alanjjohnstone
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I’m not sure how this relates but the banks are awash with liquidity but are declining to lend. Is it because they perceive any returns? That government bonds are more profitable? Maybe someone explain that a bank’s business is to lend and borrow.
Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package.
But already he is accused of fudging the $2000 pledge.
And the process is going to be the whole bill or not individual money separatewhich means it take longer to go through Congress.
One point being made from the pandemic relief of several countries and that is State money, practically without conditions or means testing, is being accepted as a legitimate social policy even by much of the Right.
I think we too could benefit from the case for “according to needs” …the rent abatement rules, the debt postponement, the argument that vaccine distribution should be free, that healthcare should be free.
Most of the actions required to mitigate the pandemic’s effects are out of the socialistic game-play book, not the the laissez-faire capitalism’s. I’m surprised it has not put the nail into the libertarians’ coffin but it hasn’t. I’ve read how the pharmaceutical industry’s response justifies capitalism – contrary to the actual facts.
Too true. Sanders already is well aware of this in his home state Vermont, where he welcomed the basing of F-35s
We all remember the lesser evil argument from the liberals and progressives. Biden is the lesser evil and it will be easier to pressure him to shift his policies to the left.
M4A
“…What we will be doing is working within the context of what Biden wants…” Bernie Sanders
Military Budget
[SANDERS]It goes without saying that we want a strong military. It goes without saying we want to make sure that our troops are well taken care of, that they’re adequately paid, adequately housed, that they’re provided health care, child care for their kids, etc. But it also means that the military, the Pentagon, cannot be exempt from a hard look at fraud, crossover funds.
Q. How do you expect to have that conversation with your fellow Democrats, some of whom aren’t so keen on the notion of military funding cuts?
That’s a good question. But right now what’s on my mind is really reconciliation and addressing the crisis facing working families today.
Real military spending cuts? Nope, just trimming the fat, reducing the fraud, the over-runs, the waste…
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/12/bernie-sanders-big-budget-plans-458461
Jonathan Cook as always well worth a read on Israel’s apartheid
Israel is losing the fight to obscure its apartheid character
The Israeli and South Korean army welcomes vegetarians and vegans.
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/01/14/theres-nothing-vegan-about-war
Chief Petty Officer Chris Oliver in the Royal Navy says that veganism fits well with the military ethos and in no ways compromises it.
Buddhist John, a specialist in the US army, explains “I’m living in a world of violence by being in the military but trying to live the most peaceful lifestyle that I can,” John says. “Choosing not to be violent in my everyday life when I don’t have to be is something I wholeheartedly say falls in line with my religious beliefs and military values.”
Andrew Yang runs for mayor of NYC on UBI platform
“As mayor, we will launch the largest basic income program in the history of the country. Right here in New York,” Yang said. “We will lift hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers out of extreme poverty, putting cash relief directly into the hands of the families who desperately need help right now.”
I find 2nd impeachment more a case of political theatre by the Democrats.
It is a diversion.
I’m more interested in Biden’s immediate agenda when he takes over and what becomes of his pledges and promises.
I would also be more impressed by the sincerity of the Democratic Party if they had impeached George Bush for an illegal war. Or for that matter, Trump for pardoning war criminals.
Plague on both their houses (in a house divided according to Lincoln)
It seems there is more time for this impeachment than force the vote on M4A.
If it had been BLM or Antifa rioting, the blame would be on George Soros financing it. But i need much more convincing of any conspiracy. There was much more chaos than coordinated action from i read of the event. I’m very sceptical that it was a coup or an insurrection. A mindless mob swayed by the demagogue…yes, and when they were met with unexpected little resistance on their rampage, at a complete loss to what to do next. The main risk now is the excuse for the suppression of social media freedom, the introduction of new draconian laws on assembly and marches. The opponents of defund the police will be calling for law and order coffers to be filled to the brim.
This article makes a reasonable read even if calling for second coming of FDR is very silly.
My Jack R will have cookie ice cream while I eat the last of the locusts and mealworms.
The irony of that sacrifice 🙂
Where i live and within my family, insects are indeed a popular snack-food.
The production of them are very low-cost and very sustainable.
Often at night you will also see lights in the fields as local go catching wild flying beasties.
But when it comes to food acceptance, imagine what some communities think about shell-fish snot or fish-eggs or frog-legs.
No doubt they will be called self-hating jews and traitors to Israel.
I think i remember Comrade BillM once suggest that the Palestinians should be demanding full Israeli citizenship and shift their protests from one of independence and national liberation to civil rights, a movement for equality.
B’tselem recognises there exists a de facto single state. Time for the Palestinians to follow the same logic rather than promote unviable bantustans separated by Israeli settlements dependent upon remittances from the diaspora and UN/NGO subsidies. Israeli government will never re-locate half-million already well-armed settlers. It would mean civil war if they tried.
Been watching on You Tube protests of the hasidic and haredi Jewish fundamentalists in their centuries-old clothes that frequently take place in Israel. Strange these never appear on the msm news. Perhaps it would disturb the common perspective that Israelis are the progressive modern-minded Westernized people and Palestinians medieval Muslim throw-backs. They make the Amish look like technophiles.
