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During This Economic Crisis, Capitalism’s Three Point Political Program: 1. Austerity, 2. Scapegoating Blacks, Minorities, and ‘Illegal Immigrants’ for Unemployment, and 3. The Iron Heel.
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 Who Profit From Austerity! Under Austerity, All of the World Will Eventually Be Pauperized, Humbled, and Desecrated Like Greece and Puerto Rico!
Images of the Day:
Theresa May has to listen to what the people of Britain have said. She does not have an overall majority, never mind the landslide she wanted. She still does not have a mandate. The Labour Party made gains in all regions and nations of our country. We delivered the biggest swing in the vote to Labour since 1945. Labour’s policies are popular. We offer real hope. People could see this, and that is why they voted for us. They know only Labour will work for the many. — Jeremy Corbyn
Just before the 2000 Presidential Election, in September 2000, George Bush’s think tank, The Project for the New American Century, put into writing a document titled Rebuilding America’s Defenses, Forces and Resources For a New Century. In that document they called for war upon Iraq, a US military presence in the middle east, and the construction of military bases throughout Asia and the world to enforce, what they termed, as a ‘strategic goal’, the preservation Pax Americana — the ‘new world order’ that was proclaimed after the first Gulf War. There has been no objection or opposition, from the Democratic Party, to this ‘strategic goal’ for this century, even though the document stated, two years prior to 9/11: A transformation strategy that solely pursued capabilities for projecting force from the United States, for example, and sacrificed forward basing and presence, would be at odds with larger American policy goals and would trouble American allies. Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor. When the September 11, 2002 implosion of the World Trade Center occurred, both the Democrats and the Republicans were united in taking the advantage of the ‘catastrophic and catalyzing event’ to begin to implement the first stage of Pax American-the war upon Iraq and to make the middle east a zone of ‘democratic peace’ — a safe area for exploitation and control, by the United States, or as the document stated: “Today its task is to secure and expand the “zones of democratic peace;” to deter the rise of a new great power competitor; defend key regions of Europe, East Asia and the Middle East; and to preserve American preeminence through the coming transformation of war made possible by new technologies.” In its founding principles, the Project for the New American Century proposed preventive strikes: “Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership of the costs that are associated with its exercise. America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. The history of the past century should have taught us, to embrace the cause of American leadership.” (My Emphasis) — Roland Sheppard, Pax Americana and The Failure of ‘Lesser Evilism’
Videos of the Day:
Jeremy Corbyn: ‘I can still be prime minister’ — BBC News Labour would put down a “substantial amendment to the Queen’s speech.” (Based on the main policies in its general election manifesto, with an emphasis on Brexit, young people, and austerity.)
Rob Quist Reflects On Recent Montana Congressional Campaign Quist discusses Republican Greg Gianforte’s assault on Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. and the lessons from his failed congressional bid
U.S.:
The Age of Anger The nihilism and rage sweeping across the globe are not generated by warped ideologies or medieval religious beliefs. These destructive forces have their roots in the obliterating of social, cultural and religious traditions by modernization and the consumer society, the disastrous attempts by the United States to carry out regime change, often through coups and wars, and the utopian neoliberal ideology that has concentrated wealth in the hands of a tiny cabal of corrupt global oligarchs. By Chris Hedges
Same Old ‘New World Order’ — All wars in the Middle East Have Been for Oil!: Trump New World Order: Global Alliance with Oil and Gas Producers and the Hell with Our Allies, Green Energy and All Those Jobs Those, like Trump, who prefer an oil-drenched planet will fight to achieve their hellish vision. By Michael T. Klare
Black Liberation/Civil Rights:
New threats to public lands endanger America’s unique wildlife corridors Mule deer, pronghorn and other animals rely on unbroken migration routes for food and survival, a necessity now jeopardy as Trump pushes for development by Oliver Milman
