Category Archives: Free markets and their discontents

More on the Collapse of Operational Capabilities in the West: How Did We Get Here

Some thoughts on the rapid decline in operational capabilities, or why tons of people, particularly those in charge, are no good at their jobs

Fascism is the Western Answer to Class Struggle

Rob Urie makes a reasoned, data-backed case that the tools used in supposed democracies to enforce class standing merit the label of fascism

Energy Destinies – Part 8: Pathways

Satyajit Das concludes his series on the future of energy by looking at curbing demand, aka radical conseration.

Science Versus Scientism in Real Life: Where Do We Go from Here?

An engaging discussion of science-adjacent scintism, including Theranos. glysophate, Golden Rice, and rewilding.

Government Health Financing for All, Not Insurance

Why health insurance schemes, both private insurance and society-wide programs, are more costly than and inferor to government funding.

Two Overlapping Takes on Inflation

MMT backer Richard Murphy and London finance organ City A.M. have surprisingly simliar views on the causes of inflation but differ on remedies

Going on a Big Energy Diet: Will the Status of Women Be a Casualty?

Will coming energy crunch roll back women’s gains?

Central Banks and Income Distribution: Does the Taylor Rule Push Up Rentier Incomes?

An explanation of how a favorite Fed rate setting tool, the Taylor Rule, promotes inequality by shifting income away from workers.

‘Time for Congress to Act’: Sanders, Scott Unveil $17 Federal Minimum Wage Bill

Another push for a minimum wage boost. The gap between the $17 target and the current level of $7.25 an hour is a yawning chasm.

James Galbraith: How Central Bank Myths and Practices Support Financiers and Dollar Hegemony

Sadly, some bank-serving fables are very durable, so James Galbraith has (yet another) go at them.

Rage, Neoliberalism, and Phone Trees

How neoliberalism is contributing to the collective sour mood.

The Looming War Against China: Economic Logic Has Been Replaced by National Security Overrides

Michael Hudson provides a deep dive on the US’ and now its Western allies’ obsessive campaign against China.