economic inequality

Globalization of trade and central banking has propelled private corporations to positions of power and control never before seen in human history. Under advanced capitalism, the structural demands for a return on investment require an unending expansion of centralized capital in the hands of fewer and fewer people. The financial center of global capitalism is so highly concentrated that less than a few thousand people dominate and control $100 trillion of wealth.

We in the United States need a definition of greed. We need to settle on a figure. Just how much is too much? When does accumulating some become hoarding too much? When does a fat cat become an obese cat?

Bernie Sanders draws nearly 10,000 people in Madison, Wisconsin (source). Click to enlarge; it looks pretty good full size.

Bob Lefsetz, a former music business attorney and consultant, publishes the music business' most scathing newsletter. Music industry types love it-- as long as it doesn't mention them or their company or clients.

Yesterday Elizabeth Warren was on NPR fighting against the latest attack by Wall Street-owned politicians on the middle class. Her main emphasis was the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the conservatives' toxic trade agenda, which David Dayen eviscerated at Salon yesterday. "I have three objections," explained Warren.

Since John Edwards's 2008 campaign was disposed of, and then the candidate himself, his "Two Americas" campaign theme has disappeared with him."Edwards' trial was a politically motivated show trial.

"I am fundraising to determine how much I’ll write this year.  If you value my writing, and want more of it, please consider donating."-- Ian Welsh, during his just-about-doneianwelsh.net fund-raising driveby KenIt's time (actually, almost past time) to show Ian Welsh how much we value his blog-writing.Apologies for my bad timing -- I should have gotten to this a couple of weeks ago, and in this ca

Mirror caption: "Hideaway: Rich people are plotting to escape to remote parts of the world" by KenDon't you have to love it when people behave like complete tool-stereotypes?You remember how until, oh, just a couple of weeks ago, "economic inequality" was either a figment of some rabble rousers' imagination or just the perfectly normal way of things in God's universe?

"You’re looking at the undermining of American democracy, okay?" said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders to a group of writers and editors at the Washington Post.by Ken"Bernie Sanders is in his natural state -- of agitation." And at 9am.

Progressives think Obama could have done more-- much more-- to further the legitimate economic interests of the American working class. Others think he did as much as he could under the political constraints in Washington. His record is a mixed bag. Yesterday, the unemployment continued its downward trend, dipping to 5.6%, the best numbers since Bush tanked the economy in 2008...in fact, the best numbers since Bill Clinton was president.