For everyone who’s fought and bled for years to get Medicare for All in the United States, I’ve got some great news: The government just created it on Sunday!
Yes, this is Medicare for All Bank Deposits, rather than Medicare for All People. But if we think this through, we’ll see that both these things are great ideas and make sense for the same reasons — and there’s no reason that if we have one, we can’t have the other.
Source: What the Silicon Valley Bank Bailout Means for Health Care
He pulled a Trump and overvalued his assets and isn’t in court why?
In short, this is how he did it. Giuseppe decided to use accounting wizardry to turn Lakeba from a humble software development company into a high-flying investment company. This allowed him to claim the increase in the value of his multiple separate ventures as revenue, without the need to have much real customer revenue. He hired an “independent” valuer, whose identity remains a secret, who revalued the businesses.
The aim was to launch it on the ASX in a float, and possibly still is.
Greenwashing Carbon and creating “a perpetual motion machine” turning bad into good into bad once again. It’s a lab-created fantasy and “renewable scam”. How we came to love carbon emissions
Critics say carbon capture is being used to extend the life of highly polluting industries.
Source: Scientists aim to take carbon from lab to shop shelves – Michael West
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just committed Australia to spending $368 billion on somewhere between three and five second-hand US Virginia Class submarines, and a follow on build of eight next generation British AUKUS nuclear submarines. It’s a strategic blunder, writes former submariner Rex Patrick, and it’s not even going to happen the way the PM has suggested.
Source: I just want a Ferrari, sorry, a nuclear submarine, no matter the cost – Michael West
Turning Australia into America’s “Weapon in the Pacific” China militarised some very small South China Seas islands America weaponised a nation and made them pay for the privilege. The South China Seas islands are easy to take out dots in the ocean Australia is a nation being weaponised
“Our government doesn’t even know if they are bringing in nuclear weapons or not because, as Penny Wong admitted in a recent Senate Estimates committee meeting, the U.S. does not confirm or deny if its aircraft or ships are carrying nuclear weapons. So apparently, they don’t care whether they bring them in or not. They could be storing them at the moment in these facilities that are under U.S. control.”
A defence expert says a costly new AUKUS nuclear submarine deal directly benefits British and American governments while Australia takes the main strategic risk, as Anthony Albanese seeks to minimise the diplomatic fallout from the historic announcement.
Locked in and Loaded
“This locks us in with the United States for decades to come; is there a risk, as the smaller partner in this deal, we’ll just have to do what the US tells us when it comes to future wartime engagements?” host Patricia Karvelas asked Hockey.
Source: On war with China, Australia Is caught between a rock and a Pentagon – Pearls and Irritations
Fox News faces a second defamation lawsuit from another voting technology company over its coverage of TrumpWorld’s false claims about the 2020 election amid damning revelations in Dominion Voting Systems’ $1.6 billion lawsuit against the network.
Yes, Israel should be sanctioned, not because of Netanyahu’s attempt at co-opting the judiciary, but because the system of apartheid and regime of military occupation constitute complete disregard and utter violation of international law. Whether Israelis like it or not, international law is the only law that matters to an occupied and oppressed nation.
Source: Mass Protests and False Hope: Israel’s Supreme Court is no Friend of the Palestinian People
A far-right extremist, Smotrich has used his new platform to incite violence. Just days after Israeli settlers carried out a pogrom in Huwwara – killing one Palestinian and inflicting huge destruction on homes, businesses and vehicles – Smotrich called for that West Bank village to be “wiped out” by the Israeli state.
Source: Face the facts: Israel relies on settler violence | The Electronic Intifada
it isn’t easy for Palestinians to watch what appears like a nationalist Flag March washing over the country. True, this movement is not the same as the vulgar and violent march that takes place annually on Jerusalem Day, and thankfully, no one at the current protests is dancing and singing “may your village burn” or “death to Arabs.” And yet, the Zionist tsunami that longs for the Israeli days of yore makes it exceedingly difficult for Palestinian citizens to join. Difficult, but not impossible.
