Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * On 3/31/20 9:06 PM, J.B. Nicholson via Marxism wrote: Over recent weeks Dore has grown increasingly critical of the Democratic Party and the notion that anyone can reform that party from within. That party has given Americans plenty of reason to justify strong criticism over the past few years. Yeah. Obviously. All them neo-Kautskyites have figured out that Elvis left the building. Too bad they don't have a clue where to go next. Yeah, well, I was stupid myself when I was their age. Glad I learned 40 years ago to become self-critical. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Also, you can't spin slinging the word cocksucker at someone as an insult as ""I'm sorry I shouldn't -- there's some people who get offended when I say 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I love having my cock sucked. And I respect all cocksuckers." Does he really think we're going to believe that when he uses the term as a pejorative, we're going to think, ah, right, he's just letting us know how much "respect" he has for the person? I agree that language choice is not the highest priority issue at the moment but he called his political opponents slags, whores and faggots I think he'd raise a few eyebrows and rightly so. Choice of words always matters. Cheers, John On Wed, Apr 1, 2020 at 1:18 PM Louis Proyect via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > POSTING RULES & NOTES > #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. > #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. > #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. > * > > On 3/31/20 7:42 PM, J.B. Nicholson via Marxism wrote: > > Around 16 minutes into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3DDvrbPmM he > > addresses this choice of language from himself. He said, "I'm sorry I > > shouldn't -- there's some people who get offended when I say > > 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I love having my cock sucked. And I > > respect all cocksuckers.". I remain unconvinced that petty namecalling > > and ugly language is the important take-away message as people lose > > their lives during this pandemic and now stand to lose their income and > > homes (maybe even more) even if they live, all while seeing their > > self-described "progressive" Congressional representatives and so-called > > "progressive" media support the largest business bailout without a fight. > > This is a curse used against man, not women. Dore knows this but evades > its obvious meaning. Dore is a two-bit shock jock whose politics are > coming from the same general area as Chapo Trap House and targeting the > same market. A few years from now when this Sandernista crap has passed > its shelf life, we'll look back at Jacobin, DSA, Joe Rogan, Jimmy Dore, > A. O-C and wonder what the fuck was wrong with the left at the time. Put > briefly: careerism. > > _ > Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm > Set your options at: > https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/johnedmundson4%40gmail.com > -- The law locks up the man or woman Who steals the goose from off the common But leaves the greater villain loose Who steals the common from the goose _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Sorry, didn't see that John O'Brien had already made the point I was trying to make. On Wed, Apr 1, 2020 at 1:51 PM John Edmundson wrote: > Also, you can't spin slinging the word cocksucker at someone as an insult > as ""I'm sorry I shouldn't -- there's some > people who get offended when I say 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I > love having my > cock sucked. And I respect all cocksuckers." Does he really think we're > going to believe that when he uses the term as a pejorative, we're going to > think, ah, right, he's just letting us know how much "respect" he has for > the person? > > I agree that language choice is not the highest priority issue at the > moment but he called his political opponents slags, whores and faggots I > think he'd raise a few eyebrows and rightly so. Choice of words always > matters. > > Cheers, > John > > On Wed, Apr 1, 2020 at 1:18 PM Louis Proyect via Marxism < > marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > >> POSTING RULES & NOTES >> #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. >> #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. >> #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. >> * >> >> On 3/31/20 7:42 PM, J.B. Nicholson via Marxism wrote: >> > Around 16 minutes into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3DDvrbPmM he >> > addresses this choice of language from himself. He said, "I'm sorry I >> > shouldn't -- there's some people who get offended when I say >> > 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I love having my cock sucked. And I >> > respect all cocksuckers.". I remain unconvinced that petty namecalling >> > and ugly language is the important take-away message as people lose >> > their lives during this pandemic and now stand to lose their income and >> > homes (maybe even more) even if they live, all while seeing their >> > self-described "progressive" Congressional representatives and >> so-called >> > "progressive" media support the largest business bailout without a >> fight. >> >> This is a curse used against man, not women. Dore knows this but evades >> its obvious meaning. Dore is a two-bit shock jock whose politics are >> coming from the same general area as Chapo Trap House and targeting the >> same market. A few years from now when this Sandernista crap has passed >> its shelf life, we'll look back at Jacobin, DSA, Joe Rogan, Jimmy Dore, >> A. O-C and wonder what the fuck was wrong with the left at the time. Put >> briefly: careerism. >> >> _ >> Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm >> Set your options at: >> https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/johnedmundson4%40gmail.com >> > > > -- > The law locks up the man or woman > Who steals the goose from off the common > But leaves the greater villain loose > Who steals the common from the goose > -- The law locks up the man or woman Who steals the goose from off the common But leaves the greater villain loose Who steals the common from the goose _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Louis Proyect via Marxism wrote: A few years from now when this Sandernista crap has passed its shelf life, we'll look back at Jacobin, DSA, Joe Rogan, Jimmy Dore, A. O-C and wonder what the fuck was wrong with the left at the time. Put briefly: careerism. While I think it would be fair to accuse Jimmy Dore of being naive and misunderstanding certain structural power (such as what Bruce Spiva, DNC lawyer, laid out clearly to the court about what the DNC can do to choose its standards bearer), I don't think your description fairly characterizes what Dore is saying about Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and other politicians in power now. Dore went from being remarkably supportive of Tulsi Gabbard (to the point of being conspicuously silent about her inconsistencies and clear statements of party loyalty) to including her in his criticism as she endorsed pro-war Joe Biden. Over recent weeks Dore has grown increasingly critical of the Democratic Party and the notion that anyone can reform that party from within. That party has given Americans plenty of reason to justify strong criticism over the past few years. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * The response to the homophobia Jimmy Dore states today: "theres some people who get offended" (read queers and queer lovers) and he "remains unconvinced" - citing the pandemic crisis does not deserve recognizing his homophobic insults. Always an excuse to not address homophobia, as the same excuse for racism and sexism not being addressed. And usually it is the same privileged who contend "there are always too many important other issues to deal with". But it seems there is always time to keep using homophobia - strange how that works, when people do not want to accept and recognize their wrongs! Time always for wrong and no effort to be better. From: Marxism on behalf of J.B. Nicholson via Marxism Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2020 4:42 PM. John Obrien via Marxism wrote: > Jimmy Dore spews constant homophobia, such as with his favorite use of > "cocksucker" as a perjorative and few challenge him for doing such - reflects > the > homophobia still acceptable on much of U.S. left - "as funny". Around 16 minutes into https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DSX3DDvrbPmM&data=02%7C01%7C%7C59f8cda19bc04e60980708d7d5cdec28%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435%7C1%7C0%7C637212952710012476&sdata=58vG9UhNDcdl57f6W%2Bnqvn%2Bdv%2BbN60qEw59G%2F2PVTyY%3D&reserved=0 he addresses this choice of language from himself. He said, "I'm sorry I shouldn't -- there's some people who get offended when I say 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I love having my cock sucked. And I respect all cocksuckers.". I remain unconvinced that petty namecalling and ugly language is the important take-away message as people lose their lives during this pandemic and now stand to lose their income and homes (maybe even more) even if they live, all while seeing their self-described "progressive" Congressional representatives and so-called "progressive" media support the largest business bailout without a fight. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * On 3/31/20 7:42 PM, J.B. Nicholson via Marxism wrote: Around 16 minutes into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3DDvrbPmM he addresses this choice of language from himself. He said, "I'm sorry I shouldn't -- there's some people who get offended when I say 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I love having my cock sucked. And I respect all cocksuckers.". I remain unconvinced that petty namecalling and ugly language is the important take-away message as people lose their lives during this pandemic and now stand to lose their income and homes (maybe even more) even if they live, all while seeing their self-described "progressive" Congressional representatives and so-called "progressive" media support the largest business bailout without a fight. This is a curse used against man, not women. Dore knows this but evades its obvious meaning. Dore is a two-bit shock jock whose politics are coming from the same general area as Chapo Trap House and targeting the same market. A few years from now when this Sandernista crap has passed its shelf life, we'll look back at Jacobin, DSA, Joe Rogan, Jimmy Dore, A. O-C and wonder what the fuck was wrong with the left at the time. Put briefly: careerism. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * John Obrien via Marxism wrote: Jimmy Dore spews constant homophobia, such as with his favorite use of "cocksucker" as a perjorative and few challenge him for doing such - reflects the homophobia still acceptable on much of U.S. left - "as funny". Around 16 minutes into https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3DDvrbPmM he addresses this choice of language from himself. He said, "I'm sorry I shouldn't -- there's some people who get offended when I say 'cocksucker' in a derogatory way. I love having my cock sucked. And I respect all cocksuckers.". I remain unconvinced that petty namecalling and ugly language is the important take-away message as people lose their lives during this pandemic and now stand to lose their income and homes (maybe even more) even if they live, all while seeing their self-described "progressive" Congressional representatives and so-called "progressive" media support the largest business bailout without a fight. _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Jimmy Dore spews constant homophobia, such as with his favorite use of "cocksucker" as a perjorative and few challenge him for doing such - reflects the homophobia still acceptable on much of U.S. left - "as funny". Thanks for making your last paragraph a breakdown of how terrible Jimmy Dore is so that no one else has to chime in to point out he's an awful person in general and certainly an awful "leftist". Tristan _ _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * It would have been helpful (but improbable and 'impolitic' I guess) if AOC and others, in the midst of the pernicious backroom negotiations on this massive handout to capital ('disaster capitalism' in motion), with whatever bully pulpit access to media they could muster, early on, including speeches on the House floor, had described in more explicit and accessible language the dirty specifics of the bill, as have Mike Whitney and to a limited extent Jimmy Dore ... if they had, more importantly, attempted to mobilize their constituents and to bring them out in the streets against this hand-over of our future well-being, perhaps survival, part of a monstrous plan of total subjugation, to implacable class enemies. Did any of these 'progressives' ('vote for a woman.' as if women were class-exempt) attempt to do that? Of course not - they maneuver in a parliamentary setting that precludes that. How roll logs on behalf of your business and middle class constituents, and grab onto influential Congressional committee sinecures to ensure that process, committee assignments granted and withheld by Congressional party disciplinarians -- and reelection? I have problems with the term 'progressive.' It manages to conflate and confuse liberal reformism and root and branch radical socialism to the detriment of the latter, and that misleads a whole lot of people. Unfortunately, Jimmy Dore falls into that mode, and I question whether he really understands the difference. Call a spade a spade - socialism is socialism, reformism is reformism. The latter may have its place in giving people space to survive to realize the latter, but we risk fooling ourselves: we are not emancipated by tweaking and fooling around with a system fundamentally incompatible with our emancipation from an ideology and practice of alienation and self-destruction. [I'm quoting all that Dayne contributed, although it might seem extraneous, to illustrate the differences and similarities, down to Jimmy Dore [rightly] identifying himself and Democracy Now! with 'progressive media.' Both make good points but don't connect the dots. They don't lead their audience beyond reformism. They haven't read their Marx - carefully.] Dayne Goodwin via Marxism wrote: AOC blasts 'shameful' $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill for bailing out corporations She raised some correct points in her rant. But don't let her empty theatrics ("blast") fool you. She didn't shame anyone but herself. She voted for that bill. Instead of mobilizing 'the squad' and sympathetic Republicans to work against the bill including stalling it while the public is made aware of its many shortcomings, the so-called progressives gave grandstanding speeches like AOC's aforementioned speech. Instead of voting against the bill and being in a position to say she was looking out for her constituents' interests (even if the bill passed it wouldn't have been because of her), she now joins Tulsi Gabbard, Ayanna Pressley, Ro Khanna, Elizabeth Warren, Ilhan Omar, "and anyone else who wants to call themselves a progressive" (as Jimmy Dore said) in voting for this massive big business bailout bill that is the largest wealth transfer. That one-time $1,200 check some Americans will get won't purchase what Americans need and deserve. Jimmy Dore has been making YouTube videos on this recently (https://www.youtube.com/user/TYTComedy/videos is his channel) including pointing out how shameful it is to think that AOC's arm-waving speech is in any way comparable to Congressional votes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfOPSq705To), how California's 3-month mortgage payment moratorium is going to be followed by allowing banks to demand all of those unpaid payments on month 4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmn9o6NZVo) meaning that in month 4 one owes the unpaid 3 payments plus the regular monthly payment -- 4X their regular mortgage payment in one lump sum. And, as Dore has been explicitly clear, "It is stunning to watch progressive media fall down on this". Very few news and/or commentary outlets are covering what a bad bill this is for the 99% and how things look very bad for a lot of Americans in the short-term future. One notable example: Democracy Now! earned a reputation for championing progressive politics during the run-up to the 2003 US/UK-led invasion of Iraq. DN has squandered all of that good will in recent years as Amy Goodman uncritically repeated Russiagate lies, echoed talk of the alleged gas attack in Douma that now 4 OPCW scientists say did not happen, and DN lost critical voices like former DN report
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Thanks for making your last paragraph a breakdown of how terrible Jimmy Dore is so that no one else has to chime in to point out he's an awful person in general and certainly an awful "leftist". Tristan _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * Dayne Goodwin via Marxism wrote: AOC blasts 'shameful' $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill for bailing out corporations She raised some correct points in her rant. But don't let her empty theatrics ("blast") fool you. She didn't shame anyone but herself. She voted for that bill. Instead of mobilizing 'the squad' and sympathetic Republicans to work against the bill including stalling it while the public is made aware of its many shortcomings, the so-called progressives gave grandstanding speeches like AOC's aforementioned speech. Instead of voting against the bill and being in a position to say she was looking out for her constituents' interests (even if the bill passed it wouldn't have been because of her), she now joins Tulsi Gabbard, Ayanna Pressley, Ro Khanna, Elizabeth Warren, Ilhan Omar, "and anyone else who wants to call themselves a progressive" (as Jimmy Dore said) in voting for this massive big business bailout bill that is the largest wealth transfer. That one-time $1,200 check some Americans will get won't purchase what Americans need and deserve. Jimmy Dore has been making YouTube videos on this recently (https://www.youtube.com/user/TYTComedy/videos is his channel) including pointing out how shameful it is to think that AOC's arm-waving speech is in any way comparable to Congressional votes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfOPSq705To), how California's 3-month mortgage payment moratorium is going to be followed by allowing banks to demand all of those unpaid payments on month 4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmn9o6NZVo) meaning that in month 4 one owes the unpaid 3 payments plus the regular monthly payment -- 4X their regular mortgage payment in one lump sum. And, as Dore has been explicitly clear, "It is stunning to watch progressive media fall down on this". Very few news and/or commentary outlets are covering what a bad bill this is for the 99% and how things look very bad for a lot of Americans in the short-term future. One notable example: Democracy Now! earned a reputation for championing progressive politics during the run-up to the 2003 US/UK-led invasion of Iraq. DN has squandered all of that good will in recent years as Amy Goodman uncritically repeated Russiagate lies, echoed talk of the alleged gas attack in Douma that now 4 OPCW scientists say did not happen, and DN lost critical voices like former DN reporter Aaron Maté (who has tweeted about why he left DN and talked on Jimmy Dore's show about why he left DN). _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * AOC blasts 'shameful' $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill for bailing out corporations https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/coronavirus-stimulus-bill-aoc-ocasio-cortez-corporate-bailout-airlines-cruise-industry-a9430771.html As Congress Pushes a $2 Trillion Stimulus Package, the “How Will You Pay For It?” Question Is Tossed in the Trash https://theintercept.com/2020/03/27/coronavirus-stimulus-package-spending/ On Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 8:16 PM Dayne Goodwin wrote: > “Total System Failure”: Congress Pushes $2 Trillion Pandemic Bill. Will > Dems Allow “Corporate Coup”? > https://www.democracynow.org/2020/3/27/coronavirus_relief_bill_matt_stoller > > The Rich Eat First - A guide to the stimulus package from DSA's COVID-19 > Response Team > https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-5/ > > The stimulus bill includes a tax break for the 1% > > https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/28/opinions/stimulus-bill-tax-break-for-1-mccaffery/index.html > > > On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 1:47 PM Ralph Johansen via Marxism < > marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > >> The Senate’s Coronavirus Relief Package Must be Stopped! >> By Mike Whitney >> Global Research, March 27, 2020 >> Region: USA Theme: Global Economy, Law and Justice, Science and Medicine >> > . . . > > https://www.globalresearch.ca/senate-coronavirus-relief-package-must-stopped/5707727 > > _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
Re: [Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * “Total System Failure”: Congress Pushes $2 Trillion Pandemic Bill. Will Dems Allow “Corporate Coup”? https://www.democracynow.org/2020/3/27/coronavirus_relief_bill_matt_stoller The Rich Eat First - A guide to the stimulus package from DSA's COVID-19 Response Team https://www.dsausa.org/news/dsa-covid-19-bulletin-5/ The stimulus bill includes a tax break for the 1% https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/28/opinions/stimulus-bill-tax-break-for-1-mccaffery/index.html On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 1:47 PM Ralph Johansen via Marxism < marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu> wrote: > The Senate’s Coronavirus Relief Package Must be Stopped! > By Mike Whitney > Global Research, March 27, 2020 > Region: USA Theme: Global Economy, Law and Justice, Science and Medicine > . . . https://www.globalresearch.ca/senate-coronavirus-relief-package-must-stopped/5707727 _ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
[Marxism] Relief Package is neither stimulus nor workers' lifeline, it’s again massive bailout to tottering corporations By Mike Whitney
POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. * The Senate’s Coronavirus Relief Package Must be Stopped! By Mike Whitney Global Research, March 27, 2020 Region: USA Theme: Global Economy, Law and Justice, Science and Medicine The Senate’s $2 Trillion Coronavirus Relief Package is not fiscal stimulus and it’s not a lifeline for the tens of millions of working people who have suddenly lost their jobs. It’s a fundamental restructuring of the US economy designed to strengthen the grip of the corrupt corporate-banking oligarchy while creating a permanent underclass that will be forced to work for slave wages. This isn’t stimulus, it’s shock therapy. Who can survive on $1,200 for one, two or three months time? And what happens to the millions of people who paid no taxes last year? Are they supposed to scrape by on nothing? Congress knows that most households live paycheck to paycheck. With no savings how will they pay the rent, the electric bill, the phone and the cable? Congress is quibbling over an extra $600 per month unemployment for those who are lucky enough to get it, when most people are just trying to figure out how they’re going to survive, how they’re going to pay the mortgage, when they’ll be able to go back to work, and whether their job will still be there when this nightmare is finally over? Did you know that “if you don’t already have direct-deposit information on file with the IRS from previous tax returns, you won’t get the emergency funds for up to 4 months”? That means millions of people will have zero income for 4 months! What will become of them? Where will they go? Who will provide them with shelter and food? Shouldn’t congress be asking these questions? And what happens to the 50% of the American people who had less than $400 saved before the crisis hit? What happens to them when they fall between the cracks and lose their apartments, lose their jobs, and lose their ability to maintain their tenuous standard of living? These people will never regain their financial footing. Never. It’s a death sentence. We’re going to see an explosion of homelessness, drug addiction, depression, alcoholism, suicide and crime unlike anything this country has ever seen before. Are the imbeciles in congress so blind that they can’t see that they’re condemning a large part of the population to permanent, inescapable, grinding poverty and desperation? Can’t they see that? Do you understand why this bill is being rushed through congress? It has a lot to do with the falling stock market but more precisely with the hundreds of corporations that have been hawking bonds to gullible investors who thought they were buying the debt of responsible, well-managed companies that used the money to improve their product-line, train workers, or build new factories. But instead, greedy CEOs have been using the money to buy shares in their own companies to boost executive compensation and reward shareholders. It’s a multi-trillion dollar scam that blew up in their faces causing a complete freeze-over in the corporate bond market. That’s what’s really going on, there’s a massive credit crunch that has a stranglehold on the bond market and there are only two ways to fix the problem: Let the failing corporations default and pick up the pieces after the dust settles or… Launch a major $4.5 trillion bailout for busted corporations that drove their companies off a cliff. Those are the two choices. Naturally Treasury Secretary Mnuchin chose the latter which suggests that the real motive for giving working people the $1,200 checks was simply to divert attention from the massive trillion dollar bailout to teetering corporations. That’s the real objective of the so-called fiscal stimulus bill. It’s another giant welfare check for the plutocrats. The centerpiece of the new legislation is a provision for $425 billion giveaway to big business. The New York Times explains what is going on in a recent article. Here’s an excerpt: “Republican senators have suggested creating a fund of $425 billion at the Treasury Department that the Fed could use to back emergency lending facilities — which would enable such programs to grow far beyond that scale. Because the Fed cannot take on substantial credit risk itself, the Treasury Department backs its emergency lending, using money from a fund that contains just $95 billion. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday suggested that the new money in the Republican bill could be leveraged by the Fed to back some $4 trillion in financing. “We do have limited amounts of money we’re using before Congress passes this bill, so we’re not waiting on Congress,” Mr.