Plutocracy

How the concentration of property rights within corporations has led to a rejection of democracy and a rise in inequality

By Jean-Philippe Robé | – Jean-Philippe Robé discusses how multinational enterprises morphed into political organisations with global reach and power, but without the corresponding responsibilities. He argues that the concentration of property rights within corporations has led to the rejection of democracy as an ineffective system of government and to the rise in inequality. ( […]

Democratic Party

The Other America: The New Politics of the Poor in Joe Biden’s (and Mitch McConnell’s) USA

Liz Theoharis

( Tomdispatch.com) – In the two weeks since Election 2020, the country has oscillated between joy and anger, hope and dread in an era of polarization sharpened by the forces of racism, nativism, and hate. Still, truth be told, though the divisive tone of this moment may only be sharpening, division in the United States […]

Banking

Say no to Austerity for Workers: McConnell and the GOP are about to pull the “We have no money” scam

John Buell

Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Not surprisingly the national debt is a subject of concern. Liberal and Left economists, most of whom supported the CARES relief package, knew and predicted that once the Trump tax reduction for the rich had become law—despite the massive increases in government debt it entailed– debt would […]

Donald Trump

State of Chaos: Can America Escape Trump’s Hellscape?

Tom Engelhardt

( Tomdispatch.com) – In 2016 as now, he was the candidate of chaos. Yes, he was a billionaire (or wanna-be billionaire or in-hock billionaire, not to mention a liar, a cheat, and a scoundrel), but from the beginning he appealed to the forces of order in America that were also, as it happened, the forces […]

Banking

Whoever wins the Election will face Severe Eviction Crisis, as 30 million brace for Homelessness

John Buell

Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Whoever wins Tuesday’s election is virtually certain to be confronted by a severe foreclosure and eviction crisis as state and local governments face acute budget shortfalls. These crises interact with each other and in ways that intensify the economic damage they inflict. The harm is also psychological […]

Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s Failed State: America’s Daunting New World and the Coming Election

Karen J. Greenberg

By Karen J. Greenberg | – ( Tomdispatch.com) – These past few months, it’s grown ever harder to recognize life in America. Thanks to Covid-19, basic day-to-day existence has changed in complicated, often confusing ways. Just putting food on the table has become a challenge for many. Getting doctors’ appointments and medical care can take […]

Donald Trump

Trump Touts “Ending the Pandemic” as 1 American Dies every 107 Seconds and Stock Market Nosedives

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Bruce Y. Lee of Forbes reports that a couple of days ago, the Trump White House put out a press release listing the administration’s scientific achievements. Number one on the list was “Ending the Pandemic.” The Nazi genocidal maniac Adolf Hitler said, “Die Breite masse eines volkes fällt einer grosse […]

Debt

In the Midst of an Epochal American Eviction Crisis, Can we Wait for Congressional Talks?

John Buell

How should progressives stand on the issue of the second Covid relief bill being negotiated between Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin? What can be said is that a generous relief package is badly needed and the case on its behalf is strengthened by an analysis of the first relief package. In terms of pure […]

Campaign Finance

Election 2020 sees record $11 billion in campaign spending, mostly from a handful of super-rich donors

The Conversation

By Richard Briffault | – Total spending in the 2020 federal elections is projected to set a new record of almost US$11 billion by November. When adjusted for inflation, that’s over 50% higher than 2016 election spending. This year’s federal election spending – for the presidency, the Senate and the House of Representatives – is […]