Capitalism
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The US economy before the virus struck
The purpose of this article is to determine the health of the US economy before it sickened from the virus. Why is this important? It is importance lies in this; the impact of the lockdown on the future of the US economy will be mediated by the state of the economy prior to the pandemic.… Continue reading
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Cosmic Gangster Capitalism: Elon Musk Crowds the Heavens
Astronomers tend to have their eyes, and minds, not merely in the clouds but beyond them. The dream of unimpaired vision tends to come with the territory; the better the uninterrupted line, the better the data. But the increasing incidence of clutter above the earth’s surface is becoming more than a point of minor interest. … Continue reading
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The tug of war between the virus and fiscal stimuli
7 April 2020 — theplanningmotivedotcom The markets have taken solace from the various fiscal, rather than monetary stimuli, recently introduced, including the $2.2 trillion package by the US Senate. CNBC has observed that: markets have moved sideways over the last 7 sessions. However, as the economic news becomes more disastrous it is likely that this… Continue reading
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Fake Coronavirus Data, Fear Campaign. Spread of the COVID-19 Infection
Do not let yourself be misled by the fear campaign, pointing to a Worldwide coronavirus calamity with repeated “predictions” that hundreds of thousands of people are going to die. These are boldface lies. Scientific assessments of the health impacts of the COVID-19 have been withheld, they do not make the headlines. Continue reading
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Coronavirus Socialism for the Wealthy
When capitalism screeches to a halt and starts its old business of killing off the adventurous but weakened, the enterprising but foolish, those who initially benefited, shed tears. Losses mount, accountants tally up current and future losses. Huge profits somehow do not matter now, as the diminishing balances bite and impress. As this happens, the… Continue reading
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Lives or livelihoods?
6 April 2020 — Michael Roberts Blog There are now two billion people across the world living under some form of lockdown as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. That’s a quarter of the world’s population. The world economy has seen nothing like this. Nearly all economic forecasts for global GDP in 2020 are for… Continue reading
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Why coronavirus could spark a capitalist supernova
This day has come closer. Capitalism now faces the deepest crisis in its several centuries of existence. A global slump has begun that is already devastating the lives of hundreds of millions of working people on all continents. The consequences for workers and poor people in Asia, Africa, and Latin America will be even more… Continue reading
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The DWP’s latest coronavirus move is utterly twisted
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has descended into further chaos amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But its latest move to try and keep itself afloat amid ‘unprecedented times’ is actually utterly twisted. Continue reading
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Work Sucks: Life After Work
In this book, authors Pfannebecker and Smith summarize the current anti-work movement and literature. In view of rapid displacement of blue and white collar workers by robots and computers, coupled with the offshoring of most manufacturing jobs, there are growing calls for an end to waged work altogether. Continue reading
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By Letting Small Businesses Fail, the State Is Handing Power to Corporate Giants
Research this week from a network of accountants suggests that up to one million small businesses – 20% of the UK’s total – will run out of cash before the coronavirus crisis ends. Continue reading
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Lockdown: Locking in the New Global Order
On 12 March, British PM Boris Johnson informed the public that families would continue to “lose loved ones before their time” as the coronavirus outbreak worsens. Continue reading
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Coronavirus: Drop the debt
As coronavirus gets a foothold in every country, governments in the global south are facing an appalling choice: pay for emergency healthcare, or pay off international debts. Continue reading
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The bigger picture is hiding behind a virus
Things often look the way they do because someone claiming authority tells us they look that way. If that sounds too cynical, pause for a moment and reflect on what seemed most important to you just a year ago, or even a few weeks ago. Continue reading
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Engels on nature and humanity
In the light of the current pandemic, here is a rough excerpt from my upcoming short book on Engels’ contribution to Marxian political economy on the 200th anniversary of his birth. Continue reading
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Catastrophe capitalism: climate change, COVID-19, and economic crisis
In the backdrop of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, John Bellamy Foster, editor of Monthly Review, the famous socialist magazine, discusses the pandemic in relation to the present condition of capitalism and economic crisis in the following interview conducted by Farooque Chowdhury in late-March, 2020. Foster, professor of sociology at the University of Oregon, and author… Continue reading
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How Do We Get Out Of This One
Yesterday, March 31, 2020, Donald Trump’s “task force” projected 100,000 to 240,000 deaths resulting from infection with the covid 19 virus in the United States. Their “chief” who loves to characterize awkward questions as “nasty,” had no trouble accepting that bit of nastiness. Continue reading
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When the Invisible Hand Gives You the Finger
Since the days of Adam Smith, capitalists have been arguing that unfettered markets are the best way to organize the economy. Smith famously said that the rich are “led by an invisible hand” to, “without knowing it, advance the interest of the society.” Continue reading
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Global Recession Is Underway: Selected Stories
31 March 2020 — Global Research Warnings of Economic Depression By Stephen Lendman, March 31, 2020 According to a March 20 – 26 online survey of over 250 companies of varying sizes and business sectors, outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that nearly half the number surveyed are likely to lay off workers over the next… Continue reading
The New Dark Age 