This video might be a little on the old side, but this is exactly what is going on in America today. – © Mark Alexander
Sunday, 29 June 2025
Socialism for the Rich, Harsh Capitalism for the Rest | Robert Reich | 2019
This video might be a little on the old side, but this is exactly what is going on in America today. – © Mark Alexander
Michael Lambert: How Brexit Has Wrecked the UK Economy
Jun 28, 2025 | Last week saw the 9th anniversary of the referendum in which the UK voted to leave the EU. Since Brexit, the UK has struggled economically and faces several major challenges.
Jonathan 'Johnny' Reynolds is the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry charged with spearheading the UK's push for growth. Reynolds who was previously a trainee solicitor and then an assistant to MP James Purnell has no previous business experience. Despite this, he boasts of three major trade deals with, India, the EU, and the USA. It is estimated that these three deals will add less than 1% to the UK GDP in about ten years’ time. Leaving the EU has cost the UK at least 4% of GDP.
Since growth in the UK is very slow owing to the overall economic conditions, and since it is now almost impossible for small and medium sized businesses to sell to the EU given the onerous post-Brexit paperwork and expense involved, it is difficult to see where growth can be found.
Since leaving the EU, the UK has suffered from a shortage of workers in many sectors of the economy, including the NHS, care, hospitality, construction, food processing, and agriculture.
Whilst some EU workers were initially replaced by those from countries such as Nigeria, Bangladesh, and India in response to calls from Nigel Farage, the government has now introduced minimum salary requirements of almost £40,000 per annum for anyone seeking work in the UK. The result is likely to be much more severe shortages.
The government plans to train up British citizens to do the work formally done by foreign workers. Inward investment, often amounting to foreign companies buying UK infrastructure and businesses has dried up, although it is expected that major US asset managers will soon start buying up and renting back UK housing stock.
Jonathan 'Johnny' Reynolds is the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry charged with spearheading the UK's push for growth. Reynolds who was previously a trainee solicitor and then an assistant to MP James Purnell has no previous business experience. Despite this, he boasts of three major trade deals with, India, the EU, and the USA. It is estimated that these three deals will add less than 1% to the UK GDP in about ten years’ time. Leaving the EU has cost the UK at least 4% of GDP.
Since growth in the UK is very slow owing to the overall economic conditions, and since it is now almost impossible for small and medium sized businesses to sell to the EU given the onerous post-Brexit paperwork and expense involved, it is difficult to see where growth can be found.
Since leaving the EU, the UK has suffered from a shortage of workers in many sectors of the economy, including the NHS, care, hospitality, construction, food processing, and agriculture.
Whilst some EU workers were initially replaced by those from countries such as Nigeria, Bangladesh, and India in response to calls from Nigel Farage, the government has now introduced minimum salary requirements of almost £40,000 per annum for anyone seeking work in the UK. The result is likely to be much more severe shortages.
The government plans to train up British citizens to do the work formally done by foreign workers. Inward investment, often amounting to foreign companies buying UK infrastructure and businesses has dried up, although it is expected that major US asset managers will soon start buying up and renting back UK housing stock.
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Sun, Sea and Sweat: Greece’s Young Seasonal Workers | ARTE.tv Documentary
Friday, 27 June 2025
Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos Says He'll Give Away His Wealth | 2022
Ex-world Leaders Call for ‘Powerful Shift’ as They Warn of Extreme Inequality
THE GUARDIAN: Former leaders urge current state heads to work together to end poverty amid potential of first trillionaires emerging
The world is facing a looming crisis of inequality that could see the first trillionaires emerge while nearly half of humanity still languishes in poverty, a group of 40 former presidents and prime ministers warns.
In a letter seen by the Guardian, the group – which includes the ex-British prime minister Gordon Brown – issues a joint appeal to current world leaders for a “new economic coalition of the willing” to address the escalating threats of inequality, poverty and environmental breakdown.
The former leaders also condemn “narrow unilateralism” and the “outdated” 1944 economic model while urging comprehensive debt relief, international tax cooperation, and reform of institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. » | David Smith in Washington | Thursday, June 26, 2025
Hoping for ‘democratic’ politicians to do anything about this gross inequality is like wishing on a star. These politicians haven’t got the balls to tackle this problem. And in any case, most of them are probably too corrupt to do anything about this vulgar inequality. Why? Because they are all hoping and praying for great, highly-paid appointments in commerce when they leave office. So they don’t want to rock the boat.
If you think you are living in a democracy, you are greatly mistaken and rather delusional. And if you think that one of your democratically-elected politicians is courageous enough to tackle this problem, think again! – © Mark Alexander
The world is facing a looming crisis of inequality that could see the first trillionaires emerge while nearly half of humanity still languishes in poverty, a group of 40 former presidents and prime ministers warns.
In a letter seen by the Guardian, the group – which includes the ex-British prime minister Gordon Brown – issues a joint appeal to current world leaders for a “new economic coalition of the willing” to address the escalating threats of inequality, poverty and environmental breakdown.
