alanjjohnstone
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Makes some good comparisons and makes a bad conclusion
A less than flattering review of Chomsky’s latest book ‘Internationalism or Extinction’
“Chomsky continues to advocate strategic lesser-evilist voting in swing states. There is a logic in this only so far as the verisimilitude of the premise that the Democratic Party is substantially better for the American people and the world than the Republican Party holds true. This contention is debatable though.”
(as an aside, why do writers insist on showing their skills at vocabulary with long words like verisimilitude)
Biden won three more primaries: Mississippi, Missouri and Michigan.
So it appears to be Biden as the Democratic Party candidate against Trump
The final nail in Sanders coffin.
What will all those radical progressives do now?
Robbo, George Galloway had a health expert on his show and it appears the earlier estimates about the mortality rate was based on statistics partly determined in China when there was a lack of knowledge on the care and treatment of those with Covid-19.
However, later analyses of when they had better understanding shows that the mortality rate although still high was more in the region of 0.7 – 0.8%
https://countercurrents.org/2020/03/democratic-socialism-can-prevent-the-catastrophe
“By not following Karl Marx’s observations, which praised capitalist development and urged its necessity before socialist constructions, the Soviet system doomed itself to failure.”
“Will AI and extensive Robotics be a suitable companion to the workers of a new and less profit oriented system industrial system, where wages can be coupons for more equitably distributed abundance?”
“Those who previously exclaimed, “Better Dead than Red” need not transpose to “Better Red than Dead.” “Better Pink than Sink,” is the new slogan for the Democratic and Socialist communities, pushed to leadership in order to prevent Capitalism’s latest offering — human extinction.”
Does the Scandinavian Model Support Bernie’s Socialist Message?
“The Scandinavians and their leaders don’t consider themselves as living in socialist countries. Socialism has many different faces depending on the angle of your view. From America, those countries may appear to be socialist. That is understandable given that our dominant political culture, which for well over a hundred years, has seen any government regulation of the marketplace and provision of economic assistance to the populace as socialistic. Such an expansive definition of socialism renders the term useless as a guide for determining public policy. It leads to sloganeering, both pro and con, on any policy that alters the current economic structure of our nation…Arguing that many Scandinavian public policies promote higher standards of living and happiness, is a strong rational argument. But, don’t sell those countries as socialist, which they are not. Having proportional electoral systems has resulted in all of them having coalition governments from time to time. “
Axios reported that Biden are weighing Jaimie Dimon for treasury secretary, a cabinet position tasked with overseeing the U.S. financial system.
Biden is also considering Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bank of America vice chair Anne Finucane for the top Treasury post.
Bloomberg, , “would be top possibility to head the World Bank” under a Biden administration, according to Axios.
Also in the frame is John Kerry, Susan Rice, Sally Yates,
All corporate Democrats and it is also perhaps why Warren has not endorsed Sanders.
The Committee on Climate Change, which advises government, says: “A number of groups have called for net zero to be accelerated to 2025, 2030 or 2040. Achieving net zero significantly earlier than 2050 in our modelling exceeds even our most speculative measures, with rates of change for power, heat and road transport that push against the bounds of plausibility.”
The UK cannot go climate neutral much before 2050 unless people stop flying and eating red meat almost completely.
The UK can cut emissions fast enough to be climate neutral by 2050 – but only if ministers act much more quickly. The government urgently needs to invest in three key technologies: carbon capture and storage with bioenergy crops; hydrogen for a wide variety of uses; and advanced nuclear power. Scenarios rely on some technologies still in their infancy, which will be controversial. For instance, it draws heavily on burning energy crops, capturing the carbon emissions and burying them underground. It says hydrogen use will need to grow to supply industry, heat and heavy transport. Electricity generation will need to double with heavy reliance on solar power and offshore wind. Some experts will be critical of the report’s expectation that new technologies such as carbon capture and storage will be rapidly adopted.
It calls for small, modular nuclear reactors to support three-quarters of heating in cities through district heating systems. Modular reactors are much smaller than conventional reactors, and brought to a site in a kit of parts to be assembled.
