Author: Christian Sarkar

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“You’re Not a Dictator”: Lawmakers and Experts Inform Trump He Can’t Declare War via Tweet

BY Eoin Higgins Democratic lawmakers, anti-war advocates, and legal experts rebuked President Donald Trump after he announced on Twitter that he would be using the social media platform as the medium by which he would inform Congress of hypothetical, future military strikes against Iran. “The Constitution doesn’t allow presidents to declare war over social media,” tweeted … Continue reading “You’re Not a Dictator”: Lawmakers and Experts Inform Trump He Can’t Declare War via Tweet

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“Justice through Music” – An Interview with David Hinds from Steel Pulse

Musician David Hinds is the founder and front-man for Steel Pulse, the world’s leading reggae band.  For over forty years, Hinds and the band has brought conscious music and a message of equality to fans all around the world.  Now, with the timely release of Mass Manipulation, their first album in over fifteen years, Hinds is back with a message of … Continue reading “Justice through Music” – An Interview with David Hinds from Steel Pulse

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Consulting Giant McKinsey Suggested “Detention Savings Opportunities” That Even ICE Staff Viewed as Too Harsh on Immigrants

BY Ian MacDougall, ProPublica Just days after he took office in 2017, President Donald Trump set out to make good on his campaign pledge to halt illegal immigration. In a pair of executive orders, he ordered “all legally available resources” to be shifted to border detention facilities and called for hiring 10,000 new immigration officers. The … Continue reading Consulting Giant McKinsey Suggested “Detention Savings Opportunities” That Even ICE Staff Viewed as Too Harsh on Immigrants

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New Analysis Details ‘Aggressive’ Tax Dodging of Six Silicon Valley Giants—Totaling Over $100 Billion

BY JESSICA CORBETT Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Netflix have collectively dodged over $100 billion in global taxes so far this decade, according to an analysis released Monday by a U.K.-based tax transparency campaign group. Later this week, the Fair Tax Mark plans to publish its full report on the tax conduct of the companies, … Continue reading New Analysis Details ‘Aggressive’ Tax Dodging of Six Silicon Valley Giants—Totaling Over $100 Billion

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Humanity and nature are not separate – we must see them as one to fix the climate crisis

BY HEATHER ALBERRO, Nottingham Trent University From transport and housing to food production and fashion, our civilisation is driving climate and ecological breakdown. It’s no coincidence that almost every single sector of industry is contributing to the planet’s downfall, either. A deeper issue underlies each one’s part in the malaise enveloping the planet’s ecosystems – and … Continue reading Humanity and nature are not separate – we must see them as one to fix the climate crisis

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“Now that CEOs found purpose, what are they going to do with it?”

BY CHRISTIAN SARKAR and PHILIP KOTLER Maybe they’ve been spooked by Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.  Or maybe they decided that it’s time to reclaim the political conversation before America turns full-fascist.  Whatever the reason, the CEOs of this  great nation published their own manifesto under the august umbrella of the Business Roundtable.  In it, they finally … Continue reading “Now that CEOs found purpose, what are they going to do with it?”

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How Uber and other digital platforms could trick us using behavioral science – unless we act fast”

BY ABBEY STEMLER, Indiana University; JOSHUA E. PERRY, Indiana University, and TODD HAUGH, Indiana University  Uber’s business model is incredibly simple: It’s a platform that facilitates exchanges between people. And Uber’s been incredibly successful at it, almost eliminating the transaction costs of doing business in everything from shuttling people around town to delivering food. This is … Continue reading How Uber and other digital platforms could trick us using behavioral science – unless we act fast”

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How to change the world and solve global problems – with cash prizes

BY TRIS DYSON, Nesta and PIOTR GIERSZEWSKI, Nesta Challenge prizes – which offer a cash incentive to those working to solve a particular problem – are becoming a force for change by allowing entrepreneurs and innovators, often overlooked by existing grant and procurement systems, to develop solutions to the world’s greatest problems. They have a … Continue reading How to change the world and solve global problems – with cash prizes

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Demise of Totnes pound won’t stop this English town pushing back against austerity

BY BRENDAN BARRETT, Osaka University Walking down the high street of a place described as one of the UK’s most ethical towns, the first thing you notice is the absence of national chain stores and fast food outlets. Instead, you find a diverse mix of independent shops selling organic food, clothes, art, antiques and furniture, as … Continue reading Demise of Totnes pound won’t stop this English town pushing back against austerity

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Can Billionaires Save America?

