Imperial Overreach: U.S. Special Ops Forces Deployed in 135 Nations
The US has special ops missions in 70% of the countries in the world,, more than at the height of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Read more...Author Archives: Yves Smith
Bill Black on the Department of Justice’s Failure to Prosecute Individuals and Promises to Do Better
This is a wide-ranging interview with Bill Black on a subject of the keen desire of the public to see more corporate officials prosecuted for big business misdeeds, and why that never happens these days.
Read more...Gaius Publius: Will Senator Whitehouse Renew His Call for RICO Prosecution of Climate-Denying Companies like Exxon?
Did climate change denialists like Exxon coordinate their activities, as Big Tobacco did to foster doubt about smoking’s role in lung cancer? If so, what would it take for RICO prosecutions to occur?
Read more...Links 9/24/15
Public Pension Fund Study: High Fee Strategies Like Private Equity Lose Billions Compared to Cheaper Alternatives
A recent report slammed public pension funds for losing money relative to what they could have done by investing in high fee strategies like private equity. And that’s even before incorporating the fact that private equity returns are overstated.
Read more...Greece: No Lessons Learned
Greece, which has undertaken the most severe austerity, has experienced the deepest economic contraction. But the policy quackery continues.
Read more...VW Scandal Bad News For Diesel
The ramifications for the diesel industry as its reputation as cleaner fuel comes under scrutiny.
Read more...Are the Affluenza Getting Nervous?
Is nervousness and an apparent spending pullback limited to New York City affluenza, or do readers see a change in mood in their communities?
Read more...Links 9/23/15
Elizabeth Warren, Other Senators Back IRS in Cracking Down on Private Equity Tax Abuse, Management Fee Waivers
One big private equity tax abuse, management fee waivers, is on its way out. Will others follow?
Read more...Privatizing the Apocalypse: How Nuclear Weapons Companies Commandeer Your Tax Dollars
How the nuclear weapons industry keeps itself out of the public’s eye despite its huge costs and risks.
Read more...Gaius Publius: They Knew – Exxon’s Own Research Confirmed Fossil Fuels’ Role in Global Warming Decades Ago
Exxon knew as early as 1977 that earth’s climate was being seriously disrupted, and would continue to be disrupted, by carbon dioxide emissions. Yet in the 1980s they pivoted to financing an aggressive climate denial effort .
Read more...Links 9/22/15
Private Equity Asset-Stripping Strategy Meets Charter Schools to Produce Even Better Looting
Tax-free junk bonds. High real estate and transactions fees. High consultants’ fees. Lack of transparency. A charter school Ponzi scheme.
Read more...Nicholas Shaxson: Why a ‘Competitive’ Economy Means Less Competition
Nicholas Shaxson explains how a “Competitiveness Agenda” is being used to set industrial policies that favor the creation of what used to be called “national champions,” as in Really Big Companies. Never mind that neoliberals officially oppose anything so interventionist as industrial policy….
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