Last night, I was hanging out with some friends.  One of my friends is a very intelligent, but in my now-opinon, cynical conservative.  He was arguing last night that he believed that people are only motivated by money in their career: "It is human nature".  He was also arguing that cancer would be cured except that researchers, with their system ( Read more... )

This is so odd I don't know if I can even comment on it much more than that. This has all sorts of red flags raised in my world, but maybe in Japan, it isn't so bad.  I don't know.  But the next Monsanto-sponsored concert that happens in the US in 40 years, I will skip, thankyouverymuch.

What the hell is wrong with the music industry nowadays...

The general dialogue according to the Republicans is that we can't raise taxes in a recession.  What does this mean?  Those who can control or manipulate markets (because they are too big to fail?) have a vested interest in making sure the economy never recovers so that they don't have to pay their share into the society that gives them everything ( Read more... )

"Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, said: "No one takes any pleasure in asking graduates to take on more debt. "
-BBC
I disagree.  Capitalists and bankers everywere take plenty of pleasure in that.  In fact, I think they have learned that's how they force many of us into indentured servitude.  Your 30s, 40s, and 50s are spent digging yourself ( Read more... )

I don't think that's the result Shell was really looking for.

I need to bring attention to this:

My friend Daniel has done some pretty good analysis here that I think should be highlighted.  Additionally, he links to a very important opinion and analysis that speaks to the psychology of a 90% top-tier tax rate.

Of course, conservatives argue that tax-dodging rich will just expatriate (because realistically they ( Read more... )

Wow, Ireland.  You done fucked up good.

But I have to say, this bailout sickness is starting to wear on me. It isn't because of the bailouts, per se, but it is who is funding them and where the money is going.  In short, the working class is funding the banking class with their blood, sweat, tears, pension funds, retirement accounts, houses, and ( Read more... )

NPR is running a media blitz looking at Americans and our ongoing struggle with the Holy Dollar.  I think they're making some valid connections here, but sometimes their presentation seems disjointed.  I would like to use this forum to have a better dialogue about it.

( Care to read more about economic inequality? )

I was listening to Marketplace this morning, and I was struck by something I heard:

"You know, companies should be doing it in order to gain their social license to operate, but their bottom line is really to earn money on their project for their shareholders."

Social what?!  Apparently, in Canada, the populace isn't beholden to corporations.   ( Read more... )