JBB

Regressive taxes, commodification, and theft

The current economic crisis has led to unprecedented government spending. This spending is funded by borrowing or by 'printing money' (which has an effect similar to borrowing) to support furloughed and unemployed workers to the tune of roughly $80 billion and to subsidize corporate revenue. This has been necessary to prop up basic economic activity in an attempt to delay the impact of the economic consequences of the recession. Unfortunately, neoliberal policy makers are already trying to convince us that giving public services away to private interests is the only way to pay for this debt.

La marchandisation, c’est le vol

La crise économique actuel a mené à un niveau inédit de dépenses gouvernementales. Ces dépenses supplémentaires, financées par des emprunts publics ou, parfois, en imprimant de l’argent (dont l’effet est semblable à celui des emprunts), secourent les travailleurs en chômage temporaire ou permanent au montant d'environ 80 milliards de dollars et subventionne les revenus des entreprises. Ces actions sont nécessaires pour soutenir l’activité économique essentielle et pour reporter à plus tard l’impact des conséquences économiques de la récession.

“It is New Brunswick that enriches the Irvings, not the Irvings that enrich New Brunswick.”

The NB Media Co-op interviews philosopher and critic Alain Deneault. '… the Irvings have developed their structures in a productive corner of the country, forgotten by the public authorities and big capital, in a bid to marginalize competition. Multinationals like Shell, Total and Exxon are led to act in a concerted manner, notwithstanding the competitive relationship they maintain among themselves, when they need to curry favour with one of the many states in which they operate. This opens up the game a little, while in the Maritimes, the family holds outrageous power. They managed to obtain from legislators both tax benefits and a readiness to oblige such as are rarely seen.'

French author Edouard Louis' Twitter posts about the yellow vest movement (gilets jaunes)

Citizens' Press translated Edouard Louis' reflection on the ongoing yellow vest movement in France.

Actors' Manifesto

You Tarzan, me Adam: I found out in a theater that my book inspired the film

Imagine my surprise when, a few weeks ago, in a theater of a mall, I encountered two characters I had written about in my own book: King Leopold's Ghost | by Adam Hochschild | Warning: contains spoilers

Songs to spice up your January | What's Left

Through a guest submission to What's Left, we present some carefullyselected songs to beat-back the winter blues.

First Nation chiefs ask court to block forestry agreements

Jailed PFLP leader: Only a one-state solution is possible

US Corporate Tax ‘Inversions', Shadow Banks, & the New Global Finance Capital Elite