BY PHILIP KOTLER – A recent news item mentioned that a group of 18 ultra-wealthy Americans including George Soros and Abigail Disney and members of the Pritzker and Gund families published an open letter asking presidential candidates to support a moderate wealth tax of 1 percent.  The wealth tax revenue would be used to fund environmental initiatives, fuel economic growth, and … Continue reading Can Billionaires Save America?

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What To Do About The Growing U.S. Income Gap Between The Rich And Everyone Else

by PHILIP KOTLER – Revolutions occur when the income and wealth gap between the rich, the middle class and the poor reaches a boiling point.  We may be near the boiling point.  This gap launched the Russian Revolution of 1917.  Social injustice led to Castro’s takeover of Cuba and Mao Tse Tung’s takeover of China. The picture … Continue reading What To Do About The Growing U.S. Income Gap Between The Rich And Everyone Else

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The Flywheel of Corruption: Why Our Democracy Isn’t Working

by PHILIP KOTLER and CHRISTIAN SARKAR – For some time now we’ve been saying that the wheels have fallen off our democracy. Things aren’t looking good around the world.  The Guardian reports the world’s 26 richest billionaires own as many assets as half the planet. 26 plutocrats own as much wealth as 3.8 billion people.  Welcome to serfdom. And … Continue reading The Flywheel of Corruption: Why Our Democracy Isn’t Working

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“I’m a Capitalist,” Says Warren…But Why?

Let’s drop the dead-end debate of capitalism versus socialism and focus on choosing terms that capture what we really mean—an open, fair, and accountable market essential to real democracy. by FRANCESS MOORE LAPPE My headline poses a question I struggle with. “Capitalism” refers to an economy driven by owners of private capital, typically with the aim … Continue reading “I’m a Capitalist,” Says Warren…But Why?

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Will You Help Artist Ron English Build a “Welcome Wall”?

BY CHRISTIAN SARKAR – Renowned U.S. Artist Ron English has started a protest wall project down at the border with Mexico.  In response to Trump’s push for a border barrier, he’s decided to build his own wall – a “Welcome Wall.” The Mexican American “Welcome Wall” will be a 2000 ft long physical wall along the US/Mexico … Continue reading Will You Help Artist Ron English Build a “Welcome Wall”?

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“Let Us Fix American Democracy”

BY PHILIP KOTLER – No democracy is perfect.  Some democracies work better than others.  Swiss democracy works well.  Canada’s democracy works pretty well.  American democracy has fallen on hard times. In 2016, I published Democracy in Decline in which I cite many problems and solutions.  We have voter suppression and low voter turnout.  We let politicians choose their … Continue reading “Let Us Fix American Democracy”

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Historian’s Advice to Davos Elite Worried About Pitchforks: ‘Stop Talking About Philanthropy’ and Start Paying Higher Taxes

BY JON QUEALLY – “I mean we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes… But we’ve got to be talking about taxes. That’s it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is bullshit in my opinion.” While the private jets have mostly left the airport outside of Davos, Switzerland following the … Continue reading Historian’s Advice to Davos Elite Worried About Pitchforks: ‘Stop Talking About Philanthropy’ and Start Paying Higher Taxes

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Open Letter by Over 70 Scholars and Experts Condemns US-Backed Coup Attempt in Venezuela

By COMMON DREAMS staff – “For the sake of the Venezuelan people, the region, and for the principle of national sovereignty, these international actors should instead support negotiations between the Venezuelan government and its opponents.” As many American lawmakers, pundits, and advocacy groups remain conspicuously silent in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to formally … Continue reading Open Letter by Over 70 Scholars and Experts Condemns US-Backed Coup Attempt in Venezuela

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In Bid to ‘Get Big Money Out of Politics,’ House Lawmakers Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

BY JAKE JOHNSON – In a bid to loosen the stranglehold corporate money has on the political process and “restore democratic power to the American people,” a bipartisan group of House lawmakers on Thursday introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s deeply unpopular 2010 Citizens United decision. “Let’s not mince words here—for too long, … Continue reading In Bid to ‘Get Big Money Out of Politics,’ House Lawmakers Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

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The Suffering Working Class – What Can Be Done?

