A harsh look at schemes for a happy future, at least for billionaires, which ignore their problems and excuse tolerating rot today.
Recent Items
Monday, May 19, 2025
Book Review: A Skeptical Look at Grand Designs for the Future
Topics: Guest Post, Income disparity, Ridiculously obvious scams, Technology and innovation
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:55 am | 33 Comments »
Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic Prove the Sickness at the Heart of the NHS
Most users of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic need to stay on them long-term to keep pound off. So is medicine promoting an addicition?
Topics: Guest Post, Health care, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:01 am | 63 Comments »
Big Law Deals With Trump Are Backfiring on Top Firms
Major law firms in a storng position to fight Trump diktats about backing conservative interests are paying a price for selling out.
Topics: Banana republic, Guest Post, Legal, Politics, Ridiculously obvious scams, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 10 Comments »
Links 5/15/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 125 Comments »
Trump Smoke and Mirrors on Full Display in Claimed “$142 Billion” Saudi Arms Deal
A look at the workings and effectiveness of Trump hype, from the touted India-Pakistan mediation to DOGE to the new Saudi arms agreement.
Topics: Dubious statistics, India, Macroeconomic policy, Media watch, Middle East, Politics, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:30 am | 27 Comments »
Wall Street Journal Reports UnitedHealth Under Criminal Investigation for Medicare Fraud
The Department of Justice is reportedly seeking to indict UnitedHealth for Medicare Advantage fraud. Why has it been so hard to make a case?
Topics: Health care, Legal, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams
Posted by Yves Smith at 2:38 am | 22 Comments »
When Illusions of Wealth Shape the Economy: Understanding Pseudo-Wealth, Macroeconomic Volatility, and Social Welfare
Why pseudo-wealth like crypto is detrimental to social welfare, as in the collective good.
Topics: Banking industry, Guest Post, Investment management, Regulations and regulators, Ridiculously obvious scams, Technology and innovation, The dismal science
Posted by Yves Smith at 1:00 am | 10 Comments »
Despite China’s Warning, US Has Opened New Front in Trade War with Investment Restrictions in UK Pact
Trump made a big retreat on his China tariffs. But a second gambit, investment restrictions to isolate China, is already giving China fits.
Topics: China, Economic fundamentals, Europe, Free markets and their discontents, Globalization, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 48 Comments »
Links 5/14/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:55 am | 84 Comments »
Abundance vs. Degrowth in a Time of Climate Catastrophe
While Trump’s Liberation Day policies might bring about accidental degrowth, Democrats embrace DOGE-style Abundance. Is there another way?
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Environment, Free markets and their discontents, Global warming, Globalization, Guest Post, Income disparity, Infrastructure, Politics, Real estate, Social policy, Social values
Posted by Conor Gallagher at 6:00 am | 66 Comments »
Michael Hudson Discusses How Religions Opposed Usury, the Catholic Church “Interest” Rebranding, and More on the Evolution of Financial Rentierism
On the long-standing religious and ethical proscriptions against usury, and how and why the Catholic Church rebranded it as interest.
Topics: Credit markets, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Social policy, Social values, The dismal science
Posted by Yves Smith at 5:55 am | 3 Comments »
Why the Right Fiercely Attacks the US Postal Service: Its Unions
Looking at a big reason why conservatives are so keen to privatize the US Postal Service: to eliminate its unions.
Topics: Dubious statistics, Free markets and their discontents, Guest Post, Income disparity, Politics, Privatization, Ridiculously obvious scams, The destruction of the middle class
Posted by Yves Smith at 3:04 am | 27 Comments »
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – Air Combat Is Changing
The recent fighting between India and Pakistan has provided evidence of the diminishing role of the jet fighter pilot in modern warfare. A large air battle was fought between the two nations on May 6 and 7. India lost at least five jets, some of them advanced French Rafale fighters. Most of the losses were […]
Topics: Coffee Break
Posted by Haig Hovaness at 2:00 pm | 51 Comments »
What The Endgame in Gaza Means For Middle East Security And Oil Prices
Netanyahu plans another aggressive incursion into Gaza, intended as a Final Solution of sorts. Is a retaliatory oil embargo a real risk?
Topics: Doomsday scenarios, Economic fundamentals, Energy markets, Guest Post, Middle East, Politics
Posted by Yves Smith at 9:55 am | 17 Comments »
Links 5/13/2025
Topics: Links
Posted by Yves Smith at 6:58 am | 211 Comments »