The former leaders also condemn “narrow unilateralism” and the “outdated” 1944 economic model while urging comprehensive debt relief, international tax cooperation, and reform of institutions such as the International Monetary Fund. » | David Smith in Washington | Thursday, June 26, 2025
Hoping for ‘democratic’ politicians to do anything about this gross inequality is like wishing on a star. These politicians haven’t got the balls to tackle this problem. And in any case, most of them are probably too corrupt to do anything about this vulgar inequality. Why? Because they are all hoping and praying for great, highly-paid appointments in commerce when they leave office. So they don’t want to rock the boat.
If you think you are living in a democracy, you are greatly mistaken and rather delusional. And if you think that one of your democratically-elected politicians is courageous enough to tackle this problem, think again! – © Mark Alexander
Thursday, 26 June 2025
Democracy Now! "The Economy Is Rigged": Robert Reich on Zohran Mamdani, The Democratic Party, Inequality, and Trump
Democracy Now! can be supported here.
Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Argentinien im Teufelskreis: Bringt Milei die Wende? | Doku HD | ARTE
Argentiniens amtierender Präsident Javier Milei unterzieht sein Land einer neoliberalen Rosskur und stutzt den Staat so mit rigoroser Haushaltsdisziplin zurecht. Während Unternehmer*innen jubeln, protestieren Staatsangestellte, Rentner*innen und Studierende, weil sie von Milei dadurch finanziell immer mehr geschwächt werden. Sieht so Mileis Wende aus?
Der derzeitige argentinische Präsident Javier Milei verfolgt eine neoliberale Strategie, die den Staat radikal einer drastischen Haushaltsdisziplin unterziehen und zurechtstutzen soll. Während sich dies positiv auf Unternehmer und Landwirte auswirkt, so negative Folgen hat dies für Staatsangestellte, Rentner und Studierende, die dazu führen, dass sie immer ärmer werden. Die Ärztin Lucia Garcia kommt trotz vier Jobs samt Nachtschichten nicht mehr über die Runden.
Die Wut vieler Argentinier über den jahrzehntelangen wirtschaftlichen Teufelskreis aus wiederkehrenden Krisen, Verschuldung und Inflation – im einst reichsten Land der Welt – bescherte Milei schließlich das Amt des Präsidenten. Auch José Michael Reyes aus dem Armenviertel „Villa 31“ setzt auf Milei, weil er an dessen Mantra der wirtschaftlichen Freiheit glaubt und sich davon mehr Wohlstand und ein Ende der Inflation erhofft.
Doch ob Milei den wirtschaftlichen Teufelskreis durchbrechen kann, ist unklar. Denn Argentiniens Misere hat historische Ursprünge: Nachdem das Land 1890 zu den reichsten weltweit gehörte, ging es steil bergab. Diktaturen und Demokratien wechselten sich ab – mit einhergehenden gravierenden Wechseln in der Wirtschaftspolitik. Weder linke noch liberale Regierungen konnten verhindern, dass der Staat stets über seine Verhältnisse lebte. Zudem gab es keinen politischen Konsens über den Kurs des Landes. Stattdessen standen grassierende Korruption, eine extreme politische Polarisierung und ein chronisches Schuldenproblem auf der Tagesordnung.
Dokumentation von Matthias Ebert (D 2025, 54 Min)
Video verfügbar bis zum 24/06/2026
Der derzeitige argentinische Präsident Javier Milei verfolgt eine neoliberale Strategie, die den Staat radikal einer drastischen Haushaltsdisziplin unterziehen und zurechtstutzen soll. Während sich dies positiv auf Unternehmer und Landwirte auswirkt, so negative Folgen hat dies für Staatsangestellte, Rentner und Studierende, die dazu führen, dass sie immer ärmer werden. Die Ärztin Lucia Garcia kommt trotz vier Jobs samt Nachtschichten nicht mehr über die Runden.
Die Wut vieler Argentinier über den jahrzehntelangen wirtschaftlichen Teufelskreis aus wiederkehrenden Krisen, Verschuldung und Inflation – im einst reichsten Land der Welt – bescherte Milei schließlich das Amt des Präsidenten. Auch José Michael Reyes aus dem Armenviertel „Villa 31“ setzt auf Milei, weil er an dessen Mantra der wirtschaftlichen Freiheit glaubt und sich davon mehr Wohlstand und ein Ende der Inflation erhofft.
Doch ob Milei den wirtschaftlichen Teufelskreis durchbrechen kann, ist unklar. Denn Argentiniens Misere hat historische Ursprünge: Nachdem das Land 1890 zu den reichsten weltweit gehörte, ging es steil bergab. Diktaturen und Demokratien wechselten sich ab – mit einhergehenden gravierenden Wechseln in der Wirtschaftspolitik. Weder linke noch liberale Regierungen konnten verhindern, dass der Staat stets über seine Verhältnisse lebte. Zudem gab es keinen politischen Konsens über den Kurs des Landes. Stattdessen standen grassierende Korruption, eine extreme politische Polarisierung und ein chronisches Schuldenproblem auf der Tagesordnung.
Dokumentation von Matthias Ebert (D 2025, 54 Min)
Video verfügbar bis zum 24/06/2026
Thursday, 19 June 2025
Richard Branson Warned Us — Tories Still Deny It
Monday, 16 June 2025
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age: Is This the Beginning of the End of the American Empire?
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