Source: Do Palestinian citizens want a place in Israel’s anti-gov’t protests?
Michael West | Mar 13, 2023 There will be no better opportunity than now for Anthony Albanese to ask US President Joe Biden for the release of Julian Assange. Michael West reports on the Belmarsh Tribunal and calls for the release of Australia’s number one political prisoner.
Source: Michael West Media – investigative journalists – always independent
It keeps getting worse. And surprise, surprise: There’s always a God-fearing, out of touch, stark raving mad, fascist-in-the-making Republican at the root of it.
Here are a handful of news items over the last couple of weeks that a perfect examples of fascism on the march.
Source: One step away from total fascism – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Fox staffers are again acknowledging that the network caters to right-wing propaganda over news reporting
Source: Fox News staffers agree: Fox is not a news organization | Media Matters for America
It’s shockingly obvious that nobody – ministers, senior public servants and many of those who administered the programs – was capable of recognising the grim irony of the powerful using illegal methods against the powerless, under the guise of ensuring that the powerless behaved with integrity not required from the powerful.
Corruption doesn’t trickle down, it cascades.
Source: Coalition intimidated the powerless with an iron fist
Peter Dutton’s response to the tweaking is deeply, terminally flawed. It speaks to a darkness at the heart of the modern federal Liberal Party, a darkness that seeks to double down rather than save itself.
Source: Michael Pascoe: Peter Dutton’s venality and other tax jokes
Dutton and the LNB would always support cuts to the NDIS to pay for any Nuclear Toy. Families can pay for their own disabled it’s not a Government responsibility. The LNP decided it had the perfect algorithm to decide who needed to pay back the money they decided was undeserved dating back years.
Mr Dutton told ABC 7.30 he was willing to work with the government to make tough budgetary decisions, such as measures to keep the National Disability and Insurance Scheme sustainable.
Moldovan police say they have foiled a plot by groups of Russia-backed actors who were specially trained to cause mass unrest during a protest in the capital against the country’s new, pro-Western government.
Source: Moldova police say they foiled Russia-backed unrest plot timed for protests in capital – ABC News
On Friday, bank regulators closed Silicon Valley Bank, based in Santa Clara, California. Its failure was the second largest in U.S. history and the largest since the financial crisis of 2008.
On Sunday, regulators closed New York-based Signature Bank.
Source: The Real Story Behind the Silicon Valley Bank Debacle | The Smirking Chimp
as many times as federal officials repeat that they’re not bailing anyone out, it still won’t be true. Are there differences between these bailouts and those during the 2008 crisis? Certainly. But none of those differences change the fact that depositors with more than $250,000 are being bailed out.
Source: It’s Still a Bank Bailout, Even If You Don’t Want to Call It One
Eleven years ago I gave the speech below. I was then pessimistic about our understanding of Asia. The situation has got markedly worse since then, writ large in the unremitting attacks on China stemming from ignorance and parochialism, particularly in our White Man’s Media.
Source: The Australian retreat from Asia is becoming a rout – Pearls and Irritations
The CNN reporters estimate that as much as 5% of Israel’s population may have come out into the streets.
Source: As Half a Million Israelis Protest Netanyahu Regime, it Faces setbacks in Arab World
Far from being a “Jewish democratic state,” Israel has evolved into a Jewish supremacist state. In the real world, “Israeli democracy” is an oxymoron. Denial does not make that any less true.
Source: Israel’s Liberal Supporters Take Denial to New Level
3D Analysis Shows How Israeli Troops Fired Into Group of Civilians According to The Washington Post’s reconstruction of the raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, Israeli military fired repeatedly into a group of civilians taking shelter between a mosque and a clinic, killing two and wounding three others.
“Israeli forces fired at least 14 times from inside their armored vehicle as it moved down a street and then came to a halt next to a short wall behind which the civilians huddled. The Israelis continued firing even after those people would have been visible from the vehicle’s windows…”
Source: 3D Analysis Shows How Israeli Troops Fired Into Group of Civilians – scheerpost.com
Abulhawa references John Mearsheimer’s warnings about US provocations against Russia, using Ukraine as a base and pretext. The Ukraine conflict, to that end, is not isolated or regional. It is a “global proxy war, the outcome of which may well determine the world order for generations to come.”
