Category Archives: Politics

Philip Pillkington: Libertarian Paternalism is Clearly an Oxymoron

“Blackwhite…this word has two mutually contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it means the habit of impudently claiming that black is white, in contradiction of the plain facts. Applied to a Party member, it means a loyal willingness to say that black is white when Party discipline demands this. But it means also the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know that black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed the contrary. This demands a continuous alteration of the past, made possible by the system of thought which really embraces all the rest, and which is known in Newspeak as doublethink.”

— George Orwell, 1984

Japan to US: You Can’t Railroad the Trans-Pacific Partnership

By Clive, a regular Naked Capitalism commenter and self-confessed Japan-o-phile

The headline, in a one liner, is what this article is saying. You may have to take my word for it if you’re not a Japanese reader, but read on to find out why I hope you can.

James Galbraith on the Predator State, Government Solvency

James Galbraith is a particularly effective communicator for an economist, so I thought readers would enjoy seeing him on the RT show Boom & Bust (although the theme song strikes me as designed to generate a headache).

Obamacare Enrollments Show Low Uptake by Uninsured, Hoisting Insurers on Their Own Petard

One of the few saving graces is that the health insurers’ scheme to enrich themselves known as Obamacare may be going pear-shaped from the standpoint of their profits.

Wikileaks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Environment Chapter: “Toothless Public Relations Exercise”

Wikileaks has thrown yet another wrench in the negotiations over the sellout-to-multinationals-masquerading-as-trade-deal otherwise called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Are Banks About to Win on Commodities Trading After Their Success in Watering Down Basel III Capital Rules?

You know it’s bad when Bloomberg’s editors attack the banks’ win against regulators, in this case, their success in watering down already-too-generous Basel III capital requirements. And they look primed to score a twofer on pending rulemaking on trading in physical commodities.

Banks May Have Scored Hollow Victory on Volcker Rule/TRuPS CDO Compromise

Readers may recall that banks, in their eagerness to depict the final Volcker rule as a terrible miscarriage of justice, made a great deal of noise about the case of Zions Bank, which was blaming $378 million of prospective losses on the Volcker-rule requirement that banks sell these dubious instruments called TruPS CDOs by July 21, 2015. The regulators clarified the relevant rules, which looks like a concession. But how much of a concession is it?

How Big Money Keeps Populism at Bay

Why you can be sure Obama’s talking up progressive issues, like minimum wages, is another effort to re-entice (and re-deceive) the left-leaning voters that voted him in in 2008.

Randy Wray: The Greatest Myth Propagated About The FED: Central Bank Independence (Part 2)

Last time we took a historical perspective on supposed Fed independence. In this blog we look at the myth of Fed independence from its creator, the Congress and from the Treasury.

Servaas Storm: Secular Stagnation, Green Shoots or What?

The Obama administration and the mainstream media are now talking up an imminent recovery, perhaps even a modest boom. There is no reason why we should be optimistic now.

Obama Lame Duck Watch: House Democrats Stymieing Trade Deal “Fast Track;” Silicon Valley Surveillance Payoff Language Published

As we discussed earlier, even though there’s abundant evidence that the Administration’s plans to push through its trade deals, the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Transstlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, are in trouble, the official messaging has been to keep pretending that the pacts are still moving forward smartly.

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Category Archives: Politics

Philip Pillkington: Libertarian Paternalism is Clearly an Oxymoron

Japan to US: You Can’t Railroad the Trans-Pacific Partnership

James Galbraith on the Predator State, Government Solvency

Obamacare Enrollments Show Low Uptake by Uninsured, Hoisting Insurers on Their Own Petard

Wikileaks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Environment Chapter: “Toothless Public Relations Exercise”

Are Banks About to Win on Commodities Trading After Their Success in Watering Down Basel III Capital Rules?

Banks May Have Scored Hollow Victory on Volcker Rule/TRuPS CDO Compromise

How Big Money Keeps Populism at Bay

Randy Wray: The Greatest Myth Propagated About The FED: Central Bank Independence (Part 2)

Servaas Storm: Secular Stagnation, Green Shoots or What?

Obama Lame Duck Watch: House Democrats Stymieing Trade Deal “Fast Track;” Silicon Valley Surveillance Payoff Language Published

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