Excited Delirium

Stories about Excited Delirium, the Shock Economy and a little fiction here and there.

Koch Konnections (aka “If They Can Do It, We Can Too!”)

The Koch Brothers.

What can I say about them?

Anyways, they have made a commitment to connect the 1% as thoroughly as possible with a view to ensuring that Americans and people elsewhere are constantly barraged with messages about libertarianism, anti-government sentiments and opposition to any kind of labour / union efforts.

So … if they can, why can’t ‘WE’?

What are WE doing to integrate our associations, affiliations, money flow, donations, charities and other efforts related to the progressive message in Canada, the US and elsewhere?  How are we presenting a unified front against these people who, ironically, look at solidarity as the model for their own survival?

What are WE doing to educate people everywhere about what the needs of all of us and not just those who can donate millions to political campaigns?

What are WE doing to protect ourselves?

Media Messaging – Using the ‘Right’ Terms

While this is not the first time I’ve heard about ‘structuring language the ‘right’ way,it is a nice summary of the ways in which members of different conservative camps manipulate language.

Think about the use of these terms the next time you see something on Fox, Sun or the CTV.

Replacement words for conservatives:

Capitalism Free Market Economy

Tax Reform Tax Simplification

Drilling for oil Exploring for energy

School choice (ie. privatization of education) Equal opportunity in education

So … what would be an appropriate language for progressives or lefties?  Don’t forget that people like the NDP have even tried euphemisms like ‘social democrats’ to replace ‘socialists’, with partial success and don’t forget that the word ‘socialism’ strikes fear into most people that are even moderately conservative as they pull up images of Bob Rae plunging the Ontario into massive and unprecedented deficits.

Or do we even dare use language that is only used with the intent to mislead or manipulate or do we try to encourage people to use honest and frank language that spells out our issues and concerns with ‘government’ (or should I say ‘the people’s chosen ones’) today?

Another Gentle Coup …

Egypt.

Libya.  Kind of …

Now Greece?

Word has it that this morning, while Greece Prime Minister George Papandreou was meeting with French and German lenders leaders, he may have been chucked out of office by his own cabinet.

Quote:

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos led lawmakers opposed to the premier’s surprise decision to put membership of the euro to the Greek people after European leaders meeting in Cannes last night cut off aid to Greece. Papandreou will hold a meeting of his Cabinet at midday in Athens, according to a statement from the premier’s office.

These people that have effectively turfed the elected Prime Minister out of office would clearly prefer to eliminate democratic options than stare down their lenders:

“Greece’s position within the euro area is a historic conquest of the country that cannot be put in doubt,” Venizelos said in an e-mailed statement from the finance ministry. It “cannot depend on a referendum,” he said.

This ‘gentle coup’ – the replacement of a leader without any or much bloodshed – is another example of the western attacks on any country that dares to be different from the mainstream leadership.

As discussed yesterday, Greece is currently lead by socialists and social democrats, something that has a lot of corporate insiders and bankers in a state of horror.

Take caution is your country starts to lean left or you have a legal infrastructure that supports anti-usury laws (like the routinely maligned Arab League).  You’ll be next.

Why Greece?

I want an answer to this questions:  why is Greece bearing the brunt of financial attacks in the past few months?

Why are the people of Greece having ‘austerity’ measures shoved down their throats more than any other country in the world?

We hear endlessly from the mainstream media about how Greece is in financial crisis because it’s not answering to the calls for tighter austerity measures or how the economy is going to collapse as a result of their debt burdens.

But I really want to know:  why Greece?

But Why Greece?

Greece is nowhere near the top when it comes to some of the typical economic comparisons:

Debt: CNBC ran a series looking at the total debt of the 20 largest debtor nations, at least when comparing external debt to GDP.  Greece was number 15 out of 20, owing $182 (182%) for every dollar in GDP.  This was more than the US (120%) and Australia (139%), but substantially better than countries like Germany (185%), France (250%), Belgium (336%) and, of course, Ireland (a whopping 1,382%).

