Mike Norman Economics

As we discussed last time, the only real power in this world is the ability to control the dominant narrative about what’s going on. The only reason government works the way it works, money operates the way it operates, and authority rests where it rests is because everyone has agreed to pretend that that’s how things are. In actuality, government, money and authority are all man-made conceptual constructs and the collective can choose to change them whenever it wants. The only reason this...

The fundamental question involves addressing economic rent.  The first step is determine whether and to what degree economic rents are involved in changes in land valuation.  Secondly, if so, how to deal with this is a manner that is socially, politically, financially, and economically feasible.  Thirdly, how to optimize this, given the tradeoffs. The funding of Canadian municipal governments is not normally thought of as interesting topic; even Canadian fixed income investors...

I'm fed up with being politically correct, here Jonathon Pie just comes straight out with it.  KV [embedded content] Even in Australia, Pie can't avoid the "celebrations"

An extremely strange episode that has engulfed official Washington over the last two weeks came to a truly bizarre conclusion on Friday night. And it revolves around a long-time, highly sketchy CIA operative, Stefan Halper. Four decades ago, Halper was responsible for a long-forgotten spying scandal involving the 1980 election, in which the Reagan campaign – using CIA officials managed by Halper, reportedly under the direction of former CIA Director and then-Vice-Presidential candidate...

Some useful history as background, but still no addressing the basic issue directly — buffer stock of employed or buffer stock of unemployed. Absent a truly socialistic system, this is the key issue to address. The rest is detail. Based on efficiency and effectiveness, a full employment economy is optimal. Redefinition of "full employment" to include millions of people out of work or not working full time when they desire a full time job is a lame excuse for a buffer stock of...

There you have it. But let's wait and see if actions back the words. So I would put a question mark at the end of the post title.Strategic Culture FoundationBrussels Rises in Revolt Against Washington: a Turning Point in the US-European Relationship Alex Gorka See also The left-wing Five Star Movement and the far-right Lega released their plans for the next executive Friday morning. The plan would potentially end more than two months of political instability in the third largest euro...

MR OnlineMarx and Metabolism: lost in translation? Ian Angus | editor of Climate and Capitalism MR OnlineOn the eve of Venezuela’s elections, the U.S. empire isn’t sitting idly by Editorial MR OnlineTen Marxist ideas that define the 21st century Sergio Alejandro Gómez EconospeakThe So-called Labour Fund Sandwichman Radical Political Economy Capitalism and the Expropriation of Nature: The Strategic Discourse of Ecosocialism John Bellamy FosterNaked Capitalism To Reform Capitalism,...

Another nut case.The Bible according to Tim LaHayeIntel TodayCIA Director Mike Pompeo: “War on Terror as a Cosmic Divine Battle” L

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