Daily News Digest March 11, 2022
Humanity Will Not be Covid Free, Until the Vaccines, Like the Salk Polio Vaccine, are Free For the Whole World
Image of the Day:
Another Example Capitalism as a Failed System: World Capilalism Ws Aware of the Danger of Cornovavirus Threat Over 5 Years Ago and Did Nothing!: Under Capitalism — Human Lives Don’t Matter Capitalism Does Not, and Never Has, Worked for the Masses! In Its Death Agony, Capitalism Is Traveling About The World Like The Four Horsemen of the The Apocalypse, Spreading Racism, War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. The future of Humanity Is Now At stake!
Since World War I, ‘the war to end all wars’, there have been perpetual wars for perpetual peace, this Laura Gray’s cartoon from the front page of The Militant August 18, 1945, Under the Banner Headline: “There Is No Peace”, is Still True for Today’s World!
During This Economic Crisis, Capitalism’s Three-Point Political Program: 1.Austerity,2. Scapegoat Blacks, Minorities, and ‘Illegal’ Immigrants for Unemployment, and 3. The Iron Heel! For Decades, Blacks Have Been Subjected to The Iron Heel! Currently, the US Capitalist Class is Divided Over When — Not If, to Apply It to Everyone!
Due to Years of Austerity, Cuts to Public Health Care, And An Anti-Science and Profiteering President, The United States Now Leads the World In Coronavirus Cases and Deaths in the World!
Always Remember: That President Obama, With a Majority Democrat Legislature Supported the Wall Street Bailout and Remember, That he Established, in writing, the United States Capitalist Austerity Program. — The Race to the Bottom/Pauperization of the 99%!
Democracy?: As the Capitalist Robber Barons Steal from the 99%, Only the 1% Voted For Austerity! The 99% Should Decide On Austerity — Not Just The 1%, Who Profit From Austerity!! Under Austerity, All of the World Will Eventually Be Pauperized, Humbled, and Desecrated Like Greece and Puerto Rico.! Socialism Means True Democracy, that the 99% Will Rule, Not the Few!
Quotes of the Day:
Ukraine had been hardest hit by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the “shock therapy” of capitalist restoration in Eastern Europe and Russia itself. All the former Soviet satellites took a long time to recover GDP per capita and income levels; Ukraine never got back to the 1990 level. Ukraine’s economic performance between 1990 and 2017 was not just worse than its European neighbours; it was the fifth-worst in the entire world. Between 1990 and 2017 there were only 18 countries with negative cumulative growth and even in that select group, Ukraine’s performance puts it in the bottom third along with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Yemen.3 In the debt and currency crisis of 2014, Ukraine was saved from total meltdown by three things: First, it defaulted on the debt owed to Russia, which Russia is still owed. Second, post-Maidan governments turned to Europe for support and engaged in a series of International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailouts; and third, governments imposed a severe program of austerity in public services and welfare support. Ukraine owes Russia $3bn, or more than 10% of its FX (foreign exchange) reserves; paying this debt would more than double Ukraine’s external financing gap. That gap is being currently filled by IMF funds, while Ukraine “negotiates” with Russia on a “debt restructuring,” supposedly mediated by Germany. So Ukraine, in breaking with Russian influence from 2014, chose to or was forced to rely on the “West” and IMF credit to support its currency and hope for some economic improvement. — Michael Roberts, Ukraine: The Economic Consequences of the War
Videos of the Day:
Abby Martin: How the Media Manufactures ‘Bloodlust’ For War Just like in the dark days after 9/11, corporate media have responded to the war in Ukraine with a craven ‘bloodlust’ that is making all of us less safe.
Leaked Video Shows Madison Cawthorn Calling Ukraine’s Zelenskyy a “Thug” Anewly leaked video shows far right Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-North Carolina) calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “thug” and deriding the Ukrainian government as “evil” and “woke.” In a short video obtained by WRAL, Cawthorn says, “Remember that Zelenskyy is a thug. Remember that the Ukrainian government is incredibly corrupt and is incredibly evil and has been pushing woke ideologies, and really there’s a new woke ruling.” The video was likely taken at a town hall in Asheville, North Carolina, over the weekend.
United States:
The United States is not a Democracy (A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly)! Only the 1%, through their ownership of the Reublicrats and who profit from war and the war budget, vote for War and the war budget — A policy, which Gore Vidal called a Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace. — The 99% Should Decide On War — Not Just The 1% Who Profit From War! Under a Democracy, The 99% would have the right to vote on the policy of Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace! The United States takes from th poor and gives to the Rich. Tax the Rich! — They Can Afford to Pay!
‘Lessor Evil’$ Democrats Vote $Billions for War — $0 for the Poor!: After Yanking Covid Relief, House Approves Package With $782 Billion for US Military “This is the definition of prioritizing the Pentagon (militarism and war) over the people,” said one advocacy group. The House of Representatives late Wednesday approved a $1.5 trillion government spending package that includes $782 billion in U.S. military funding, the largest portion of the must-pass omnibus legislation. “Military, weapons, and detention contractors are the biggest winners in this budget,” the National Priorities Project (NPP) at the Institute for Policy Studies said in a statement. “In recent years, more than half of all military spending has gone to for-profit, private contractors. The new spending bill promises to continue this windfall, providing for even more expensive weapons system than the Pentagon requested, and promising to continue lucrative contracts for immigrant detention and surveillance.”