To save you the boredom of going through each slide, the list of countries with respective debt per capita is as follows:

External Debt (as % of GDP) Gross External Debt (Billions) 2009 GDP (Est, Billions)
1 Ireland 1382.0% $ 2,380 $ 172
2 England 413.3% $ 8,981 $ 2,173
3 Switzerland 401.9% $ 1,304 $ 325
4 Netherlands 376.3% $ 2,550 $ 677
5 Belgium 335.9% $ 1,324 $ 394
6 Denmark 310.4% $ 626 $ 202
7 Sweden 282.2% $ 1,001 $ 355
8 Finland 271.5% $ 505 $ 186
9 Austria 261.0% $ 867 $ 332
10 Norway 251.0% $ 641 $ 255
11 Hong Kong 250.0% $ 816 $ 326
12 France 250.0% $ 5,370 $ 2,150
13 Portugal 223.6% $ 552 $ 247
14 Germany 185.1% $ 5,440 $ 2,940
15 Greece 182.2% $ 580 $ 318
16 Spain 179.4% $ 2,460 $ 1,370
17 Italy 146.6% $ 2,602 $ 1,770
18 Australia 138.9% $ 1,230 $ 882
19 Hungary 120.1% $ 225 $ 188
20 US 101.1% $ 14,825 $ 14,660
AVERAGE 303% $ 2,714 $ 1,496
SUM $ 54,278 $ 29,922

Debt per Capita: when looking at total debt per capita (using the same numbers in the CNBC report), Greece ranked as the 6th best country when it came to the total amount owing per person in this country:

Debt Per Capita Rank Index to Average
Hungary $ 22,739 1 20%
Italy $ 44,760 2 39%
US $ 48,258 3 42%
Germany $ 51,572 4 44%
Portugal $ 51,572 5 44%
Greece $ 53,984 6 47%
Australia $ 57,641 7 50%
Spain $ 60,614 8 52%
France $ 83,781 9 72%
Finland $ 96,197 10 83%
Austria $ 105,616 11 91%
Sweden $ 110,479 12 95%
Denmark $ 113,826 13 98%
Hong Kong $ 115,612 14 100%
Belgium $ 127,197 15 110%
Norway $ 137,476 16 119%
England $ 146,953 17 127%
Netherlands $ 152,380 18 131%
Switzerland $ 171,528 19 148%
Ireland $ 566,756 20 489%
AVERAGE $ 115,947 100%

Again, Ireland looks just disgusting with $566, 756 per capita owing (probably less if Bono would pay his taxes) and Greeks owe about $0.30 per every dollar that the British owe to global lenders.

There are a number of other ways to twist these basic numbers, but they keep telling me the same story:  Greece should not be facing the problems it’s facing and I smell a witch hunt.

Despite these very clear facts, many economists and other soap-boxers pretend to refer to a non-existent myth that there’s a difference in ‘ability to repay’, like the Swiss and Germans shit gold ducats while the Greece are completely incapable of taking care of the fiscal responsibilities.

This is, of course, a myth, and if I were Greek, I’d be pretty damn insulted with the regular insinuations that the British or Australians or others around the world are more capable of taking care of their own books than the creators of democracy.

So Why Greece?

We’ve seen that the facts tell a different story:  Greece is in substantially better economic condition than most EU countries, at least when you look at GDP per capita and total external debt to GDP.

It seems the ‘Greece bashing’ needs an explanation.

I have one:  Greeks elected socialists and the world bankers don’t like that.

Here’s a reprint of the table from above with political ‘leaning’ of each government.  Notice how Greece is one of the few that lean towards believing socialism is a viable political alternative to market politics.

Debt Per Capita Rank Index to Average Current Government
Hungary $ 22,739 1 20% Market / Capitalist
Italy $ 44,760 2 39% Market / Capitalist
US $ 48,258 3 42% Market / Capitalist
Germany $ 51,572 4 44% Market / Capitalist
Portugal $ 51,572 5 44% Socialist / Soc Dem
Greece $ 53,984 6 47% Socialist / Soc Dem
Australia $ 57,641 7 50% Market / Capitalist
Spain $ 60,614 8 52% Socialist / Soc Dem
France $ 83,781 9 72% Market / Capitalist
Finland $ 96,197 10 83% Market / Capitalist
Austria $ 105,616 11 91% Socialist / Soc Dem
Sweden $ 110,479 12 95% Market / Capitalist
Denmark $ 113,826 13 98% Socialist / Soc Dem
Hong Kong $ 115,612 14 100% Market / Capitalist
Belgium $ 127,197 15 110% Market / Capitalist
Norway $ 137,476 16 119% Socialist / Soc Dem
England $ 146,953 17 127% Market / Capitalist
Netherlands $ 152,380 18 131% Market / Capitalist
Switzerland $ 171,528 19 148% Market / Capitalist
Ireland $ 566,756 20 489% Market / Capitalist
AVERAGE $ 115,947 100%

NOTE:  I admit that I took a bit of a leap with some characterizations of each country, but finding this information was actually quite a challenge.  If corrections are needed, please post them in the comments and I’ll adjust the table.