BY PHILIP KOTLER – The low-income working class is one of the largest groups in America.  You can spot its members working at Wal-Mart or McDonalds, in large or small factories, in clerical jobs, and toiling in agricultural areas. This group includes single individuals, unmarried co-habitors, married childless couples, and families.  The common denominator is that they … Continue reading The Suffering Working Class – What Can Be Done?

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‘Tear Gassing Children Is Outrageous and Inhumane': US Condemned for Violence Against Asylum Seekers

BY JON QUEALLY – “Asking to be considered a refugee & applying for status isn’t a crime,” says Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez after U.S. Border agents fire tear gas into Mexico. As legal experts and human rights advocates overnight and Monday morning continued to denounce the tear gassing of children and other asylum seekers by U.S. forces … Continue reading ‘Tear Gassing Children Is Outrageous and Inhumane': US Condemned for Violence Against Asylum Seekers

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At the Heart of Global Woes, 157 of World’s 200 Richest Entities Are Now Corporations, Not Governments

BY JAKE JOHNSON – As corporations in the United States and around the world continue to reap record profits thanks to enormous tax cuts, widespread tax avoidance schemes, and business-friendly trade and investment policies, an analysis by Global Justice Now (GJN) published Wednesday found that the world’s most profitable companies are raking in revenue “far in excess … Continue reading At the Heart of Global Woes, 157 of World’s 200 Richest Entities Are Now Corporations, Not Governments

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‘This Is a Scam”: ExxonMobil-Backed Carbon Tax Will Not Save the Planet

BY JESSICA CORBETT “It comes as no surprise that ExxonMobil and other oil companies are calling for anything and everything short of moving off fossil fuels entirely—most notably, the unwieldy and unproven concept of carbon taxes.” Amid warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that there’s a closing window to act to prevent a … Continue reading ‘This Is a Scam”: ExxonMobil-Backed Carbon Tax Will Not Save the Planet

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Trump craves good press from the ‘fake news’ media – just look at his White House newsletter

BY JOSEPH GRAF, American University School of Communication Mainstream press coverage of President Trump has been unfavorable. Thomas Patterson of Harvard’s Shorenstein Center found that 80 percent of stories in the first 100 days of the administration were negative in tone. The president has attacked the media as “fake news” and journalists as “the enemy of the … Continue reading Trump craves good press from the ‘fake news’ media – just look at his White House newsletter

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Will China’s State-Directed Capitalism Outperform the U.S.’s Unguided Democracy?

BY PHILIP KOTLER – China and the U.S. represent two opposing systems for running an economy.  We will know in twenty years which system performs better in GDP growth, product quality, and innovation.  We will also have a clearer understanding of the economic and non-economic gains and losses with each system. The Chinese government is highly … Continue reading Will China’s State-Directed Capitalism Outperform the U.S.’s Unguided Democracy?

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Amid #DeleteFacebook Fervor, Experts Say Time to Tackle Big Data Profiteers

BY JAKE JOHNSON – A social media platform like this “is the ultimate surveillance tool: an addictive product that’s optimized to collect and analyze the intimate details of our lives.” While the pro-Trump data firm Cambridge Analytica has received a flood of media attention in recent days following reports that it harvested the personal information of … Continue reading Amid #DeleteFacebook Fervor, Experts Say Time to Tackle Big Data Profiteers

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11 Mayors Applauded for Refusing to Do Business With Companies That Don’t Support Net Neutrality

BY JAKE JOHNSON – “Town by town, city by city, local leaders are taking back everyone’s right to connect and communicate.” As advocacy groups and open internet defenders in Congress continue their efforts to repeal the Republican-controlled FCC’s attack on net neutrality, the mayors of 11 cities have signed a new pledge vowing to refuse to … Continue reading 11 Mayors Applauded for Refusing to Do Business With Companies That Don’t Support Net Neutrality

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Lamentations: Disaster-Capitalism, Puerto Rico, and the Art of Patrick McGrath Muñiz