The Advertiser was less reserved, barking in childish condemnation and demanding, via a statement from editor Gemma Jones, that the Writers’ Week director Louise Adler resign. “The views of the two writers in question are repugnant.”
Law firm MinterEllison also took up a tenancy in the land of black and white in their decision to withdraw sponsorship, citing concerns about “the potential for racist or antisemitic commentary.” It had decided “to remove our presence and involvement with this year’s Writers’ Festival program.” That’s branding for you.
The University of Melbourne is a step closer to staff strikes after the National Tertiary Education Union got the green light to ballot members about industrial action.
Union members will be asked to vote on eight forms of industrial action, including not doing any marking, not applying penalties to students who submit late work, work stoppages of up to 24 hours and indefinite stoppages.
Source: Melbourne University one step closer to strikes as industrial action vote green-lighted
Science and secrecy are two words that rarely go well together. Yet remarkably, our peak scientific institution, the Australian Academy of Science is deliberately engaging in secrecy, aided and abetted by the Australian National University. Transparency Warrior Rex Patrick tells the story.
The basics can never be explained enough. The Communist Manifesto is the second-most-read book in the world but the least-read in the West. That might go down in explaining why Putin isn’t seen in such negative terms today as he is in the West and why China is admired by the majority of nations as a social success and not seen as a threat Australian Media makes it out to be.
While China continues to give it’s people increasing freedoms The West is increasingly restricting the freedoms of its citizens.
The analysis of capitalism that Karl Marx presented in the three volumes of Capital remains vital to understanding our social world. A renowned Marxian economist talked to Jacobin to break down the key points of Marx’s economic theory.
Source: The Basics of Marxist Economics
Dominion is “also seeking punitive damages, which are not capped under New York state law and could also be in the billions of dollars.
Fox News faces potential ‘financial death penalty’ due to Dominion lawsuit
Source:
The latest court documents provide damning proof of News Corp’s intentional malice and mendacity, as Alan Austin reports.
NEWS CORP CEO Rupert Murdoch has just had the worst week of his professional life since the phone hacking scandals shut down his British newspaper, News of the World, in 2011.
Source: Murdoch presenters and executives admit they lie to you routinely
Rupert Murdoch may be running out of political clout and financial luck.
For decades Murdoch has been a pernicious influence on journalism, politics, climate policy, progressive ideas and whether nations go to war or not.
Source: Is Rupert running out of political clout and financial luck? – Pearls and Irritations
Source: Ex-Trump Official Spills The Beans: Trump And Fox Worked ‘Hand In Hand’ | Crooks and Liars
So, would it be too extreme to suggest that Aussies be banned from entering this country? If a single amoral Australian rat, with a little help from family and friends, can do so much damage to this nation, wouldn’t it be prudent to keep the descendants of British criminals and low lifes from Down Under from coming here? And though we can assume that “some of them may be good people,” as Trump once said about Mexicans, do we really want to take such an obvious risk to our security after what Australians have put us through.
Make America Great Again? Keep the Aussies Out!!!
Source: A Modest Proposal for Banning Australians from Entering this Country | The Smirking Chimp
In an interview with Al Jazeera English, veteran Washington Iran watcher Hillary Mann Leverett asserted that, in the wake of the reestablishment of Iran-Saudi diplomatic relations in an agreement brokered by Beijing, China is now “the indispensable nation” in the Middle East. She underlined that the United States could not have achieved this accomplishment.