Greece, Portugal and Spain all stand out as current social democratic or socialist countries.

In other words, there’s a very good possibility that because of the political bias of each of these countries, the banks have been shut out of the halls of parliament in Greece.  Admittedly, Norway and Denmark (and other countries that swing back and forth with conservative and SocDem governments) throw a kink into my description, but their external debt is admittedly much lower than other countries.

Anyways, the overt attack on Greece and the people of Greece is exactly how the bankers get their revenge.

What’s that?  They’re taking a write-down on their existing debt to the Greek government?  Well, if Greeks have their say, there won’t be anything to pay back.  They’ll declare bankruptcy and forfeit on EVERYTHING they owe, leaving the money junkies with nothing but a bunch of empty sacks.

As a result of this situation, the money junkies of Europe and elsewhere have risked the life of one of their debt addicts and they need to revive it before the addict dies.

Or … before something worse happens …

Enter the ‘Iceland Solution’

In 2008, Iceland faced a similar ruinous economic future. They were being threatened by external forces that were going to rip their economy apart, piece by piece.  The IMF forced the existing government to impose a whopping minimum 18% interest on any debts outstanding.

Early in 2009, the people of Iceland said no.  They handled things a different way.

A new left-wing government was formed early February, 2009 in response to the crisis and citizens demanding better.

The new government devalued the Icelandic Krona even further than it already had been, crushing the value of any outstanding debt.  By April 2009, the government had launched an investigation into some of the banks and other institutions that tried to ruin the economyOther business leaders have come under investigation for manipulating the economic situation to their benefit.

Greece – and any other country on the planet – can follow the same path.  Despite what the Euro-Zone junkies are trying to scare us with.  In fact, CNBC has already stated that Greece is the most powerful country in the world right now because the lenders are desperate to remedy the situation and avoid economic revolution.

A referendum is exactly what the Greeks should be entitled to instead of more austerity measures.  If they don’t get it, it will turn the country into chaos.  German and French hypocrites will have to step aside.

This is a path to our future that the bank-owned countries are desperately trying to avoid, as it would set and reinforce a dangerous alternative to dropping your pants and continuing on with issuing debt and driving your country to economic ruin over and over again.

It would force the Greeks to take ownership of their problems and possibly never borrow again.

And this has bankers terrified.

External Debt (as % of GDP) Gross External Debt (Billions) 2009 GDP (Est, Billions)
1 Ireland 1382.0% $ 2,380 $ 172
3 Switzerland 401.9% $ 1,304 $ 325
4 Netherlands 376.3% $ 2,550 $ 677
2 England 413.3% $ 8,981 $ 2,173
10 Norway 251.0% $ 641 $ 255
5 Belgium 335.9% $ 1,324 $ 394
11 Hong Kong 250.0% $ 816 $ 326
6 Denmark 310.4% $ 626 $ 202
7 Sweden 282.2% $ 1,001 $ 355
9 Austria 261.0% $ 867 $ 332
8 Finland 271.5% $ 505 $ 186
12 France 250.0% $ 5,370 $ 2,150
16 Spain 179.4% $ 2,460 $ 1,370
18 Australia 138.9% $ 1,230 $ 882
15 Greece 182.2% $ 580 $ 318
13 Portugal 223.6% $ 552 $ 247
14 Germany 185.1% $ 5,440 $ 2,940
20 US 101.1% $ 14,825 $ 14,660
17 Italy 146.6% $ 2,602 $ 1,770
19 Hungary 120.1% $ 225 $ 188
AVERAGE 303% $ 2,714 $ 1,496
SUM $ 54,278 $ 29,922

Quebec Outbreak: High Rate of Measle Infection Despite Vaccinations

More than 50% of kids who got the measles in a recent Quebec outbreak (52 of 98) were vaccinated.

Meanwhile, we shove buckets of cash into vaccination programs without fully understanding the contents of these products and the budget implications of holding back on vaccinations.

It’s time we all started asking some serious questions about why we’re doing this to our kids.

US to Backstop $75 TRILLION in Derivatives Risk?

