The IMF’s latest delivery of the World Economic outlook contains an interesting analysis of the current “non” recovery in terms of a divergence between fiscal and monetary policy, the first between restrictive and procyclical in nature and the second being accommodating and reinforcing a financial expansion. As argued here by
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Accidental Deliberations: Monday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to start your week. – Paul Adams rightly points out that there’s no inherent value in centrism merely for the sake of centrism – especially when the spectrum of choices is itself shaped by decades of distorted assumptions: (T)he reality of modern politics is that the muddled middle
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Thomas Walkom points out that banks are far from the only corporations who are conspicuously moving jobs offshore to the detriment of Canadian workers and citizens: Unions are being ground down; wages are being ground down. Jobs are being ground out of existence.
Continue readingdrive-by planet: Billy Bragg on why he became a socialist
One of the main reasons Billy Bragg became a socialist was Margaret Thatcher. She inspired many to take up the fight against the policies that have been wrecking Britain. Billy Bragg was a front line activist during the Thatcher years. In 1985 he formed Red Wedge – a musician’s alliance
Continue readingdrive-by planet: Iron Lady? Rust in peace: Thatcher was a disaster for the UK
Following the death of former British PM, Margaret Thatcher, more than a few people in the UK took it to the streets. Champagne bottles popped and smiles lit up the faces of street revelers ecstatic to see the last of Thatcher. A lively street party took place in Brixton where
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Lana Payne offers an introduction to austerity for Newfoundland and Labrador residents who are just learning about it on a provincial level: In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has also taken a rather deep liking to austerity. It is a ready-made excuse to
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: This anti-Thatcher song is “We Rule OK” by the…
This anti-Thatcher song is “We Rule OK” by the working-class Oi! band The Last Resort. Some right-wingers try to claim this band as one of their own, but that is not accurate. The Last Resort are patriotic and pro-working class, not Conservatives or fascists. Here are the lyrics. We Rule
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: In grade 9 or 10 French class, we had an assignment to write a…
In grade 9 or 10 French class, we had an assignment to write a page of text in French and accompany it with some graphics. I chose to write about the French Revolution, and for the picture, I cut out magazine photos of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Brian Mulroney
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: What a wonderful day! Maggie Fucking Thatcher is finally dead,…
What a wonderful day! Maggie Fucking Thatcher is finally dead, dead dead! I heard the news while getting ready for work this morning, and I was in a good mood all day! I have bookmarked a bunch of anti-Thatcher videos just for this occasion. I will start off with the
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: Ever since the world economy started crashing in 2008, a lot of…
Ever since the world economy started crashing in 2008, a lot of news has been uncovered about Ponzi schemes, financial institutions ripping people off, crooked government bailouts, banks laundering money for gangs and terrorists, large-scale tax cheating, money hidden away in offshore numbered accounts, thefts from pension funds, politicians stealing
Continue readingdrive-by planet: Capitalism is self-destructing: Richard Wolff on the ways
It doesn’t require a Trotskyist or a laid off worker to tell you that capitalism isn’t working. Not only does it not work, it is destroying societies… it is destroying lives, incomes and empowering a tiny elite, who never seem to fail, go broke or go to jail. Well, when
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: Wife of Bank of England governor turns herself into a guillotine-magnet
Wife of Bank of England governor turns herself into a guillotine-magnet: Diana Carney – wife of the new Bank of England governor (and former Bank of Canada head) – had a Mary Antoinette moment on March 25, 2013 when she whined on Twitter that she and her husband were having
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive | News & Analysis: Federal Budget 2013 missed opportunity for the economy and services: PSAC
By: Obert Madondo | The Canadian Progressive: The Harper Conservatives’ 2013 federal budget is a ”missed opportunity for the economy and services”, says the Public Service Alliance of Canada. PSAC says austerity measures hurt Canadians, urges the government to reverse course. This press release: The union representing most federal government workers in Canada says that
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Austerity through infrastructure Cuts: Budget 2013
One the most amazing things about this budget is that one of its three focuses will actually be the opposite of what it’s touting. You’ll likely hear that $14 billion will be spent on infrastructure over the next 10 years (actually you may hear much bigger numbers but they just
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Avoid Austerity: Keep Newfoundland and Labrador’s economy strong, says report
By: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives | Press Release: St. John’s, NL – At a time when global austerity measures are causing profound hardship among populations and are proving harmful to their economies, a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) says public spending cuts could deeply damage Newfoundland and Labrador’s
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Ontario’s 2012 austerity measures causing an economic slowdown: Report
Press Release | Posted Mar 18, 2013 Ontario’s experiment with austerity in 2012 is contributing to an economic slowdown that demands a different course of action in 2013, says a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ Ontario office (CCPA-Ontario). The report, by CCPA-Ontario Director Trish Hennessy and CAW economist Jim
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Jason Fekete reports on the growing recognition that tax evasion and avoidance are serious global problems – and the Cons’ attempt to be seen nodding at the issues. Needless to say, that posturing would be far more plausible if the same Cons weren’t
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: 2013 Alternative Fed Budget: Water crisis needs long-term plan, not cuts
By: Council of Canadians (Press Release) With the next federal budget fast approaching, the 2013 Alternative Federal Budget (AFB), Doing Better Together, released today, warns that the “Harper government’s cuts to the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) and other critical environmental programs will hinder the ability to develop freshwater policies and respond to threats to
Continue readingOPSEU Diablogue: Could the Wynne government do a u-turn on austerity?
It didn’t get much coverage in the mainstream media, but last week the big banks told Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to take his foot off the brake when it comes to public sector spending. The banks argue with a … Continue reading →
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Tuesday Morning Links
This and that for your Tuesday reading. – The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has unveiled its alternative federal budget – which highlights the choice between the Cons’ needless austerity, and the 200,000-300,000 extra jobs which could be created alongside important social improvements which could be brought about through well-placed
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