Debate: The ‘Gilets Jaunes’ Movement Is Not a Facebook Revolution
Clearing up misperceptions about the gilet jaunes and the role of social media in organizing.
Read more...Category Archives: The destruction of the middle class
“You’re Worth $1 Trillion. Why Do You Need Our $3 Billion?” Angry New Yorkers Confront Amazon Execs at City Council Meeting
Amazon has said its new headquarters in New York will create 25,000 jobs for residents—a claim one protester derided as “smoke and mirrors”
Read more...Toxic Philanthropy? The Spirit of Giving While Taking
Why to be leery of philanthropy, particularly when practiced by squillionaires.
Read more...Yellow Fever in France
Almost everyone agrees on the analysis of what caused the yellow jacket movement: the growth of inequalities, the marginalization of certain regions and social categories, austerity and neoliberal politics. Then accounts diverge.
Read more...France’s Macron Makes Concessions While ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests Continue
Some background on the demands the gilets jaunes are presenting to French president Macron.
Read more...Senators Press for Expanded Probe of FEMA Hurricane Maria Puerto Rico Relief Efforts
Senators Warren, Sanders, Blumenthal, and Durbin, has asked the DHS IG to expand an investigation into misallocation of funds budgeted for repair of hurricane-damaged homes and profit-skimming in Puerto Rico
Read more...Criticizing the “Free Trade Delusion”: Havana Charter’s Progressive Trade Vision Subverted
UNCTAD’s latest World Development Report criticises the free trade delusion. This short post considers the trade alternative put forward seventy years ago in the Havana Charter — one that was neither nationalist nor neoliberal.
Read more...Fight for Federal Right to Education Takes a New Turn
Can a series of lawsuits with new legal arguments persuade the Supreme Court to reverse a long-standing decision against a federal right to education?
Read more...Corbyn Isn’t Seizing the Moment – Because His Labour Party Simply Isn’t Radical Enough
From economic and climate policy, to Brexit and constitutional reform, Corbyn’s Labour doesn’t yet have the depth of ideas to capitalise on the government’s disarray.
Read more...New Research: Australia’s Immigration System Undercuts Workers
Drawing lessons from Australia’s immigration policies.
Read more...American Life Expectancy Continues to Fall: Rise in Suicides, Overdose Deaths the Big Culprit
America’s falling life expectancy is a symptom of rising social distress.
Read more...Don Quijones: Wall Street Mega-Landlord Blackstone Turns Screw on Spanish Government & Property Market
Blackstone is a major operator in the Spanish property market. This post discusses the Spanish government’s plans to enact modest protections for tenants by reforming rent laws. Will the government respond to tenant needs, or give way to the private equity firm’s implicit threat to reduce its Spanish property investments? Alas, it looks likely that the government will fail to deliver on its reform pledge.
Read more...Sears Bankruptcy Engineered to Benefit Executives and Stiff Workers
Another look at the ugly Sears bankruptcy.
Read more...New York Media Touts Private Equity Obamist Deval Patrick as Presidential Candidate
Why is the media covering up that Deval Patrick became wealthy via asset-stripping at Bain Capital?
Read more...Why I Have Given Up on Powell’s Books
My inability to place an online order at Powell’s Books despite multiple attempts says something is very wrong.
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