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Latin America’s New Middle Class Rulers: Stabilization, Growth and Inequality
James Petras
Introduction:
Latin America’s current relations with the US as well as its present political and economic configuration can best be understood in the context of large scale changes over the past twenty years and the relative stability of the past five years.
We will proceed by schematically highlighting the salient features leading to the rise and crises of neo-liberal regimes and policies and the emergence of diverse “post neo-liberal” regimes in the present period. We will analyze the nature and performance of the ‘post neo-liberal regimes’ to bring out their strengths and weaknesses in the context of world market conditions, as well as the emerging political and social contradictions and alternatives.
US Imperial Power and the Rise and Fall of Neoliberal Regimes
US imperial power and influence reached its maximum influence between 1976-1999. The military and civilian regimes throughout this period backed US international and regional positions and embraced “free market doctrines”. The neo-liberal rulers denationalized and privatized all strategic economic sectors, deregulated the banking and financial systems and submitted to the dictates of the IMF and World Bank. Nearly one trillion dollars in profits, interest and principle payments, rents and illegal funds were transferred to US and European banks and corporations.
'Nothing short of a financial coup'
Posted by Michael Collins
Stocks Freak Out Again: 130 Point Move In Dow In 15 Minutes On No Volume
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 05/21/2010 15:08 -0500 Once again, we get to see just how broken our stock market is, one which takes no prisoners, and will trample over everyone and everything as the Primary Dealers use your own money against you to shake every single person out. A 130 point move in the Dow in the matter of minutes on no volume is about all you need to know to lose all confidence in stocks, and call up TDAmeritrade and close your account (you won't be allowed to trade when the market is crashing anyway). Good thing we had a fake rumor in the morning to prevent an all out rout into Friday with the Dow looking to open well into 9000. Additionally, with credit not moving, and obviously not buying this move, there is nobody left who can claim the market is anything even remotely resembling orderly, efficient or fair. SkyNet is again rising. Graph 1 Graph 2
Also see Pecunia Emptor by Numerian
Growing Homelessness in America
by Stephen Lendman
In the world's richest country, the trend is shocking, disturbing and appalling. In its 2009 report on "Hunger and Homelessness in US Cities," the US Conference of Mayors stated:
"Hunger and homelessness (are) at record levels in US cities," citing an overall 26% demand increase over the past year and 19% more homelessness. Yet worsening conditions leave millions on their own and out of luck because Washington has other priorities excluding them.
"At a time of historic economic crisis, the issues of hunger and homelessness in America are more prevalent than ever." Cities are hard-pressed to handle them, and planned budget cuts and revenue shortfalls will strap them well into the future.
The Greek Tragedy Is Just a Sneak Preview of What's Coming to Washington
by Ron Holland
"The current European debt crisis likely will not end until the euro collapses as a currency and takes the entire European Union with it." ~ Dennis Gartman, hedge fund manager and writer of The Gartman Letter
I was just in Greece, where the stupidity and venality of the political class are in full view.
The coming repudiation of Greek debt and the credit contagion that will spread among the weaker members of the European Union, including the UK, will ultimately slop over onto the U.S. But while we wait, the process will bring us the answer to a long-simmering question. Will the European Union be a supra-state ruling the formerly independent nations of Europe or will it be a confederation of quasi-independent sovereign nations?
Introducing the heritage of Khayyam
Kourosh Ziabari
May 18 is dedicated to the commemoration of Omar Khayyam in the Iranian solar calendar; the calendar which Khayyam has invented himself. To the Western world which has always been enchanted by the magnificence and glory of oriental culture, Omar Khayyam is a venerable and honored figure who brings to mind the delicacy and gracefulness of ancient Persian civilization. The Iranian polymath, astronomer, philosopher and poet is internationally known for his insightful rubaiyyat (quatrains) which the influential British poet Edward FitzGerland translated from Persian into English 150 years ago.
Obama Trying To Make Rape Look Like Seduction
By: Peter Chamberlin
Thanks to Bush, Cheney and Condi Rice, the complex plan for world domination, which has been produced over several generations by the earth’s most advanced minds, teeters over the chasm of total defeat. Obama’s mission is to keep us out of the chasm, while ramming through the central elements of the plan.
