Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Headlines - 6 March, 2019

## Global Ponzi meltdown/House of Cards/global cooling/deflationary collapse ##
Fertility rates are plunging, and economic growth is slowing. The author blames this on central banks' asset-inflation policies, but the primary force at work here is net energy decline. People can't afford to raise and educate children because the energy for childraising is costing them too much. -- RF
Kelton cites Japan as an example in defense of MMT thinking, saying that despite Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio of nearly 240%, there is no inflation and no jump in interest rates. However, despite low interest rates and crazy deficit spending, nothing has worked. Japan had the "lost decade," which turned into the "two lost decades," and there's still no sign at all that the gold old days of robust economic growth will return. The huge amount of government borrowing — which according to MMT thinking goes into the economy and stimulates it — has had no effect. Poverty is growing and growth is sluggish at best. MMT proponents are captive to the mistaken idea that money makes the world go around. They do not perceive that no matter how much money a government pumps into the economy, there's only so much energy to go around. -- RF


## Fault lines/flashpoints/powder kegs/military/war drums ##
Eyeing increased US presence in the region, Poland revamps military spending
Krieger is right, of course. The same script has played out countless times over the centuries, and will continue to do so. It's interesting that this is happening at a time when civilization is trying to come to grips with energy decline. The world is going to become larger and more localized again, i.e., geography will matter more than it does now. For centuries China was the dominant culture in East Asia, and Chinese was the "Latin" of the region. We can see the resurgence under way. -- RF
After ISIS: Iraq has a drug problem
In less than a decade, Iraq has been transformed from a transit country for illicit drugs into a consumer and manufacturer. The industry seems to be expanding as Iraqi courts handle about 30 drug-related cases daily.

## War on Venezuela ##
Another National Dismemberment Brought to You Courtesy of the Oilygarchy
Financial Imperialism: the Case of Venezuela
Venezuela today is a classic case how US imperialism in the 21st century employs financial measures to crush a state and country that dares to break away from the US global economic empire and pursue an independent course outside the US empire’s web of entangling economic and financial relations.

## Global unrest/mob rule/angry people/torches and pitchforks ##
Thousands in France protest Algerian president's bid for 5th term

## Energy/resources ##
The Bakken Hit A New Record In 2018, But It’s A Bad Sign For The Industry
The insanity continues in the United States second largest shale oil field as the fundamental economics go from bad to worse.  While it is true that the shale industry doesn’t look as dire as it did back in 2016 when oil prices fell off a cliff, I can assure you the worst is yet to come.  Unfortunately, the market is blind to the biggest Ponzi Scheme in history, because wisdom and reason have disappeared from the energy industry years ago.

## Got food? ##
Warming oceans are hurting seafood supply—and things are getting worse

## Environment/health ##
German environment minister Schulze takes aim at wolves
Farmers should be allowed to shoot wolves that cause "serious agricultural damage," Germany's Environment Minister Svenja Schulze said in an interview. She aims to change the laws that are protecting the predators.
Given the huge numbers of humans and their domestic animals, there's little room left on the planet for other species. -- RF
Top 10 Most Contaminated Groundwater Sites Revealed in First Major Coal Ash Pollution Study
An examination of monitoring data available for the first time concludes that 91 percent of U.S. coal-fired power plants with monitoring data are contaminating groundwater with unsafe levels of toxic pollutants.
DOJ Moving Ahead With Its Attempt To Prosecute Julian Assange; Subpoenas Chelsea Manning
The DOJ is still moving ahead with its plan to attack free speech protections. More than eight years in the making, the attempted prosecution of Julian Assange for publishing leaked documents forges ahead slowly, threatening every journalist in its path.
The Prisoner Says No to Big Brother (John Pilger on Julian Assange)

## Systemic breakdown/collapse/unsustainability ##
The Case Against Cities
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