Livestock production for dairy and meat may need to be cut by 50% rather than the 20% currently envisaged by the Committee on Climate Change. And people will need to eat less meat and dairy by the same amount.
The report’s author, Scott Milne, said: “Whichever pathway the UK takes, innovation, investment and inducements across low-carbon technology, land use and lifestyle are essential to achieve net zero.
the report warns that the public do not appear ready for substantial lifestyle changes. It warns, for instance, that if people’s homes are better insulated, they may choose to spend the same amount on heating to deliver a warmer home.
It says: “Early evidence suggests a general willingness to adopt new technologies (such as new heating or mobility) as long as these can deliver the same experiences as before.”
“Conversely, approaching the subject of dietary change or aviation often elicits a more resistant and emotional response.”
The report was not welcomed by the National Beef Association.
Even at a young age I noticed that my catholic neighbours always had a picture of JFK alongside the customary Pope’s photo and the Virgin Mary.
JFK was the first catholic president, and it was a big thing back in the 60s.
Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize because he became the first black president of the USA. Recently, we had Hillary being the possible first female president and in the current race many of the female contestants used being female as part of their campaign. Even Mitt Romney had his Mormon religion approved as simply another form of Christianity.
But have you noticed how seldom political commentators will inform the public that Sanders will be the first ever Jewish president.
He doesn’t make a big thing of identity politics to his credit.
But it may only be a matter of time before Sanders is smeared as a self-hating Jew for his anti-Netanyahu and anti-AIPAC views and so not deserving of his Jewishness being raised as a positive issue.
They made much of his heart condition and operation, yet failed to say that Bloomberg had the same procedure.
And concerning Biden they certainly staying away from what is obvious to all…a failing mind. No long speeches from him or else he meanders off the theme as much as Trump does
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51796806
Shares around the world had their worst day since the financial crisis with the dramatic falls leading to the day being dubbed “Black Monday”.
The main financial indexes in the US closed down by more than 7%, while London’s index of top shares ended the day nearly 8% lower.
Similar drops took place across Europe and Asia as a row between Russia and Saudi Arabia saw oil prices plunge.
Shares were already reeling from fears of the impact of coronavirus.
Analysts described the market reaction as “utter carnage”.“at least being implemented because it’s cheaper than administering the payment systems”
Not so sure of that. The over-60s scheme in Scotland has a quite convoluted system where bus companies re-coup the fares from the Scottish government. It will probably be the same with the to-be-introduced 18 and under free bus travel. The over 60s though are not inconvenienced by the process though other than naming their destination.
Of course, we have the flu vaccination which is annually adjusted to meet the regular mutation of the flu virus and that reduced the mortality rate to 1%. What it would be without that, I have no idea.
The vaccination for Covid-19 is still some years off.
The economic impact of quarantined populations will as always hurt the poor more such as the Uber workers not covered by any paid sick-leave.
We now see panic buying in the UK where Tesco, Boots and Waitrose announcing it will ration certain purchases.
These are not any of the health consequences of Covid-19 but the result of capitalism.
Just how would a socialist society handle an outbreak of a new contagious disease would make a good article for someone to write.
With a survival rate of 98% there is no cause for alarmism. Those dying are the same people who get serious complications from ordinary flu.
Marcos has often pointed out the mortality of various preventable social illnesses such as TB are producing higher death tolls.
Here is PRE-coronavirus press story
Deadly flu outbreak could spread in 36 hours and kill 80,000,000 people, experts warn
But there is a link between disease and global warming. Various nasty bugs are migrating as the weather warms to places previously unaccustomed to them.
But the silver lining is that the downturn in the economies of the world because of coronavirus means a drop in carbon emissions. They say GHG is down a quarter in China.
And another point to ponder is how we can have such a global shift in government policies such as shutting down public gatherings etc yet the climate crises does not warrant such an emergency response when air pollution kills millions is ignored. No matter how Greta criticised air travel, there was not much of an impact, but coronavirus has made a airline bankrupt with others soon to follow.
As long as you don’t have a cough or a sneeze, a great time to travel with plane ticket prices dropping and no crowds at plenty of the tourist spots.