Ocasio-Cortez Digs Into Private Equity for Buying Houses and Jacking Up Rents Regular homebuyers are “competing against the largest private equity firm in the world to purchase a home,” she said. On Tuesday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) called out real estate companies, some backed by huge private equity firms, for “gobbling up” homes across the country, especially in non-white and low-income neighborhoods. In a hearing on inflation in the House Financial Services Committee, Ocasio-Cortez named real estate companies like Invitation Homes, which is backed by BlackRock, for buying a huge share of single family homes in the U.S. These corporations are seeking only to make a profit at the expense of families and individuals looking for a place to call home, she said.
Environment —Ecosocialism or Ecocide!:
We should not be surprised when the U.S. alliance with neo-Nazi proxy forces in Ukraine, including the infusion of billions of dollars in sophisticated weapons, results in similarly violent and destructive blowback. — There Is No Wisdom in Pretending That Ukraine’s Neo-Nazis Don’t Exist
Palestine, Israel: Mais Pourquoi la Différence Monsieur le President? To the callous world’s shame, Gaza is known as the world’s largest open-air prison. And to the civilized Western World’s shame only muted criticism has been reported or condemned at the xenophobic treatment of Roma Ukraine citizens, Asian and African nationals. In this war blue eyes and fair skin are one’s passport out of the crosshairs and into secure havens.
Profit Emergency?: Capitalists Ignore Global Warming Emergency: Oil Pipeline Canada Bought Will Cost Over $25 Billion and Never Turn Profit “Guaranteeing another $8.8 billion to complete the project will simply be throwing good money after bad,” says a new analysis, “for a total taxpayer loss of $26.1 billion.” Climate activists on Wednesday reiterated calls to cancel Canada’s expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline after a new analysis found that a recent pledge to not put any public money into the project “is a promise that the government can’t keep.”
Thousands of Brazilians ‘Stand for the Earth’ Against Anti-Environment Bills Legendary musician Caetano Veloso warned the proposed legislation “could facilitate deforestation and mining of Indigenous lands and unprotected the forest against land-grabbing and criminals.” Thousands of Brazilians, including environmental activists and some of the country’s most well-known musicians, gathered in the capital Brasília Wednesday afternoon to protest a series of proposed laws that would facilitate mining and deforestation on Indigenous lands.
Climate Mitigation Isn’t Just a Matter of Ethics; It’s Life and Death If a clean and safe environment is a human right, then climate policies ought to prioritize those at greatest risk. The climate crisis worsens with each passing year — and even the current levels of warming are disastrous, affecting ecosystems as well as social and environmental conditions of health. People in the world’s poorest countries remain most vulnerable to the crisis. The world’s governments are slow to react to the greatest challenge facing humanity today, even though potential solutions are not in short supply, with the transition to a green economy offering the most effective pathway to tackling the problem of global warming at its roots
The Green Industrial Revolution and the United States In the Clean Energy Race, Is the United States a Leader or a Luddite? Conclusion: A Matter Of Choice From its beginning, the United States has prospered from augmenting the entrepreneurial energy of its private sector with public commitments and partnerships that help drive innovation and scale up invention. Our founders made an early commitment to building a canal system to help increase trade and travel in the early days of the Republic. In the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln pushed development of the transcontinental railroad to bind the nation together. U.S. wartime spending gave U.S. industries leadership in postwar industries from commercial airlines to telecommunications to nuclear power. American public policy subsidized the education of a generation of soldiers through the G.I. Bill. The suburbs grew as public policy and guarantees made homeownership affordable. Public R&D provided the basis for what grew to be the dotcom revolution. Now we must decide how to react to the new green industrial revolution that is already creating new markets around the world. There is no question that the demand for clean energy; energy efficient products, buildings, homes, modes of transport; and environmentally sustainable production processes will burgeon over the coming decades. China, Germany, and other countries are already committing themselves to lead this revolution and capture these markets. The United States has many advantages in this competition, but it must make a clear choice to compete. That requires the clarity of public policy—the range of subsidy and strategy that has enabled us to lead in past industrial trans-formations. Dow Chemical Company President, Chairman, and CEO Andrew Liveris has written that “A renaissance is within reach. If Americans are the ones who design and build the new [clean economy technologies] it will re-energize commerce in the United States, creating, without a doubt, millions of high paying jobs.”76 The question is: Will we reach for it or let it pass us by.
Civil Right/Black Liberation:
Stemic Environmental Racism: How US Redlining Led to An Air Pollution Crisis 100 Years Later Study of 200 cities shows dangerous environmental inequality fueled by 20th-century practice dividing cities along racial lines A new study has found that neighborhoods in which the federal government discouraged investment nearly 100 years ago – via a racist practice known as redlining – face higher levels of air pollution today. Looking at more than 200 cities across the nation, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that people who live in neighborhoods that were once categorized as “hazardous”, based on racist factors such as how many Black or “foreign-born” people lived there, now breathe 56% more of the freeway pollutant nitrogen dioxide than those in top-rated areas.
