Wednesday, 20 November 2024

UK Inflation Rises to 2.3%, Increasing Pressure to Delay Interest Rate Cut

THE GUARDIAN: Figure is above Bank of England target after energy bills push up prices

Inflation increased to 2.3% in October, heaping pressure on the Bank of England to delay further interest rate cuts until next year.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday showed that a rise in energy bills pushed up the consumer prices index (CPI), reversing a downward trend this year in inflation, which was 1.7% in September.

The figure for the year to October was slightly above the 2.2% City economists had expected. » | Phillip Inman | Wednesday, November 20, 2024

THE TELEGRAPH: Interest rates to ‘stay higher for longer’ after inflation blow: Interest rates risk staying “elevated for longer”, economists have warned, after inflation rose at a faster pace than expected last month. / Policymakers are “unlikely” to cut borrowing costs at its meeting in December, analysts said, after the pace of price rises surged back above the Bank of England’s 2pc target in October. »

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

Argentina after One Year of President Milei | DW Documentary

Nov 19, 2024 | Is Javier Milei a savior or a destroyer? It’s been just over a year since the far-right, chainsaw-wielding 54-year-old was elected President of Argentina, and society is more divided than ever before.

Argentina’s poverty rate has soared to over 50% since Javier Milei took office. Many young voters opted for Milei because they wanted a radical break from the previous government. Many Argentinians in the business community are also hoping Milei's "shock therapy” will improve the economic situation - while others are stunned by the president's harsh reforms.

In his first year in office, Milei did not hold back, abolishing many ministries, scaling back publicly funded media and cutting many subsidies. We hear from both supporters and opponents of the president and his policies, including farmers, students, pensioners, trade unionists, journalists and entrepreneurs.


Starmer the Farmer Harmer: Inside the Protest That's Rocked the Government | The Daily Telegraph

Nov 19, 2024 | Rachel Reeves’ Budget has backfired spectacularly, with thousands of farmers protesting in central London today against the introduction of inheritance tax on farmland.

Kamal and Gordon joined the demonstration in a very wet Westminster to speak to furious farmers who say the future of British agriculture is at risk.

They also hear from shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins and Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch about how Labour simply doesn't understand the countryside.


Monday, 18 November 2024

Richard Wolff: The Decline of the US Empire Is Shown by the Record High National & Corporate Debt

Monday, Nov 18, 2024 | The relative economic decline of the US and its allies (G7) versus China and its allies (BRICS) leads to (1) realignment of global trade and investment, (2) changed global politics and alliances, and (3) basic cultural shifts inside and among nations.

The political crises facing the United States at home and abroad hinge on this question: How will the US manage its decline?



The USA is sinking into the mire. Donnie baby hasn’t got a chance in hell of turning this sinking ship around! If anything, his policies will force the ship to sink further and more quickly! America’s position in the world as the world’s superpower is about to be usurped, I fear. Americans insist on living beyond their means. They insist on believing in their delusion of the “American Dream”. One can but wonder who will take over from the leadership of the “delinquent” USA! – © Mark Alexander

Kommunismus, Sozialismus und Bolschewismus | Geschichte

Jan 31, 2019 | Kommunismus, Sozialismus und Bolschewismus – diese Begriffe werden häufig in einen Topf geworfen. Aber es gibt Unterschiede, die dir Mirko natürlich gerne erklärt.

Der Kommunismus ist eine Idealvorstellung der menschlichen Gesellschaft. In dieser Vorstellung sollen alle Produktionsmittel, also Dinge, die man braucht, um etwas zu produzieren allen Menschen gemeinsam gehören. Die Güter sollen gerecht verteilt werden. In der Realität läuft es aber anders.

Dank der Industrialisierung kann so viel produziert werden, wie noch nie zuvor. Gerecht verteilt werden die Güter aber trotzdem noch nicht. Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels fordern deshalb, dass die Errungenschaften des Fortschritts allen Menschen zukommen. Es soll kein Privateigentum mehr geben, alles soll der Gemeinschaft gehören und jeder soll nach seinen Fähigkeiten arbeiten und nach seinen Bedürfnissen vom Vorhandenen nehmen.

Niedergeschrieben haben Marx und Engels diese Vorstellungen im kommunistischen Manifest. Karl Marx begründet darauf die wissenschaftliche Lehre des Marxismus. In Russland entwickelt Wladimir Iljitsch Lenin diese Lehre weiter und wird zum Anführer der russischen Oktoberrevolution. Er will in Russland eine kommunistische Gesellschaft aufbauen. Den Weg dahin hat Marx genau ausgearbeitet. Nach verschiedenen Phasen der Ausbeutung, die sich durch die Menschheitsgeschichte ziehen, soll laut Marx auf den Kapitalismus der sogenannte Sozialismus folgen. Der Sozialismus ist laut Marx die Vorstufe zum Kommunismus.

Im Sozialismus wird der Kommunismus sozusagen vorbereitet. Um zu verhindern, dass es wieder zu Ungleichheiten kommt, soll im Sozialismus der Staat die Produktion planen. Im Sozialismus sind die Klassenunterschiede noch nicht aufgehoben, aber eine demokratische Austragung von Konflikten. Laut Marx Lehre soll sich der Sozialismus zum Kommunismus entwickeln. Die Staaten werden dann, so Marx, irgendwann überflüssig und lösen sich auf, der weltweite Kommunismus entsteht. In dieser Idealvorstellung sollen die Menschen alles gerecht teilen und nicht mehr gegeneinander kämpfen. Bevor diese Vorstellung Realität werden kann, müssen laut Marx aber zuerst die verschiedenen Stufen der Unterdrückung und der Sozialismus durchlaufen werden.

