MEXICO ON THE BRINK
Long-simmering social tensions in Mexico are threatening to boil over as failing neoliberal reforms to the country’s formerly nationalized gas sector are compounded by open corruption, stagnant standards of living, and rampant inflation.
The U.S. media has remained mostly mute on the situation in Mexico, even as the unfolding civil unrest has closed the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, California, for the last four weekends in a row.
Ongoing “gasolinazo” protests in Mexico over a 20 percent rise in gas prices have led to over 400 arrests, 250 looted stores, and six deaths. Roads are being blockaded, borders closed, and government buildings are being sacked. Protests have remained relatively peaceful overall, except for several isolated violent acts, which activists have blamed on government infiltrators.
The few mainstream news reports that have covered the situation blame rising gas prices but fail to examine several other factors that are pushing Mexico to the brink of revolution.
Join the forum discussion on this postAN APPROPRIATE GOODBYE TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT
HALF-FULL REPORT 01/27/17
Gobsmacked.
Ever hear that term? It’s the British equivalent of our being flabbergasted. This has been a week of being gobsmacked. Note that the term has two sides.
As Theresa met Trump at the White House late this morning, she declared, “America and Britain can lead the world together again,” while Trump made it clear that Britain was the US’s “premier ally.” They will work together on accelerating Brexit, the UK’s exit from the stifling EU, and a US-UK free trade deal. Tomorrow, however, is another story…
More gobsmacking. It’s actually overwhelming how much of it there has been in the seven days since The Donald became President Trump. So let’s start with what gobsmacked me the most personally at the very moment he took the oath of office.
All in all. this has been a Yuge week for Trump and America. Let’s enjoy it…
THE REAL HEROES OF SYRIA
Northern Syria
It is astounding how much misinformation and lack of knowledge there is regarding Syria today. This is ground zero for the war on ISIS and Jihadist Fascism, yet very few know what’s really going on. You are soon to be among them.
Let’s start with a quick story. In the pre-dawn hours of August 24 last year, 2016, a heavily armed force of the Turkish military dubbed Euphrates Shield invaded Syria and seized the border town of Jarabulus on the Euphrates River (see map). The excuse was to rescue the city from ISIS.
What actually happened was that a series of anti-ISIS Arab Military Councils had formed their own militias in the region composed of local fighters. They had succeeded in liberating the town of Manbij from ISIS south of Jarabulus a few weeks before, and were now poised to take Jarabulus as well.
But just as they were about to enter the city, the Turkish Army arrived. Within hours, the Arab militia fighters born and raised in Jarabulus saw ISIS terrorists shave their beards, change their black garments for Turkish uniforms, and join the Turks.
In other words, the Islamist and ISIS-supporting leader of Turkey, Recip Erdogan, ordered his army into Syria not to attack ISIS as his propaganda proclaimed, but to prevent the anti-ISIS militias from defeating ISIS in Jarabulus.
THE DEMOCRAT PARTY: NO NON-RACISTS NEED APPLY
"Democrats lost because they did not know how to talk about race," Aimee Allison told the DNC candidates forum on race.
Aimee Allison is a professional “race talker.” She’s a senior VP at PowerPAC+ which is dedicated to tapping into the “political power of the multiracial majority.”
On Monday (01/23), PowerPAC’s Democracy in Color hosted the DNC Chair Candidates Forum 2017. The qualifications to be the leader of the Democrat National Committee were obvious. It was their job to pander to the “new majority” of non-whites.
White voters make up 71% of the electorate. Hillary won little more than a third of this “old majority.”
“I’m a white woman, I don’t get it,” candidate Sally Boynton Brown shrilled. Her job, she declared, was to “shut other white people down” until they admit their “privilege.” Note the black lady behind her smiling and nodding when she says it:
WHAT WAS THE WOMEN’S MARCH ALL ABOUT?
Has anyone actually worked out yet what that Women’s March over the weekend (01/21) was all about?
According to Madonna it had something to do with blowing up the White House.
According to Michael Moore (not a woman) it was about stopping Betsy De Vos (a woman: how does this work, exactly?) from becoming Secretary of Education.
According to Hamas-supporting, hijab-wearing co-organizer Linda Sarsour, it had something to do with that famous supporter of women’s rights, Islam.
According to Hermione Granger it was a lovely excuse to fly over from England with her Mum, to feel humble and try on some new bright red lipstick.
According to at least one of the girls in the photo above, it’s about “good scince”. Yay! Go, good scince!
WHY TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR CHINA’S DEBT-DRIVEN BOOM
There is now no denying that China's economy is slowing sharply, though this can be masked by mini-booms along the way.
China is creating credit at twice the pace of underlying growth and is relying on hazardous bubbles to keep growth running far above the safe speed limit, Fitch Ratings has warned.
Short-term stimulus is papering over deep cracks in the economy and vital reforms are being neglected, storing up serious trouble for the future.
The Fitch credit agency said state control over the banking system will prevent a sudden collapse in confidence or a western-style financial crash, but the Communist authorities are running out of tools to meet their inflated GDP targets.
China's epic catch-up boom since the early 1980s will likely sputter out this year as banks struggle with the legacy of bad debts and chronic malinvestment. Here’s why.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024
Most new cars sold in 2024 will have self-driving capabilities so that the number of auto fatalities will be falling rapidly.
That is an easy prediction, because the technologies have already been developed and roll-outs of the new cars are being planned and, in some cases, are underway.
There will be many seen and unseen new technologies in the next eight years, so by the end of the Trump administration (assuming he is re-elected), the world will look very different. Unfortunately, economic advances take place more slowly, and political advances even more slowly — without much advancement in 2,000 years.
Removing counterproductive regulations and taxes and reducing wasteful government spending should lead to higher growth and, hence, more and better jobs. However, new technologies have been rapidly eliminating manufacturing jobs everywhere — even in China.
If not in manufacturing, where will all the new jobs be? The truth is no one knows, but they are likely to appear as they always have in the past.
TRUMP CREATES MORE JOBS
HALF-FULL REPORT 01/20/17
Finally the day has come. Deliverance Day, the end of the Nightmare of Zero. A new dawn for America with more freedom, more prosperity, and more moral normalcy of traditional values.
It is a day to celebrate with joy and exuberance. Yet it is far deeper than that. You may be like me, experiencing emotions hard to describe or contain.
Watching Trump speak at the Lincoln Memorial last night, seeing him and his family in front of the giant statue of Lincoln as a chorus of Marines sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic while fireworks exploded over the Reflecting Pool of the Mall – frankly, it made me cry and shiver with goosebumps.
What is happening before our eyes is a true historical moment. The throngs of people massed at the Inauguration Eve celebration last night knew it. They were hugely happy – calling out “We love you!” to Trump – and at the same time there was a solemnity to their happiness.
What they were feeling was far more than what revelers at, say, Times Square feel celebrating the Ball Drop on New Years Eve. They knew they were witnessing and participating in the rebirth, indeed possibly the salvation, of their country. They were experiencing an overwhelming sense of awesomeness that was palpable among them It certainly was what I felt.
As this day unfolds, it may be as hard for you to contain these feelings as it is for me. Savor the moment of this extraordinary day, January 20, 2017. It is a day you will never forget.