Just as #occupywallstreet picks up steam, it looks like the US Federal Reserve will backstop (ie. insure against risk or exposure) the massive $75 TRILLION of notional derivatives carried by the Bank of America.

What this means is that when Europe finally implodes and banks fail, U.S. taxpayers will hold the bag for trillions in CDS insurance contracts sold by Bank of America and JP Morgan.  Even worse, the total exposure is unknown because Wall Street successfully lobbied during Dodd-Frank passage so that no central exchange would exist keeping track of net derivative exposure.

No wonder Americans are upset.

This is the Ponzi-Bingo-Lottery-Casino attitude being presented by American financial institutions and the obvious reality is that the Fed will continue to do everything it can to prevent a massive hemorrage from happening, but every time they try to block things up, everyone just gets impacted.

It’s time to let it go.  Stop treating the banks like they’re little children and make them accept their responsibility.

Follow the Money Behind Europe’s Debt Crisis

This link offers an insightful look into the roots of the European debt crisis.

It offers some refreshing reminders as to why fake fiscal emergencies and resulting ‘austerity measures’ are nothing but a sham.

Worse, just as they did in 2008-09, governments are rushing to rescue rickety banks with public funds. That’s why the European Central Bank, the IMF and Europe’s leading powers keep bailing out ailing states like Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Again: follow the money. When debt-strapped governments receive hundreds of billions in new loans, that money is immediately sent into the coffers of private banks as payments on past loans. The whole situation, observes one writer in the Financial Times, “resembles a pyramid or Ponzi scheme” in which original lenders are paid back with new loans.

The difference is that the new loans are coming from public funds, which is another way of saying that private banks are being rescued once more by the people. Just as in the global bank crisis of 2008-09, bank profits are private, but their losses are public. Not exactly the free market. But it’s a nice deal for profligate bankers.

Any finance minister – including Jim Flaherty – that pretends there are different and more pressing issues behind this building crisis risks their credibility as people wake up to the reality that the big transfer – shifting our funds to the big banks – has to come to a quick end.

It’s important that we all resist austerity measures – fake fiscal emergencies designed to crush public services and public service – in the wake of this knowledge.

Harper Govt Says FU To Environment

The Harper government just eliminated funding for one of Canada’s largest and most durable environmental groups, the Canadian Environmental Network.

Talk about a thrust to the jugular for the environment.

Meanwhile, several billion a year get pissed away on the Tar Sands …

Ugh.

What Side For Ben & Jerry’s With #occupywallstreet?

Earlier this week, a Ben & Jerry’s store caught the attention of many #occupywallstreet protesters when they were seen to be profiting from the protest.

… But that evening, protesters expressed mixed feelings about corporations latching onto their cause. Some, like Jules Caldarera, a 20-year-old student from New Mexico, were excited to see support from a high-profile company like Ben & Jerry’s. Many didn’t realize that the ice cream was from Ben & Jerry’s. Others found it strange that any company would support an anti-corporate protest.

“It’s problematic,” says Donal Foreman, a 26-year-old from Ireland. Foreman has been attending the protests since their launch but wasn’t there to eat any of the free treats during the day on Tuesday. “Ben & Jerry’s is co-opting the movement.”

The Ben & Jerry’s board tried to show support for the movement:

Regardless, the brand has aligned itself with Occupy Wall Street’s values. In its statement, Ben & Jerry’s independent board of directors decries “the inequity that exists between classes in our country,” as well as the fact that “corporations are permitted to spend unlimited resources to influence elections while stockpiling a trillion dollars rather than hiring people.”

Of course, who can blame them for trying to elevate their brand and garner a little attention for their efforts in the community, right?

The unfortunate reality is that Ben & Jerry’s is owned by Unilever and they are ultimately part of the problem so long as their parent company insists on using genetically modified ingredients in their foods (including Ben & Jerry’s?), pushing forward with sexist and misogynist ads for Axe and pushing for corporate tax breaks.

Sorry folks … until Ben & Jerry’s owners choose to divest themselves for corporations like Unilever, they’re part of the problem not the solution and they’re just making the situation that much more awkward.

70% Agree: Occupy Wall Street Reflects Their Concerns About Corporate Greed

70% of respondents to a FOX poll (yes, FOX, no less) agree that the Occupy Wall Street movement reflects their concerns that the United States economy and government is being undermined by excessive corporate greed.

Take the poll yourself.

And after you do that, remind everyone around you that it’s time for the corporate free ride to end.