BY CHRISTIAN SARKAR Alba’s Dream (2017) The public has not forgotten Puerto Rico, and neither has Patrick McGrath Muñiz. After experiencing Harvey in Houston, and witnessing Hurricane Maria passing over Puerto Rico and Irma in Florida, where most of his family and friends live, the issue of climate change has become even more personal for the … Continue reading Lamentations: Disaster-Capitalism, Puerto Rico, and the Art of Patrick McGrath Muñiz

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The Closing of the Golden Door: When Fear Became U.S. Immigration Policy

BY PHILIP KOTLER – There is a hidden meaning behind Trump’s slogan to “Make America Great Again.” His slogan is code for “Let’s Make America White again.” Immigration policy is one of the toughest issues facing the U.S. and its core beliefs and values. Both political parties are doing their best to bury or avoid … Continue reading The Closing of the Golden Door: When Fear Became U.S. Immigration Policy

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Consumption, Economic Growth And The Future Of Marketing

BY DIMITAR SABEV – From its very beginning marketing enhanced economic growth by provoking and channelling consumption, and in many cases this has been socially beneficial. There is growing evidence that the social and economic system based on the premise of constant and rapid growth has breached its limits. Consumption has to decouple from economic growth … Continue reading Consumption, Economic Growth And The Future Of Marketing

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Should Government Put a Tax on ‘Sin’ Products and Services?

BY PHILIP KOTLER – Among the millions of products and services produced each year, there is a group loosely called ‘sin’ products. Think of “alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana” as major sin products. Think of “prostitution services” as a ‘sin’ service type. Think of recent efforts to discourage the consumption of soft drinks, candy, and packaged … Continue reading Should Government Put a Tax on ‘Sin’ Products and Services?

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Brand Confusion: What Do Our Political Parties Stand For?

BY PHILIP KOTLER and CHRISTIAN SARKAR – For many years, Americans held a clear idea of the differences between the Republican and Democratic parties. The Republicans were a party on the right, the Democrats a party on the left. But now the distinctions aren’t so clear. What went wrong? Neither party today is answering or … Continue reading Brand Confusion: What Do Our Political Parties Stand For?

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Why We Worship False Idols, Always Have, And Always Will

 [Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Global Imperial Plutocratic/Kleptocratic Brave New Fantasyworld of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump] BY SCOTT DEWEY – As long as humans worship the trappings and display of power and wealth—as with celebrity, political power, military power, economic power—and they obviously do—there can be no democracy; democracy cannot … Continue reading Why We Worship False Idols, Always Have, And Always Will

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The ‘Terrorist’ in the White House

BY PHILIP KOTLER  The US has been downgraded in The Economist’s Democracy Index. It is now in the “flawed democracy” category. Donald Trump got elected as U.S. President on a platform that included a lot of changes that appealed to many people. Trump promised to “Make America Great Again” by bringing back the high paying jobs that had moved overseas … Continue reading The ‘Terrorist’ in the White House

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Lobbying: The Scourge of Good Government

BY PHILP KOTLER Lobbying describes the effort of lobbyists to influence decisions made by government officials such as legislators, regulators or judges.  The term came from the fact that “influence peddlers” would appear in the lobby of legislative buildings to buttonhole legislators and influence their voting on behalf of the legislators’ clients.  Most of the … Continue reading Lobbying: The Scourge of Good Government

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China steps up as US steps back from global leadership

FLYNT L. LEVERETT, Pennsylvania State University and ROBERT SPRINKLE, University of Maryland Chinese President Xi Jinping’s appearance at last week’s World Economic Forum shows global leadership is shifting, not drifting, toward Beijing. The most vigorous defense of globalization and multilateral cooperation was mounted not by an American statesman, but by the president of the People’s … Continue reading China steps up as US steps back from global leadership

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The Real Value of Government Support for the Arts in the U.S.

BY JOANNE BERNSTEIN “May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” —President John Adams, upon moving into the new White House. All of us who are passionate about the arts are repelled by our new administration’s promise to eliminate the NEA, the NEH, and government funding for PBS.  We know that cutting … Continue reading The Real Value of Government Support for the Arts in the U.S.