Mike Norman Economics

The United States has refused to hold consultations with Russia on the WTO platform over the introduction of restrictions on steel and aluminum import, saying such measures were not special protectionist ones, the Ministry of Economic Development told TASS on Friday. With this in mind Russia is going to notify the WTO of its intention to take retaliatory measures to limit the import of steel and aluminum. "In response to Russia’s request for consultations the United States said that it did...

Another good rant.Caitlin Johnstone — Rogue JournalistThe Friendly Mask Of The Orwellian Oligarchy Is Slipping Off Caitlin Johnstone

About what one would expect from Bloomberg.BloombergLeading Democrats Are Backing One of the Most Radical Economic Plans in Years Katia Dmitrieva with assistance by Sahil Kapur, and Jordan Yadoo

Good points. The best part is in the final several paragraphs.The Unz Review Foreign Policy Insiders Try to Scuttle Trump-Kim Nukes Deal Mike Whitney

The class divide is already toxic, and is fast becoming unbridgeable. You’re [readers of the Atlantic] probably part of the problem. Well-written article. Long. The term "aristocracy" implies feudalism, and America is in a neo-feudal era similar to the Gilded Age.The AtlanticThe 9.9 Percent Is the New American AristocracyMatthew Stewart

The latest in Catholic social teaching.  Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical letter Rerum novarum*, which advocated economic distributism while criticizing both socialism and capitalism (though not market economics per se). Its roots can be traced to the writings of Catholic thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas and Augustine of Hippo, and is also derived from concepts present in the Bible and the cultures of the ancient Near East.— Wikipedia  While not well-known in economic circles, Catholic...

Ratcheting up economic warfare. The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on four Venezuelans and three Florida-based companies under a program meant to pressure Caracas over what the United States sees as its heavy-handed tactics to suppress political opposition.... ReutersU.S. targets four individuals, three companies in Venezuela sanctions move

The art of the deal, when practiced for 2,500 years, does lead to the palace of wisdom. I had hardly set foot in Tehran when a diplomat broke the news: “Trump? We’re not worried. He’s a bazaari (merchant trader)” – implying a political compromise will eventually be reached. Asia TimesThe other art of the deal, Tehran-style Pepe Escobar

Everything I said would happen, happened.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, speaking at a policy forum here Tuesday, identified a singular roadblock to achieving success on a host of progressive policies — and it wasn’t the Trump administration. It’s American oligarchy. Bingo! USA TODAYSen. Bernie Sanders says this one issue keeps progressive policies from advancing Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY