to take out Bin Laden. Bigger “success!”
Budget Deficit/Spending
For part one of Bush presidency, blame bad stuff on this guy.
Before I get into these numbers, I’d like to clarify something. Many conservatives argue the 2009 numbers are Obama’s and not in any way the actions of Bush. There is an easy solution to this debate, however: ask conservatives who they thought was responsible for the 2001 budget prior to Obama becoming president.
You see, the government was running growing surpluses for three years prior to the 2001 budget. Then things started to turn around. So, if we figure out who conservatives considered mostly responsible for the 2001 budget, then we know who gets most of the blame for 2009.
In the last budget year of the previous (Clinton) administration (2001)…With the adoption of President Bush’s first budget (2002).
Seems clear. How about right wing economic think tank the Cato Institute? When they were doing the numbers on the first three years of Bush’s budgets in this piece, they included the 2004 budget which means no 2001.
Any conservative budget hawks from Townhall want to add their knowledge? Seems so:
So the $133.29 billion deficit in the year ending September 2001 was Clinton’s.
Hard right think tank Heritage Foundation weighing in:
Even the most rabid leftist cannot blame George Bush for the 2001 recession. It was the Clinton recession.
But the most rabid conservatives have no problem doing the same with Obama by blaming him for 2009. Rabidly, of course. The blame of Clinton was rather extensive as this piece from the Daily Kos shows. That being said, using the conservative perspective that 2001 was all Clinton’s fault prior to Obama’s election, we can safely assume all conservatives understand 2009 belongs to Bush, right guys? Let’s look at some numbers.
First fiscal year budget deficit Bush is responsible for (2002): $157 billion. Last year he was responsible for (2009): $1.4 trillion. Overall: $1.2 trillion increase in deficit. “Success!”
For part two, blame him.
First fiscal year budget deficit Obama is responsible for (2010): $1.3 trillion. 2013 deficit projection: $972 billion. Overall: over $300 billion decrease in deficit. Bigger “success!”
Federal deficit as percent of GDP in Bush’s first year: 1.48%. Final year: 10.13%. Overall: an increase nearly seven times higher than first year. “Success!”
Obama’s first year: 8.92%. 2013 projection: 6%. Overall: a 30% decrease from year one. Bigger “success!”
Dow Jones
The Dow (all retrieved from here) on Jan. 20, 2001, Bush’s first day in office: 10,587.59. Last day in office, Jan. 20, 2009: 7,949.09. Overall: 2638.5 drop in the Dow. “Success!”
The Dow when Obama was sworn in on Jan. 20, 2009: 7,949.09. As of yesterday, April 26, 2013: 14,712.55. Overall: 6,763.46 increase in the Dow. Bigger “success!”
If people are going to completely re-imagine history and call the presidency of George W. Bush a “success”, then they have to do one more thing when that is done. Admit the Obama presidency has been a far, far greater success in most of the ways we actually measure success when it comes to judging presidents.
Judging by the latest in this NYT report, Pres. Obama and his administration are just as confused about what to do in Syria as I am. And with every report it seems that something else is additionally complicating the situation further. So I am asking our loyal followers for their help.
As a comment to this post, please tell me what you think should or should not be done about the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war by the Assad regime.
A good feature in the NYT reports that all of the austerity measures undertaken by the European Union are starting to backfire in the face of pro-cuts politicians. The people are now too unhappy with all of the “fiscal consolidation” and elections are soon coming up for some important leaders, like Germany’s Angela Merkel. So now it looks like these important nations will be turning to stimulation, rather than consolidation, too fight high employment and general economic stagnation.
More and more people are seeing what should’ve been plainly obvious to everyone by now: sanctions on Iran have failed to bring a solution to the situation and a very different route is needed.
An article on the CSM’s site today shows the growing call from various groups studying the situation to change tactics and present more lucrative packages to Iran in exchange for more transparency in their nuclear program. In other words, it’s time to start offering to get rid of sanctions on Iran so they will be more open with their facilities.
Time for the U.S. to make a real offer to this man despite what we have been led to believe.