Bush’s heavy-handed policies have been described in the Russian press as “rape,” compared to Obama’s policies of “seduction” (SEE: Turkey will show us how to play gambit with the West? Part 2). Obama must persuade the people of central and south Asia to open wide and accept the American intrusion into their lives, despite the enormous anti-American resistance that has been created by previous Bush intrusions. It would be only fitting if, in the end, America’s self-inflicted wounds proved to be fatal.
Are the People Really Seizing Power?
By Timothy V. Gatto
I’ve waited until the dust settled from last Tuesday, and for the first time in decades, I have a smidgen of hope for the American people. I want to get some things straight, right off the bat. While the political current that is rooting out corporate incumbents is promising, this nation, and the people that pull the levers at the polls, have a long way to go in order to get out from under the pseudo Democrats and finally finish off the right wing wackos that now make up the nucleus of the Republican party.
The first race that I would like to mention is the victory that Rand Paul pulled off in Kentucky. Let’s be straight forward and honest about Rand Paul. He is a creature of the Tea-Party movement and has seemed to embrace the more reactionary ideals of his father and those of the fringe right. He is no Ron Paul, in fact, he comes nowhere near being the voice of reason that his father sometimes embraces. Ron Paul can be practical, something that is lost on his son. He has voiced the idea of throwing out the Americans for Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is anathema to most liberals, Democrat or otherwise. He can tout the Tea Party at the Country Club where he made his victory speech, but as time goes on, people will understand where he is really coming from, and that won’t bode well for him in November.
After 62 years of Zionist terror, ending Zionism is the only hope for Native Palestinians and immigrant Jews to live in peace in Palestine
By Salim Nazzal
The last word my father said before he died was Palestine. This definitely will be my last word.
The 15th of May is an extremely sad day for Palestinians at home and in Diaspora. The declaration of the Zionist state in Palestine was meant to be a declaration of death to Palestine and to Palestinians. The evidence is the Zionist terror which forced Palestinians to leave their towns and villages through various psychological pressures and organized mass murder.
The result came in concord with the Zionist goal, two third of Palestinians from about 420 towns and villages fled their country. This we call the NAKHBA or the national catastrophe which occurred to Palestine. Palestine seized to exist and the immigrant Jews declared their “independence” on the ruin and misery of Palestine and Palestinians.
Zionist leaders never conceal that they view Palestinians obstacles in their way to establish a Jewish state in Palestine and today they do not conceal their plans to drive those who remained out of their home.
Defence for Children International calls for a UN investigation - Sexual assault of Palestinian children at the hands of Israeli soldiers
dci-pal.org
Israeli soldiers have always abused children
On 18 May 2010, Defence for Children International (DCI-Palestine) submitted 14 cases to the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture for investigation. The submission relates to the sexual assault, or threat of sexual assault, of Palestinian children at the hands of Israeli soldiers, interogators and police between January 2009 and April 2010. The ages of the children range from 13 to 16 years.
DCI-Palestine is becoming increasingly alarmed at reports contained in sworn affidavits received from children that they are being subjected to sexual assault, or threat of sexual assault, in order to obtain confessions.
DCI-Palestine has reviewed 100 sworn affidavits collected from children in 2009, and in four percent of cases, children report being sexually assaulted, whilst in 12 percent of cases, the children report being threatened with sexual assault. The sexual assault and threats of sexual assault documented by DCI-Palestine include grabbing boys by the testicles until they confess and threatening boys as young as 13 years with rape unless they confess to throwing stones at Israeli settler vehicles in the occupied West Bank. DCI-Palestine suspects that these figures may understate the extent of the problem.
Ahmed Abu Ali - Guilty of Being Muslim at the Wrong Time in America
by Stephen Lendman
Writing on May 12 in Alternet.org, Mariam Abu Ali headlined, "My Brother Faces a Lifetime of Solitary Confinement on a Spurious Terror Conviction," saying:
He "spent the past five years in solitary confinement, under 23-hour lockdown, in a 7 x 12 cell," and overall has been treated horrifically "in a dungeon, over 20 meters beneath the ground."
An April article by this writer explained what they're like - http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2010/04/harmful-effects-of-prolonged-isolated.html. Material from it is repeated below.
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