[PEN-L] Political economy of art and culture
It's only taken as long as my finding a full-time job, and since I just got my URPE newsletter, I am ready to make another foray into careerism. I am finally getting my chapter on the political economy of art and culture published next year in a critical anthology on the same subject, so I am now interested in making a panel proposal for the 2009 ASSA meetings in SF on the Political Economy of Art Culture and hope someone else might be interested in this idea. Please contact me off list and/or forward this to interested parties. Ann Li
Re: [PEN-L] Interesting Al-Jazeera video on Venezuela
Interesting Al-Jazeera video on Venezuela Thanks, Michael, for the link. It sort of expressed my opinion that this vote was a problem Chavez. Actually, if it had passed by the same margin that it lost it may well have been worse. Anyway, I myself didn't like the unlimited term of office proposal nor the Presidential ability to make appointments of regional officials in the proposal. I fought against a change to unlimited terms in my own union, so why should I want it otherwise for Venezuela? Before the vote, Chavez himself said that this vote was a vote for or against him personally -- not good. The defeat for Chavez was even stronger in that the governmental exit polls showed it passing. That fact decreases somewhat the credibility of those governmental polls. I wonder what lessons Chavez and supporters of the Bolivarian process will draw from this. Chavez's announcement already today that he will try again is not very encouraging. He should have taken time to assess the lessons learned. I would like to make one statement: voting against this proposal should not itself be interpreted that the person so voting is anti-socialist. For most such voters, that may be true, but not for all. Paul Z. (Vol.23) THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF 9-11-2001 a benchmark in 9/11 research video summary from Snowshoe Films at http://snowshoefilms.com (Vol.24) TRANSITIONS IN LATIN AMERICA AND IN POLAND AND SYRIA * http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L] analysis of Venezuelan referendum?
does anyone have an special insight into the referendum's loss? Based on pen-l discussions, it seemed to me that most of the opposition to it came from the US... -- Jim Devine / The radios blare muzak and newsak, diseases are cured every day / the worst disease is to be unwanted, to be used up, and cast away. -- Peter Case (Poor Old Tom).
Re: [PEN-L] analysis of Venezuelan referendum?
I am disappointed that Chavez did not win. In a sense, the term limits change in the constitution was a confession of failure of the sort. Like Paul Z., I am not a fan of term limits, but the need to include the elimination of term limits in the Constitution implied that Chavez knew that he had not prepared as a political movement sufficient to carry on without him. Admittedly, to do so would have been very difficult, but it is also very important. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu michaelperelman.wordpress.com
[PEN-L] Fwd: News Alert: U.S. Says Iran Ended Nuclear Arms Work
whew! (I hope) The New York Times Monday, December 3, 2007 -- 12:23 PM ET - U.S. Says Iran Ended Nuclear Arms Work A new assessment by American intelligence agencies concludes that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that the program remains on hold, contradicting a previous intelligence report. Read More: http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company -- Jim Devine / The radios blare muzak and newzak, diseases are cured every day / the worst disease is to be unwanted, to be used up, and cast away. -- Peter Case (Poor Old Tom).
Re: [PEN-L] analysis of Venezuelan referendum?
On Dec 3, 2007 9:23 AM, Michael Perelman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am disappointed that Chavez did not win. In a sense, the term limits change in the constitution was a confession of failure of the sort. Like Paul Z., I am not a fan of term limits, but the need to include the elimination of term limits in the Constitution implied that Chavez knew that he had not prepared as a political movement sufficient to carry on without him. Admittedly, to do so would have been very difficult, but it is also very important. The BBC is one of the more balanced Western news outlets. Here are a couple of noteworthy items from their article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7124313.stm snip For now, we couldn't do it, he said, repeating words he spoke after his failed coup attempt in February 1992. But he said he would continue to push his reform plans. I will not withdraw even one comma of this proposal, this proposal is still alive, he said. . Our correspondent says that some of Mr Chavez's loyal supporters have gone against him on this occasion. Though some of them may still support him, he says, they think he has gone a little too far in a country which has a history of dictatorships. BBC Americas reporter Julian Miglierini says many analysts are pointing to the abstention rate of 44%. He says the bulk of those who abstained are thought to be Chavez supporters who chose not to endorse the reforms, while voters backing the opposition turned out in droves.