One of the biggest problems pointed out in the article is that sanctions are what the U.S. ‘knows’ in terms of dealing with countries deemed adversaries and calling for more benevolent policies are politically difficult. No one wants to be the politician saying we need to offer real relief to Iran because opponents will use that against them even though it would likely bring about a successful end to the situation.
And Iran’s leadership can’t cave in to sanctions either or they look weak to their people. As pointed out in the piece:
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated in February that pressure and sanctions are akin to the US “pointing a gun at Iran and say[ing] either negotiate or we will shoot.” In March, Khamenei said, “if the Americans sincerely want” to resolve the nuclear issue “they should stop being hostile towards the Iranian nation in words and in action.”
So, we have reached this point where two bulls are running at each other and one has to give. And considering what has transpired, it would seem the U.S. is the one that has to bend.
Iran has seemingly done what it needs to do in terms of showing the world it is ready for the sanctions to be lifted. Now is the time for the United States to do what more people are recognizing is the solution: offer real relief on the sanctions and treat Iran as their actions have shown they should be treated.
Even some from the usually hawkish right see this as the solution. From the piece:
“I think the answer is probably pretty simple. We’re going to have to sweeten the offer on sanctions relief,” former US assistant secretary of state under the George W. Bush administration and veteran troubleshooter James Dobbins said at the report launch. Sanctions should be suspended, not dropped, he said, until Iran also demonstrates it can hold to its side of any bargain.
The time for change has come. The question now is: has the will for change made its way to the top levels of the U.S. government yet?
A good article in the NY Times on growing dissent in Vietnam due to the slowdown of economic growth there in the nation’s economy which grew tremendously during the 1990’s by installing capitalist reforms. But now, even though the economy is expected to grow by 4-5 percent this year, the people are becoming unhappy and expressing it on the internet.
What should be taken away from this article, though, is that fully Marxist economic systems are failing in their last bastions of existence. Castro recently commented that Communism did not work and then we see problems like these troubles in Vietnam. And although I’m a radical leftist, I do not believe in full-heartily instilling Marxist economic plans in nations because it just doesn’t work. The people remain poor over time and dissent ends up rising because, overall, people want capitalist wealth. But what should remain is the Marxist spirits rather than the rules.
Marx wanted a better world for the working peoples of capitalist nations. That’s what should be taken from his works. Sure, Das Kapital does not set out a form of economic policy that works, but the humanity of it can still exist even in capitalist countries. Look at Europe. Socialist tinted policies such as a “safety net” for unemployed workers during bad economic stretches, free public universities, and free healthcare stretch across most of the developed Western nations. And even Cuba, according the CIA World Fact Book, which is still following Marxist policies has a higher literacy rate and lower infant mortality rate that the United States. They even have better medical research systems whom the U.S. buys cancer treating drugs from.
So Marx can still be alive even if Marxist economic policies cannot.
A good article in The Guardian going in depth into an Israeli report that the Assad regime in Syria is using chemical weapons against the rebel forces there. Also the story goes into, if the Israeli report is true, should NATO get involved in the conflict even though the jihadis may end up with some of the supplied arms. And adding to the discussion should be that Israel, whose report is reported on, is just interested in self-preservation because they worry that both the chemical and possible NATO supplied conventional weapons would end up being used in the Palestinians’ fight for freedom. Big questions I cannot find a good answer to yet.
After reading an article last week about Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei condemning the bombing in Boston but criticizing the U.S. policy on drone attacks, the question came to mind as to just how relevant it was for him to associate the two so closely. He stated:
The Islamic Republic of Iran, which follows the logic Islam, is opposed to any bombings and killings of innocent people, no matter if it is in Boston, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria and condemns it…The US and other so-called human rights advocates remain silent on the massacre of innocents in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, but they cause a ruckus after a few blasts in the United States.
This week an op-ed appeared in the Atlantic addressing this issue specifically. An important summary from the piece:
But propaganda is most powerful when it’s at least within shouting distance of the truth–and, unfortunately, that’s the case here. Obama’s drone strikes have killed, if not more civilians than mujahideen, lots of civilians, including women and scores of children. Every time such killing happens, the jihadist narrative, the narrative that seems to have seized the minds of the Tsarnaev brothers, gains a measure of strength.