Researchers Have Figured Out When Humans First Altered the Planet’s Geology Israeli researchers claim to have pinpointed the first permanent geological change made by humankind, the moment when humans first altered the planet’s geology. They have identified a set of erosion processes made 11,500 years ago in the Dead Sea Basin. This would represent the first hint of what increasingly has been called the Anthropocene, a geological era in which the planet’s characteristics are defined by just one species, Homo sapiens. The evidence comes from the Dead Sea Drilling Project, which provides a sedimentary record of the last 220,000 years. And the scientists have found that erosion rates in the Dead Sea Basin during the Neolithic were, they say, dramatically at odds with the known tectonic and climatic regimes of the period under review, less than 12,000 years ago. “Human impact on the natural environment is now endangering the entire planet,” said Shmuel Marco, of the Tel Aviv University school of geosciences. By Tim Radford
Ongoing Big Energy Crisis:
Labor:
Economy:
Capitalism’s economic singularities “Today, in numerous areas, from automation to green energy to information technology, we are seeing a validation of Marx’s assertion: that society’s productive forces at a certain stage come into conflict with the way in which society is organised. These “economic singularities”, as Adam Booth discusses, demonstrate clearly that the system has broken.” By Adam Booth
World:
Jeremy Corbyn Is Leading the Left Out of the Wilderness and Toward Power Thank you, Jeremy Corbyn. It is no exaggeration to say that the British Labour Party leader has changed progressive politics in the UK, and perhaps the wider West too, for a generation. The bearded, 68-year-old, self-declared socialist has proved that an unashamedly, unabashedly, unapologetically left-wing offer is not the politics of the impossible but, rather, a politics of the very much possible. Last Thursday’s election result in the UK is a ringing confirmation that stirring idealism need not be sacrificed at the altar of political pragmatism. By Mehdi Hasan
Corbyn’s Lesson: Embrace Change We Need The shocking election result in the United Kingdom – the Conservatives losing their majority and the creation of a hung Parliament; and Jeremy Corbyn being more successful than any recent Labor candidate – cutting a 20 point Theresa May lead down to a near tie – gives hope to many that the global shift to the right, fueled by the failures of governments to meet the basic needs of their population and growing economic insecurity, may be ending. Corbyn is a lifelong activist whose message and actions have been consistent. He presented a platform directed at ending austerity and the wealth divide and was openly anti-war. There are a lot of lessons for the Labor Party in the UK from this election but there are also lessons for people in the United States. We review what happened and consider the possibilities for creating transformative change in the United States. by Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
Qatar on the Back Foot: Even Without “Shock and Awe” Trump’s Foreign Policy Lurks Behind Renewed Crisis in the Middle East It’s not exactly a shocking revelation that the Middle East is in a sorry state. Between the legacy of habitual western interventions (invasions to those with a penchant for honesty) and ongoing conflict in Syria, it isn’t news to point out this is a very troubled region indeed. by Daniel Read
France: The optical illusion of the Macron victory Yesterday’s first round of the French parliamentary elections marked a new record level of abstentions, 51.3% – compared to 42.8% in 2012. Therefore the so-called “surge” of the Marche/Modem coalition must be viewed for what it really is: those abstaining were far more numerous than those who actually voted for the “Presidential majority”. By Révolution Editorial Board
Health, Science, Education, and Welfare:
Editor of New ‘Sham Journal’ Is Climate Science Denier With Ties to Heartland Institute The title alone of the scientific paper could have suggested one of two things — either the author deserved a Nobel prize in science, or something very odd was going on. Professor Steve Sherwood knew it was not the former. The paper’s title was grandiose but sincere — “The Refutation of the Climate Greenhouse Theory and a Proposal for a Hopeful Alternative” — and appeared in a publication with a name that sounded like a legitimate scientific journal. But appearances don’t always stack up, and neither did this paper. By Graham Readfearn 
Bendib: Not a Liar, No Pants on Fire
Quotes of the Day:
Environment: 