Category Archives: Banana republic

Columbia Journalism Review Publishes Detailed Expose on Gates Foundation Buys Influence With Journalists

Why you should not trust the Gates Foundation.

Summer Rerun: Journey into a Libertarian Future: Part III – Regulation

Another dive, in both senses of the word, into the implications of libertarian ideology.

Robot Generals: Will They Make Better Decisions Than Humans – Or Worse?

The odd idea of replacing generals with AI is getting a hearing.

World Bank’s ‘Mobilizing Finance for Development’ Not Financing Development

The World Bank is trying to rebrand a failed public private partnership scheme as “blended finance”. Developing countries, beware.

Former Board Member Jelincic: CalPERS Claims It Is Protecting Confidential, as in Criminal, Informants in Hiding Details About Lending

CalPERS made damaging statements to justify withholding information about private loans. That suggestswhat it was hiding is even worse.

Koch Influence Taints New Tufts-Based Think Thank: The Tentacles of the Mercatus Center

A timely reminder that despite the raging pandemic, Koch interests keep up their efforts to influence politics and academia.

Looting, American Style: CEOs Get Big Pre-Bankruptcy Bonuses Even When Lenders and Employees Stiffed

Failed CEOs succeed in looting their companies on the verge of bankruptcy filings.

How Dairy Monopolies Keep Milk Off the Shelves

How consolidation in dairy processing has led to overproduction of milk and dumping.

Fed Economists Finger Monopoly Concentration as Underlying Driver of Neoliberal Economic Restructuring; Barry Lynn in Harpers and Fortnite Lawsuit Put Hot Light on Tech Monopoly Power

Some good work on monopoly is marred by the bizarre inclusion of Uber. Its predatory pricing is the result of deep pockets and ideology, not potential market power.

As Courts Re-Open, Britain’s Renters Must Confront the Power of Landlords

Renters and landlords need to come to terms in the Covid-19 new normal. But it’s not shaping up to be pretty.

Has CalPERS Come Clean With Its Board Over Pending $500 Million Carlyle Deal, Tainted by Ownership of Carlyle Shares by Departed CIO Ben Meng?

CalPERS needs to come clean about its Ben Meng mess. A pending Carlyle transaction shows it’s still in cover-up mode.

Major General Dennis Laich: Pentagon Needs a Bad Guy

Retired General Dennis Laich gives some insight into America’s permanent war policy.

What Will the Real American Resistance Look Like — Chaotic Rebellion or Organized General Strikes?

As lower and middle income Americans slide into dire straits thanks to Covid-19, political pressure is building. But are Americans capable of rebellion?