In Praise of “Whataboutism” The word “whataboutism” is used to silence and insult opponents of U.S. imperialism. It should be embraced as a means of revealing what is too often kept hidden.
Musings from the Margins U.S. determination to be the world’s hegemon created the crisis in Ukraine. The impacts are felt by working people in this country, who must look outside for solidarity and leadership as they struggle in a political system that offers them no representation.
ESSAY: Women’s Organizations in the Caribbean Community from the 19th Century to Today, Rhoda Reddock, 1990. International Women’s Day has radical roots going back more than 100 years. Caribbean women have always played a pivotal role in political organizing.
Russia, Ukraine, and the Race Problem The American public are inundated with anti-Russian war propaganda that is worse than in the days of the Red Scare.
Sanctions: A Sanctimonious Word for Economic Warfare and Outright Theft
The U.S. claims the right to sanction, to steal from other nations, with one-third of humanity suffering from these crimes. Sanctions are war by other means and cause great suffering around the world.
BAR Book Forum: Lindsey Green-Simms’ Book, “Queer African Cinemas” In this series, we ask acclaimed authors to answer five questions about their book. This week’s featured author is Lindsey Green-Simms . Green-Simms is Associate Professor of Literature at American University. Her book is Queer African Cinemas .
Warfare state of disunion The latest from BAR’s poet in residence.
When Did the Ukraine War Begin? The conflict in Ukraine did not start in February 2022. Its roots go back to the 2014 US coup against the elected president of that country.
#SomosLosNadie Francia Marquez is a Black Colombian woman, an environmentalist, and presidential candidate. Her campaign represents “the nobodies, those who have not had a choice.”
Two Centuries of War Against Haiti!
The Haitian people have been targeted by more powerful nations ever since they dared to secure their freedom two hundred years ago.
US and Colombia Do Military Exercises with Nuclear Submarine Near Venezuela, After Sending Warship Through Taiwan Strait Events in Ukraine have not stopped the US drive for domination. Military exercises in the Caribbean and Taiwan show that the Just one day before these US-Colombian naval exercises started, Washington threatened China by sending a large warship through the Taiwan Strait.
Labor:
Economy:
FRED: Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average 
FRED: Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Purchasing Power of the Consumer Dollar in U.S. City Average Consumer Price
World:
Putin’s Criminal Invasion of Ukraine Highlights Some Ugly Truths About U.S. and NATO The fact that Putin is trying to justify the unjustifiable in Ukraine does not mean we must ignore the U.S. actions that fuel his narrative. There are no excuses or justifications for what Vladimir Putin is doing in Ukraine. His brutal invasion is a bald-faced act of aggression, replete with war crimes, and is rightly being condemned as such by large numbers of people and nations across the globe. The targeting of civilian populations and infrastructure is a heinous act that belongs in the annals of major nation state crimes alongside the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Many governments of the world have denounced Putin’s actions. But when it comes to the U.S. and its NATO allies, these condemnations demand greater scrutiny. While many statements from Western leaders may be accurate regarding the nature of Russia’s actions, the U.S. and other NATO nations are in a dubious position to take a moralistic stance in condemning Russia. That they do so with zero recognition of their own hypocrisy, provocative actions, and history of unbridled militarism — particularly in the case of the U.S. — is deeply problematic. From the beginning of this crisis, Putin has exploited the militarism and past bombing campaigns of the U.S. and NATO to frame his own warped justification for his murderous campaign in Ukraine. But the fact that Putin is trying to justify the unjustifiable does not mean that we must ignore the U.S. actions that fuel his narrative.
Even After Acknowledging Abuses, The U.S. Continued to Employ Notorious Proxy Forces in Cameroon An exclusive document sheds light on a classified Special Operations partnership with a Cameroonian unit implicated in atrocities. MONTHS AFTER THE head of U.S. Africa Command announced that funding for Cameroon’s armed forces would be slashed due to human rights concerns, the Pentagon continued employing members of an elite Cameroonian military unit long known for committing atrocities — including extrajudicial killings — as proxies through a classified Special Operations counterterrorism program, The Intercept has learned.
Education, Health, and Welfare:
The government of the United States can pass laws in a few days to spend tens of trillions of dollars for war and the bailout of Wall Street and the bankers. Yet, those who pass universal healthcare for themselves, but they cannot spend even one trillion dollars for universal health for those who are ‘governed’! This is what is considered, by the powers to be, a democracy and part of the democratic way. — Roland Sheppard, Let the People Vote on Healthcare!
After 2 Years, WHO Chief Says Pandemic Not ‘Over Anywhere Until It’s Over Everywhere’ Global campaigners plan events to mark the anniversary and “demand world leaders stand with people, not Big Pharma, and finally end this pandemic.” The head of the World Health Organization stressed Wednesday that the global Covid-19 pandemic is still “far from over” and lamented the ongoing and “major” barriers in getting vaccines and treatments “everywhere they are needed.”