Re: [PEN-L] Political economy of art and culture
OK. what was the job. Are congratulations in order? -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu michaelperelman.wordpress.com
[PEN-L] National Bank of Canada
Here is a video of the National Bank of Canada's experience with money creation and debt from 1934, and seems to me to be a counter-example to the libertarian argument I asked about before: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yYEFuN2v08 In other words, this seems to sustain the argument that central banking as such is NOT the problem. Does anyone know more about this experience? Paul Z. (Vol.23) THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF 9-11-2001 a benchmark in 9/11 research video summary from Snowshoe Films at http://snowshoefilms.com (Vol.24) TRANSITIONS IN LATIN AMERICA AND IN POLAND AND SYRIA * http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PZarembka
[PEN-L] National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute
National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute By TOM RAUM,AP Posted: 2007-12-03 12:16:45 Filed Under: Business News, Nation News, Politics News WASHINGTON (Dec. 3) - Like a ticking time bomb, the national debt is an explosion waiting to happen. It's expanding by about $1.4 billion a day - or nearly $1 million a minute. The national debt is $9.13 trillion, about$30,000 for every person in the U.S. The total is worrisome because interest payments on the debt strain government resources -- and things could get worse if the economy slows down, as some economists predict. http://news.aol.com/story/_a/national-debt-grows-1-million-a-minute/20071203092309990001?ncid=NWS000101
Re: [PEN-L] National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute
National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute By TOM RAUM, AP WASHINGTON (Dec. 3) - Like a ticking time bomb, the national debt is an explosion waiting to happen. It's expanding by about $1.4 billion a day - or nearly $1 million a minute. One problem we have on the left is that we like the idea of crisis so much that we sometimes fall under the influence on non-crises that are disguised as crises. This is one of them. The national debt is $9.13 trillion, about $30,000 for every person in the U.S. The total is worrisome because interest payments on the debt strain government resources -- and things could get worse if the economy slows down, as some economists predict. It should NOT be called the national debt. It's the _government's_ debt and about 75% of it is owed to people in the U.S. So 75% percent of it should be consider part of the nation's assets. If you don't see this, please e-mail me and I will give you my home address -- so you can mail me your government bonds. If they're such a burden, I'll take them off your hands. The interest payments on the _government's_ debt do represent a problem in the government's budget. (But remember than about 75% are paid to people inside the U.S.!) The problem of interest payments is not a problem in the short run, even if a recession hits, because the Federal government can and does run deficits -- it does not have to balance its budget. Smart economists and politicians don't force a budget balance in a recession, since they know it makes matters worse. Over the long haul, the economy grows, generating more more tax revenues for the government. These (along with tax hikes or spending cuts) allow the government to pay interest. The problem occurs only if the government debt grows _faster_ than the economy for several years, so that the government debt to GDP ratio rises. But last time I looked, the government debt was not at its previous peak (67% of GDP in 1996, for gross debt). It was far below its previous peak (122% of GDP) at the end of WW2. It's like 66% now. Note that the US economy did very well during the 1950s, despite the debts left over from WW2. The government's debt is going to be more of a problem in the future if the medical-cost inflation problem isn't solved (because the Federal government's Medicare costs rise with those of the private sector), if the Bush tax cuts for the rich are not allowed to lapse, if the Iraq war is allowed to continue and grow, and if the alternative minimum tax problem (which is pushing more and more middle-class people into rich-people tax brackets) is fixed without compensating tax hikes. Even so, the government's deficit would not be a problem if the borrowing went to do something productive, i.e., that promotes the growth of the economy. Examples include fixing New Orleans and investing in public health and education. Of course, they government squandered the borrowed money on tax cuts for the administration's rich friends, and the effort to conquer Iraq. Instead of worrying about the government's debt, worry about: 1. the way the government has wasted its borrowings (see above). 2. the severe debt loads that private consumers have -- and they, unlike the US government, are likely to go bankrupt. 3. the increasing deficits of state and local governments, most of which are forced by law to balance their budgets. 4. the deficit of services that are needed but the government does not provide. 5. global warming. 6. etc. -- Jim Devine / The radios blare muzak and newzak, diseases are cured every day / the worst disease is to be unwanted, to be used up, and cast away. -- Peter Case (Poor Old Tom).
Re: [PEN-L] National Debt Grows $1 Million a Minute
what if foreigners that owned US paper and US finanacial instruments wanted to convert these papers into real assets inside the US. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