In Russland ist zur Zeit des Zarenreiches allerdings noch nicht einmal ganz im Kapitalismus angekommen. Laut Marx Lehre muss aber erst der Kapitalismus entstehen und zugrunde gehen, bevor der Sozialismus entstehen kann. Lenin und seine Genossen wollen auf dem Weg zum Kommunismus sozusagen eine Abkürzung nehmen. Das führt zum Streit innerhalb der kommunistischen Partei in Russland. Während ein Teil der Partei zuerst eine bürgerliche Revolution der Massen und eine parlamentarische Demokratie fordert, bevor man zum Sozialismus übergehen kann, fordert Lenin, direkt den Sozialismus einzuführen und den Kapitalismus sozusagen zu überspringen. Lenin und seine Anhänger erlangen die Mehrheit bei der Abstimmung über die künftige Vorgehensweise und nennen sich fortan Bolschewiki – Mehrheitler. Daher der Begriff Bolschewismus.

Mit einer Partei aus speziell ausgebildeten Berufsrevolutionären arbeitet Lenin auf die Revolution im Sinne des Bolschewismus hin. Im Oktober 1917 gelingt sein Vorhaben. Um den Sozialismus durchzusetzen, nutzen Lenin und sein Nachfolger Stalin Gewalt und Terror. Mehr zu den Begriffen Kommunismus, Sozialismus und Bolschewismus und dazu, wie du sie unterscheiden kannst, erfährst du in diesem Video.


Sunday, 17 November 2024

The Observer View on Trade Relations: Closer Ties with EU Is the Lever for Economic Growth

THE OBSERVER: Amid sluggish UK productivity and global insecurity, pulling closer to Europe is diplomatically and economically vital

Achieving the fastest sustainable growth in the G7 was the Labour party’s highest-profile pledge going into the general election last July. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that boosting growth is “at the heart of everything she does”. But there was concerning news last week with new figures showing the economy grew by just 0.1% in the three months to the end of September, falling significantly short of expectations.

Some business leaders have linked this anaemic growth to uncertainty in the run-up to last month’s budget. But it will largely still be a product of factors outside the new chancellor’s control, including the decisions of the last Conservative government.

It is nevertheless disturbing news for Labour as well as for the country. The Resolution Foundation forecasts disposable household income per person is forecast to rise by just 0.5% a year on average over the course of this parliament. The results of the US election sound an important alarm bell about the extent to which voters are willing to punish incumbent centre-left governments for failing to deliver noticeable increases in living standards. » | Observer editorial | Saturday, November 16, 2024

Saturday, 16 November 2024

Wolff Responds Special Election Reaction

Nov 6, 2024 | Today's Special "Wolff Responds", Professor Wolff is joined by Dr Harriet Fraad and Professor Shahram Azhar to discuss the results of the 2024 Presidential election

Friday, 15 November 2024

Inflation Is Not Under Control

Nov 15, 2024


Daniel Lacalle’s website here »

Britain Must ‘Welcome’ Closer Ties with Europe, Says Andrew Bailey

THE TELEGRAPH: Bank chief to urge Chancellor to forge stronger post-Brexit relations after Trump victory

Britain must rebuild trade ties with Europe to help stem the economy’s long-term decline, the Bank of England Governor has told Rachel Reeves.

In a major intervention in the wake of Donald Trump’s US election victory, Andrew Bailey is urging the Chancellor to “welcome opportunities to rebuild” post-Brexit relations with the Continent as Ms Reeves orders regulators to focus on growth as part of plans to fire up the City.

Addressing an audience of bankers at the annual Mansion House dinner, Mr Bailey will say that the UK’s economic performance since the 2008 financial crisis is “not a good story”, warning that Brexit has had “consequences” for growth. » | Szu Ping Chan Economics Editor. Eir Nolsøe Senior Economics Reporter | Thursday, November 14, 2024

Thursday, 14 November 2024

Germany's Downfall: Can a New Government Turn Things Around? | To The Point

Nov 14, 2024 | Germany’s government coalition collapsed the day Donald Trump was announced winner of the US elections. Now, Germans will have to decide who will rule the country in a snap election in February. Until then, little else will get done. Olaf Scholz has become a lame duck chancellor - at a time when Germany needs strong political leadership more than ever: the economy is struggling, society is divided. Europe’s heavyweight has come to a halt, including in foreign policy. That’s especially bitter for Ukraine: while its two biggest supporters, the US and Germany, are stuck in a power vacuum, its war against Russia continues to escalate. On To the Point we ask: Germany's downfall: can a new government turn things around?

Featuring Guests:
Michaela Küfner, DW's Chief Political Editor
Felix Lee, SZ Dossier
Melinda Crane, US Expert


Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Trump Wants to 'Aggressively' Spread Brexit throughout Europe | Yanis Varoufakis

Nov 13, 2024 | “He has an agenda…He wants to make Brexit spread all over the European continent.”

Trump will apply “aggressive actions” to the European Union as he sees it as “a clear present danger to the United States”, says former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis.