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Latin America in Search of an Alternative
James Petras
“You can’t build socialism with dollar signs in your eyes”
Fidel Castro
Introduction
Many experts and commentators describe the political process in Latin America as one of ‘alternating right and left governments’. Journalists focus on the abrupt regime changes from democratic to authoritarian; from neo-liberal to progressive programs; and from oligarchs to populists.
The financial media present the ‘right’s’ socially regressive policies and strategies as ‘reforms’, a euphemism for the re-concentration of wealth, profits and property into the hands of foreign and domestic oligarchs.
Leftwing intellectuals and journalists paint an image of socio-economic transformations under Latin America’s ‘left’ regimes where ‘the people’ take power, income is redistributed and growth flourishes.
The rise and demise of left and right regimes are typically attributed to ‘economic mismanagement, social crisis, political manipulation and erroneous strategic policies’.
Mass Incarceration, Prison Labor in the United States
By John Stanton
The Federal Prison Industries (FPI) under the brand UNICORE operates approximately 52 factories (prisons) across the United States. Prisoners manufacture or assemble a number of products for the US military, homeland security,and federal agencies according to the UNICORE/FPI website. They produce furniture, clothing and circuit boards in addition to providing computer aided design services and call center support for private companies.
UNICORE/FPI makes its pitch for employing call center support personnel to firms thinking about off-shoring their call center functions. The logic is that, hey!, they may be prisoners, but it’s keeping the jobs in the USA that matters. Fair enough. That approach cuts out the middleman though, those Americans desperate for any kind of work but, through no fault of their own, are not behind prison bars and employable by UNICORE/FPI
WaPo Debunks Universal Healthcare
Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman)
It’s the only equitable system, no other, supported by thousands of US doctors nationwide.
America is the only developed country without universal coverage, spending on average double the annual per capita amount in these other nations - a deplorable system, designed for profit-making, not providing essential healthcare for people in need.
Marketplace medicine in America is the world’s best - based on the ability to pay. A fundamental human right is commodified, rationed to enrich insurers, drug companies and large hospital chains instead of providing vitally needed universal coverage.
Russia Halts Cooperation with US in Syrian Airspace
Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman)
In response to the US-led coalition downing of a Syrian Su-22 warplane in its own airspace, a lawless aggressive act, Russia’s Defense Ministry issued the following statement:
“As of June 19 this year, the Defense Ministry of the Russian Federation has ended its interaction with the US side under a memorandum for preventing incidents and providing for safe flights during operations in Syria, and demands that the US command carry out a careful investigation and report about its results and the measures taken.”
“The shooting down of a Syrian Air Force jet in Syria’s airspace is a cynical violation of Syria’s sovereignty. The US’ repeated combat operations under the guise of ‘combating terrorism’ against the legitimate armed forces of a UN member-state are a flagrant violation of international law, in addition to being actual military aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic.”
Putin: U.S. Routinely Meddles in Russian and Other Nations' Elections
Eric Zuesse
In a Showtime interview of Russian President Vladimir Putin by American film-maker Oliver Stone, which started airing on June 12th, Putin called “lies” many of the allegations by U.S. intelligence agencies, to the effect that he or his government attempted to influence the outcome of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. He also accused the U.S. government of having actually done not only that (influencing other countries’ democratic process), but far more actual meddling in Russian elections, and in the elections in other former Soviet-and-allied countries, and even done it in recent times, and even done it to countries that had never been friendly toward Russia. The way he asserted this accusation was veiled, however, so that he didn’t identify the specific governments he was referring to, other than to say: “In 2000, and in 2012, this always happened. But especially aggressively in 2012. I will not go into details.” (This article will supply some of those “details,” in what follows.)
Putin described the current accusations against Russia, by the U.S. government, as a deceitful and fictitious tat, which ignores the very real and longstanding American tit, of CIA and other U.S., meddling in the electoral processes of foreign countries.
GOP Wants Medicaid Abolished
Stephen Lendman
Republicans want Medicare and Medicaid eliminated, marketplace medicine replacing both programs - obtaining healthcare based on the ability to pay.
In their plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, changes in Medicare toward eliminating it altogether are delayed for a later time.
Nearly 75 million Americans depend on Medicaid for healthcare. For now, the GOP focus is on deep cuts in the program.
Eliminating it would jeopardize the health and lives of millions. Republicans want it abolished incrementally over a number of years to be determined later on.
The House bill cuts around $830 billion in Medicaid funding over the next decade. GOP senators want stiffer reductions.
Trump’s Cuba Policy
Stephen Lendman
Trump intends getting tougher on Cuba than already. His Presidential Policy Directive lied, saying “I will seek to promote a stable, prosperous, and free country for the Cuban people.”
“To that end, we must ensure that US funds are not channeled to a regime that has failed to meet the most basic requirements of a free and just society.”
In a statement to POLITICO, he lied again, saying “(t)he policy the Trump administration is announcing regarding Cuba based on President Trump’s core conviction that what the Cuban exile community is asking for is right and just.”
“The oppressors of the Cuban people are the Cuban government who have increased repression on the island against dissidents and Ladies in White since reestablishing diplomatic relations.”
Russia Announces No-Fly Zone in Syria — War Against U.S. There
Eric Zuesse
Late on Monday the 19th, was reported by Russia’s Sputnik: "In areas where Russian aviation is conducting combat missions in the Syrian skies, any flying ojects, including jets and unmanned aerial vehicles of the international coalition discovered west of the Euphrates River, will be followed by Russian air and ground defenses as air targets” — meaning ordered out, or else immediately shot down.
In international law, and as recognized by the U.N., Syria has been invaded by the United States, was never invited into the country but is instead there as an invader. Russia was invited in; Iran was invited in; but the U.S. are only invaders. And, now, Russia and Syria will start treating the U.S. as such.
France’s Macron Wins Parliament Majority by Default
Stephen Lendman
He’s far from a popular choice, his May 7 election dubious at best. As president, he assures disturbing continuity, not badly needed constructive change.
In first round parliamentary voting, his La Republique En March (LREM) party got 32% support, turnout less than 50%, a dismal showing.
LREM winning a runoff 361-seat majority of parliamentary seats (out of 577) was achieved by default - turnout only 43%. Support for LREM candidates was achieved because of mass opposition to alternative choices.
Unfairly calling Marine Le Pen’s National Front fascist cost her a chance to become France’s president, perhaps with majority parliament support.
LREM’s legislative control assures continued dirty business as usual. Former Rothschild banker/economy minister Macron is a neoliberal reactionary, an establishment president, not a popular one.
EU Hypocrisy
Stephen Lendman
European countries subordinate their sovereign independence to Washington.
It’s what the CIA’s formation of the EU was all about, including economic powerhouse Germany, occupied by numerous US military bases - over 70 years after WW II ended.
Things on the continent are exacerbated by eurozone tyranny - 19 EU nations surrendering their monetary and fiscal sovereignty to Brussels, Berlin and Washington.
In response to Senate members passing legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia, notably targeting its energy and financial sectors, Germany hypocritically criticized the move, along with France and Austria - for actions against Moscow harming their economic interests.
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