economy
Recently Noted – “Across America, working-class people are dying of despair”
Essay explores the grim reality of life in one small corner of America within the broader landscape of the bottom 90%. —>> read more –>>
Project Blog
economy
Real Estate Development – a local story –
In an area with dozens of empty store fronts and several hundred thousand sq ft of empty space, a new strip mall is approved for construction. A rational market?? —>> read more –>>
empire
How America Tortures – a new report with drawings and a movie
How America Tortures by M. P. Denbeaux, & Seton Hall University. (2019) This report includes eight drawings by Abu Zubaydah, a Guantanamo detainee, illustrating his experiences during torture sessions. Abu Zubaydah is also a figure —>> read more –>>
environment
The Great Recycling Con video story – recently noted
Over 90% of plastic materials in consumer items and packaging end up in landfill dumps. Time for industry to take responsibility for their waste. —>> read more –>>
politics
A Window into the Minds of Conservatives – The Bulwark
It is a continuing source of amazement and consternation that most conservatives and evangelical Christians support Trump. So many of his character features would seem to be inimical to both of these groups. We won’t —>> read more –>>
economy
Nobel Prize Winners Critique Markets – Duflo and Bannerjee
Nobel Prize winners Duflo and Bannerjee take on idealized views of markets. They target the role of financial incentives, markets as self-correcting, efficient and ethically sound. —>> read more –>>
free-market ideology
Recently Noted – challenging views of Justice Clarence Thomas – the intractable nature of white racism
A challenging take on the state of racism in the US. Harvard sociologist Orlando Patterson reviews books on Clarence Thomas and his views on countering intractable white racism. —>> read more –>>
environment
Recently Noted – Your Burger vs. Transatlantic Flight – how much CO2?
The New Yorker published “Value Meal: Impossible Foods wants to save the world by inventing a better burger” by Tad Friend in the 9/30/2019 issue. During the introductory paragraphs the following statistic was cited:
Every four pounds of beef you eat contributes to as much global warming as flying from New York to London—and the average American eats that much each month. —>> read more –>>
racism
Slavery in Hudson – updated
9/12/2019 A lecture at the Hudson Area Library tonight, Slavery and Dutch-Palatine Farmers: How did middle class farmers in Colonial New York interact with slavery?’ by Travis M. Bowman. The lecture began with the note —>> read more –>>
environment
A Major Shift in Emphasis – the environment
Friday 9/6/2019 Over the last several months I have been working on a restatement of the fundamental characteristics of the capitalist system. In doing this I have been thinking afresh about the current crisis of —>> read more –>>