LNP in Australia under the Abbott/Morrison government preferred private investment into Science and Technology. Yes, they preferred the American Model of high-risk quick gain Venture Capitalism being fully backed with less regulated citizens’ money. “Come in suckers and take a punt on this Perpetual Motion Machine”. The suckers, were in this case, the banks lending low-risk money they collected on high-risk stakes just as they did for Trump and his Atlantic City Casinos
Is it any wonder China is now outstripping us and the US in science and technology today? It’s government-sponsored and regulated. Our CSIRO was once a world leader, Royal Parade Melb globally known and highly regarded. Abbott cut their government grants, handed them the beggar’s bowl and told them to be “more entrepreneurial and less boffins”
The collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008 sparked a worldwide credit crunch that contributed to the global financial crisis.
“Half of US venture capital firms are backed by this company — it has very deep tentacles into existing start-up companies across the US,” she said.
Nine Entertainment-owned papers have been talking up the prospects of Australia going to war with China while failing to declare that Nine chairman Peter Costello has made $millions in recent years lobbying on behalf of defence companies.
Is the current ALP government even genuinely intrested in strengthening our Democracy and returning the ABC to be the Independant Statutory body it was originally designed to be? Emphasis on Independant and not the victim of a cabal as it has been of the previous government Abbott’s and Morrison’s LNP, the IPA, and Murdoch ,Costello, and Stokes Media all competing for the wealth of the minority interests not even necessarily Australian.
LNP will do anything to take media attention off Robodebt
it takes the media’s attention away from Robodebt and the slim chance that they’d report the obfuscation, the inability of people to recall basic information and the obvious fact that it wasn’t incompetence that led to legal advice not being attached or passed on: it was a design feature of the standover merchant tactics that were employed by almost everyone involved.
Documents tabled by MP Andrew Wilkie claim to show church used jobkeeper funds to help purchase Melbourne’s Festival Hall
we have heard from the architects, those charged with the responsibility to provide essential social services to all Australians, and who instead left us with a decade-long legacy of abject failure and wilful neglect on a multi-faceted grand-scale of human pain and suffering.
Source: Robodebt’s architects suffer temporary embarrassment, its victims are gone forever | The Shot
Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism gets a government greenwash while international efforts to control Scope 3 emissions increase. Pygmy chameleons and eagle-owls are fighting for survival in different ways. Please stop eating shark and Tassie farmed salmon.
Source: Environment: Labor safeguards our fossil fuel climate wreckers – Pearls and Irritations
Lest we forget
It is now a dozen years since the world held its breath and learned to pronounce the word Fukushima.
Source: Australia must learn lessons from Fukushima disaster
Andy Kroll and Andrea Bernstein, ProPublica, and Nick Surgey, Documented Co-published with Documented ( ProPublica ) – A few months ago, Leonard Leo laid out his next audacious project.Ever since the longtime Federalist Society leader helped create a conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court, and then received more than a billion dollars from a wealthy Chicago business owner to disburse to conservative causes, Leo’s next moves had been the subject of speculation. Now, Leo declared in a slick but private video to potential donors, he planned to “crush liberal dominance” across American life. The country was plagued by “woke-ism”
Leo declared in a slick but private video to potential donors, he planned to “crush liberal dominance” across American life. The country was plagued by “woke-ism” in corporations and education, “one-sided journalism” and “entertainment that’s really corrupting our youth,” said Leo amid snippets of cheery music and shots of sunsets and American flags.
Sitting tucked into a couch, with wire-rimmed glasses and hair gone to gray, Leo conveyed his inspiration and intentions: “I just said to myself, ‘Well, if this can work for law, why can’t it work for lots of other areas of American culture and American life where things are really messed up right now?’”
Leo revealed his latest battle plan in the previously unreported video for the Teneo Network, a little-known group he called “a tremendously important resource for the future of our country.”
Teneo is building what Leo called in the video “networks of conservatives that can roll back” liberal influence in Wall Street and Silicon Valley, among authors and academics, with pro athletes and Hollywood producers. A Federalist Society for everything.
Source: Inside the “Private and Confidential” Conservative Group That Promises to “Crush Liberal Dominance”
The Manhattan district attorney’s office informed former President Donald Trump’s team that he could face criminal charges stemming from his role in the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, according to multiple reports.
olddogthoughts 
You must be logged in to post a comment.