Some things I like
2025
| Where | What | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The Guardian | UK public has paid £200bn to shareholders of key industries since privatisation. |
How did thatcher pull the wool over the eyes of so many people? Any ideas? The media? The UK establishment? The UK gentry? And there is also this specific case of the toll privatisation of the busses has done to the area around Birmingham. Just look at the costings. Madness. |
| Youtube | She has the right approach. And the follow on about how consumerism and un-ending growth is beyond problematic. | |
| Youtube | Rep. Stansbury: Trump has brought us to the precipice of war and a constitutional crisis |
This lady is seething, and quite right too. |
| Substack | How far 30 years of obstructionist right-wing politics in the US of A have brought the country to this. And there are supposed to be a huge number of xtians in that country. Ho Ho. | |
| Cleantechnica | Trump 2.0 And Science Denial — Alice In Wonderland For The 21st Century |
The criminal class of the rich are determined to undermine science - lead by the moron in chief with his illegal executive orders - EOs. |
| Cleantechnica | “It changes everything:” Plunging costs of PV and batteries mean 24-hour solar a growing reality |
And there we have it. As predicted years back, solar will follow More's Law. |
| taxresearch | It seems to me that MMT needs to be thought of in two aspects. The first being Descriptive MMT which is solely about the operational elements of a fiat currency (double entry bookkeeping). While the second could appropriately be called Prescriptive MMT which is the overlay of politics (political spending and taxing choices) applied to fiat currency operations in accordance with a Descriptive MMT understanding. Often out there, critics of MMT and even long term MMTers lapse into the sloppy language of “MMT says this” and “MMT says that” when what they are really saying is that they would prefer that this policy or that policy be pursued based upon an MMT understanding of fiat monetary operations. | |
| Youtube | As part of the film "2040" this segment discusses local energy grids, in this case based on solar, but can include all types of renewables. This takes to power (haha) away from corporations and gives it to the population. This idea goes to the heart of "Doghnut Economics" by Kate Haworth. | |
| Cleantechnica | And there we have it. The argument that we in the West shouldn't reduce our emissions because China has done nothing to reduce theirs... | |
| Youtube | And we are doing very little to oppose the power of money and the dictators. | |
| Youtube |
Excellent summary of the past few decades, who didn't prosper and some political background as to why. And here is a very brief explanation as to why inequality is so important to those with a low income. Then a very interesting view of how capitalism (as opposed to Commerce) began. |
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| Youtube | We are in a shitstorm, but assuming we survive this dangerous narcisist, here's what we should do in the future. | |
A nuanced Analysis of the current economic situation US vs China |
The masters of the financial system (largely US, but not just) is so apparent - and yet it seems millions fail to see it. | |
| The Guardian | The rise of end times fascism - Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor |
This movement has been building for some years. The effect of xtians (specifically the "downtrodden" US version) looks like turning out to be a disasterous sickness for humanity. One can only hope the thinking public (yes liberal and democratic) can resist. |
| Youtube | This is how America controls Britain | Angus Hanton interview |
We really are a vassal state, as is much of the "free world". And what is also emerging is a sort of "Grand Plan" related to the data the US oligarchs want. And then there's the influence these major "finance" institutions have over our pollies. |
| Youtube | Lord Keynes told us in 1941 how to pay for defence We should follow his advice. |
Much to commend this man's ideas. Probably won't happen because the Labour party is not the party of the common folk, hasn't been for decades. |
| The Guardian |
This whole issue shows just how corrupted our systems have become - the corporations backed by hedge funds/private equity, much supported by oil and gas - the industry which the IMF said in 2022 receives $7T in subsidies. More directly there is another article: "Why fear of billion-dollar lawsuits stops countries phasing out fossil fuels" - This is based on ISDS and let us not forget - The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) |
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| Youtube | The Rachel Maddow Show [9PM] 2/28/2025 BREAKING NEWS Today February 28, 2025 |
The list she presents of the pro-Russian steps being taken by trump and his lakies is incredible.. |
| Taxresearch | One in five adults has or is at risk of having type 2 diabetes and Labour does not care |
There are things that governments have in their ability to do, and yet they don't. This is one that the new UK lot could get to grips with, which would have serious +ve affects. But, this would require a turn-around and a re-think based on what it good for the general population. It won't happen, much as the "simple" idea of taxing the rich, corporations and the finance industry at the same level as it does the general, working population. Beyond belief. |
| Hartmann Report | As if the Electoral Colledge and Garrymandering wasn't enough, the GOP also suppressed millions of votes. And some people still say the US is a democracy. For those that think the "Spirit of the South - slavery" is done, try again. | |
| Youtube | Jon Stewart & AOC Take On Trump’s Comeback and Rebuilding the Democratic Party |
There has been no opposition for far too many years. There is no narrative which the general population can get to grips with. It should be about how capitalism and globalisation has taken away so much and replaced it with nothing. It should be about doing politics for the general population. Bill Nighy has it right here. Oh and brings me to the almost total lack of human and planet rights - in the face of global warming caused mostly by oil and gas and the greed of rick people and corporations. It is long overdue that we return to taking both of these groups the way we did post WWII - e.g. 95%. The point about insider trading in Congress is not just one aspect of the way capitalism has corrupted out system, it shows the direct, individual corruption of politicions. |
| Youtube | Bettina Arndt 'Why sex matters so much to men' at Happiness & Its Causes 2011 |
Yep, I too feel a deep, deep sadness and rejection. It's in-built in my physical and mental state. |
| Youtube | The 4th estate has been compromised with lies, misrepresentations and we are now back in the 1930s with "Lugenpresse" c/o trump and his men. Partly autobiographical. | |
| Youtube | Nuff said.... | |
| The Guardian |
It is staring us in the face, and yet we seem to be stuck. The profitmakers are still in control. Human greed on a murderous scale. Quote: "Fossil fuel misinformation obscures and diminishes certain truths. Fossil fuels are not needed as part of this transition because there is enough renewable energy potential in every region of the world to deliver reliable, affordable energy security for all. Half of fossil fuels are wasted due to the industry’s inefficient production and transportation processes. One in eight deaths each year is due to fossil fuel air pollution." |
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| Youtube | Joseph E. Stiglitz: The Role of Government in the Modern Economy |
A good summary of the stück we are in. |
| TED | 5 years old, but trashes neoliberalism - by a billionnaire. A more recent paper continues in the same vein.And there's a BBC interview of him with a few key questions too. Out of this is seems beyond obvious that using GDP as a measure of our economic system (we have known this since "Limits to Growth") is absurd. Then Gary, the trader has this to say about the state of the UK regarding inequality. | |
| Youtube | “Why is this legal?”: George Monbiot reveals the environmental impact of intensive farming |
Another critical message from George Monbiot. From so many scientific papers come solutions, especially of soil biology. So many issues, some of which might just change in a very serious way. And just one example of how current day farming is screwing up our environment. (Not necessarily the farmers, but the retail system backed by the financialisation of almost all aspects of our lives.) |
| Youtube | Ah, we have allowed the right-wing to take over so much through the Neoliberal idea. The book is well worth a read, covers most of the aspects of our lives which have been taken down by neoliberalism. Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism - George Monbiot and Peter Hutchison. |