Category Archives: Banana republic

Gaius Publius: Obama Harvests His Presidency

Obama signs up to collect fat speaking fees from Wall Street for services rendered to the 1% during his presidency.

Wall Street Journal Reports on Appearance of Private Equity Self-Dealing at Blackstone and Other Firms Nearly Four Years After We Broke the Story

So why is the Wall Street Journal years late in reporting on private equity self-dealng, and underplays its seriousness to boot?

Why Anti-War Purity Tests Are Not Sound Political Strategy

Why head on opposition to war has failed and other approaches have better odds of long term success.

Mark Ames: Credit Suisse Decries Russian Inequality After Playing Leading Role in Creating It

Credit Suisse criticizes Russian inequality after having profited handsomely from playing a big role in creating it.

The Fall of the Latin American Left, Part I: Brazil’s Boom and Bust

Discussing why the left in Latin America lost power, starting with Brazil.

Democrat Disunity: Hypocritical Media Attacks on Sanders

The Democrats so can’t stand Sanders’ refusal to change his policies that they are undermining their own “Unity Tour” with press attacks.

America is Regressing into a Developing Nation for Most People

Like developing countries, America is becoming more stratified, with the economic and physical distance between rich and poor widening.

Too Little, Too Late Lawsuit Against Predatory Servicer Ocwen Demonstrates Failure to Address Servicing Abuses

Recidivist mortgage servicer Ocwen gets whacked by the officialdom yet again, showing how inadequate mortgage “reforms” under Obama were.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Suits Become Favored Hedge Fund Investment

ISDS suits are increasingly getting financial backing from speculators like hedge funds.

Mexico’s Economy Is Being Plundered Dry

Some vignettes of Mexico as a failed state.

Health Care “Reform” by Insiders Who Benefit from the Status Quo: Media Fails to Report Conflicts of Interest

Quelle surprise! The press regularly presents highly paid, well-connected health care insiders as independent voices on “reform”.

13 Questions That Expose Charter School Falsehoods

The sales pitch made by charter school boosters does not hold up to scrutiny.

Californians! Please Write Today to Support Public Access to Government Records

California government bodies regularly thwart public requests for government documents. Write today to support a bill to curb those abuses.

Bill Black: Dodd-Frank Was Designed to Fail – and Trump Will Make it Worse

More confirmation that Dodd-Frank was never intended to do more than make marginal changes in bank regulation to forestall real reform.

How to Keep Losing Wars in the Middle East

The US game plan for the Middle East seems to be not just more wars, but losing more wars.