The evolution of terrorism?
This is a commonsensical realization but there is another underlying issue that would contribute to this argument: the evolution of Al Qaeda’s message.
What I mean by that is there seems to be a change in how Al Qaeda once presented its message and how it delivers it now. If we look at the issue of Inspire, Al Qaeda’s magazine, linked in the Atlantic piece, we see many articles addressing and encouraging lone wolf-types of attacks similar to what we saw in Boston. This comes along with ideas on how to attack as an individual, such as creating car crashes and, coincidentally, using ricin.
Overall, the emphasis in the rhetoric seems to be on attacking and terrorizing civilians. As noted by the author:
That’s where drone strikes can come in handy, and the latest issue of Inspire spells out the logic explicitly: Because America is “ruled by the people,” its “rulers (people) should pay for their country’s action till they change their system and foreign policies.” So “war on America including civilians” is legitimate, says Inspire,so long as Americans are killing Muslim civilians with drone strikes. “The equation should be balanced. Like they kill, they will be killed.”
But if we look back at some of Osama bin Laden’s rhetoric, he doesn’t seem to be as concerned with attacking civilians as he is with attacking what he sees as more symbolically important targets. And he even makes a distinction between the American people and the actions of the government. After describing many instances of what he sees as American oppression, he leaves the reader with these remarks:
In conclusion, I tell you in truth, that your security is not in the hands of Kerry, nor Bush, nor al-Qaida. No.
Your security is in your own hands. And every state that doesn’t play with our security has automatically guaranteed its own security.
Bin Laden clearly had a eye on symbolism, along with casualty counts, when he targeted the U.S. for his attacks. America’s military dominance was attacked by hitting the Pentagon and the U.S.S. Cole. America’s economic dominance was attacked by bringing down the WTC. And America’s heavy hand in foreign affairs was attacked when Al Qaeda struck at U.S. embassies.
And therein lies the new evolution and difference with the Boston attack. It wasn’t an attack on a structure that also carried a certain symbolism for the U.S. It was specifically targeted at civilians and civilians only just as the rhetoric contained within the pages of Inspire would suggest. There may not be a direct link between the Boston bombers and Al Qaeda (and in all likelihood none will be found) but there is little doubt where the Tsarnaev brothers drew their inspiration.
As American tactics in finding and destroying Islamic extremists has evolved over the years with the expanded use of drone, the tactics used against us has gone through its own evolution. We are seeing the next phase in the War on Terror and the likelihood of more lone wolf attacks in the future is seemingly high. The question now becomes: how much longer will we let drone attacks be carried out in our name when we are being told they are the reason for the oncoming lone wolves?
A good article in The Guardian featuring a collection of photographs by photo-journalist Homa Kahleeli documenting the lives of Bangladeshi garment factory workers. The article reports on deadly accidents that have recently happened in the garment industry there, especially last week’s factory collapse which reportedly killed 327 people. But the photos by Kahleeli are more powerful than words…and all of them against unbridled capitalism.
This time it’s The Post’s front-page story on the E.U.’s debate over rather austerity should be maintained to cure economic ills, or should it be more spending.
Judging by the latest in this NYT report, Pres. Obama and his administration are just as confused about what to do in Syria as I am. And with every report it seems that something else is additionally complicating the situation further. So I am asking our loyal followers for their help.
A good article in the NY Times on growing dissent in Vietnam due to the slowdown of economic growth there in the nation’s economy which grew tremendously during the 1990’s by installing capitalist reforms. But now, even though the economy is expected to grow by 4-5 percent this year, the people are becoming unhappy and expressing it on the internet.
A good article in The Guardian going in depth into an Israeli report that the Assad regime in Syria is using chemical weapons against the rebel forces there. Also the story goes into, if the Israeli report is true, should NATO get involved in the conflict even though the jihadis may end up with some of the supplied arms. And adding to the discussion should be that Israel, whose report is reported on, is just interested in self-preservation because they worry that both the chemical and possible NATO supplied conventional weapons would end up being used in the Palestinians’ fight for freedom. Big questions I cannot find a good answer to yet.
Sparking The Left 