IMF economic fundamentalist tonic for Europe
bh | 05.11.2001 19:23
With the European economy on the decline the IMF chief offers up the new 'fundamentalist tonic' for ailing economies - cut interest rates (and we can assume, although he didn't say it, cut taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals). Japan tried the formula, has an interest rate of almost zero, didn't work
http://www.irna.com/en/head/011105174814.ehe.shtml
IMF chief warns of imminent recession in Europe
Berlin, Nov 5, IRNA -- The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned of an imminent recession in Europe, calling on the European Central Bank (ECB) to lower interest rates, the weekly Der Spiegel magazine was quoted as saying here Monday. "According to my assessment, we are currently not facing the threat of an inflation but rather an imminent recession," Horst Koehler said. He urged the ECB to lower the key interest rates in an effort to stimulate the slumping European economy. The ECB has refrained from reducing interest rates, citing inflationary dangers.
Speaking of Japan, I Flipped past MSNBC this morning and their economist noted that Japan had enormous loads of bad debt, combined with 'deflation' (which makes the debt even worse). For those of you who don't know, 'deflation' is what happens to an economy when it has a 'depression' )but deflation sounds a lot better than 'depression' ... basically its the same thing
The cause of 'deflation' and 'depression' ->
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=15426&group=webcast
By the way the points made in the linked piece are a good defense if some war hawk tries to use the old 'Hitler' excuse to support every known war and every war to come until the end of time (sometimes you just have to go warring, right). The defense against this particular constantly repeated propaganda assault is as follows - collapse of capitalist ecnoomics created depression, depression created violence and desperation (re: leftists and the brownshirts lead to 'Feuhrer principle' as Hitler arises to save Germany from terrorism caused by the depression). Warhawking brings Germany out of depression several years before everyone else (Keynesian economics, warhawk style).
Economic collapse -> depression -> Hitler -> warhawking
I just mention this because I am tired of visiting the main indy site and reading about Hitler posted by all those simplistic war hawks, and wouldn't want you to be left slack jawed without an appropriate response if they try that Hitler mumbo jumbo to support todays (or every days) war, war being 'neccesary' and 'a good thing' after all, as Hitler 'proved'. Well there certainly was something proved in all that, just not what they simplistically keep trying to insist was the case...
In a story from Iran this morning, officials continue to begin to admit that street protests are not 'football riots' (as wrongly reported by BBC in October). In the following story Karroubi suggests that if there are protests then it must be 'the leaders fault.'
I find examining even the 'spin doctoring' of foreign media to be interesting (if you can read between the lines). In this case it suggests some kind of 'power struggle' perhaps is going on in Iran . It is strange to hear a parlimentarian say of the current leadership "if a rift develops between the people and officials, the latter is to be blamed." Keep in mind that over half of Iran's population are the young students who doing the protests so he could be thinking ahead of his own chances of getting elected or something like that as well.
In any case, at least it isn't more of that 'football violence' propaganda that was being put out before...
http://www.irna.com/en/tnews/011105174903.etn05.shtml
Karroubi: Rift between officials and people a threat to system
Rasht, Gilan prov., Nov 5, IRNA -- Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi Monday warned that any rift between officials and people will pose a serious threat to the Islamic Republic. He said that all should be vigilant in preventing this from taking place. Addressing a public gathering in Siahkal, Gilan province in northern Iran, Karroubi quoted the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini and said that if a rift develops between the people and officials, the latter is to be blamed. Karroubi said that everybody should carry out the duties he/she is entrusted with and expressed hope that public participation and efforts by officials to carry out their responsibilities will strengthen the Islamic Republic.
He said governing in Islam requires accepting responsibility and rendering service to the people which have to be thoroughly carried out.
Earlier in October, Karroubi stressed that it is important under the `current sensitive circumstances' to reinforce unity and solidarity among the Muslims.
Karroubi stated that the enemies should be aware that the standpoints of officials in Iran may be different over a range of issues but they should also be aware that the officials and people are together in hard times and in times of crises. He called on the officials of the three branches of the government to demonstrate and strengthen unity among them.
In the aftermath of the recent regional developments and its proximity to the center of the crisis, Iran should be vigilant in closely monitoring the situation, he said adding that Iran condemns terrorism in any part of the world.
One thing the students understand is that no government can govern without the consent of the governed, as the parliamentarian above suggests. Propaganda wars are always more important than bombs and bullets for this very reason, human power being an illusory thing (merely consent, or in the case of blatant propaganda, even manufactured consent). Propaganda exists and has always been used for a reason after all, even great empires with tremendous military might having crashed into ruins once losing the propaganda war and the hearts and the minds of the people at the same time.
The previous stories are here:
Student Protests in Iran
And more stories on the same theme are found near the top of the October Index page
IMF chief warns of imminent recession in Europe
Berlin, Nov 5, IRNA -- The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned of an imminent recession in Europe, calling on the European Central Bank (ECB) to lower interest rates, the weekly Der Spiegel magazine was quoted as saying here Monday. "According to my assessment, we are currently not facing the threat of an inflation but rather an imminent recession," Horst Koehler said. He urged the ECB to lower the key interest rates in an effort to stimulate the slumping European economy. The ECB has refrained from reducing interest rates, citing inflationary dangers.
Speaking of Japan, I Flipped past MSNBC this morning and their economist noted that Japan had enormous loads of bad debt, combined with 'deflation' (which makes the debt even worse). For those of you who don't know, 'deflation' is what happens to an economy when it has a 'depression' )but deflation sounds a lot better than 'depression' ... basically its the same thing
The cause of 'deflation' and 'depression' ->
http://uk.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=15426&group=webcast
By the way the points made in the linked piece are a good defense if some war hawk tries to use the old 'Hitler' excuse to support every known war and every war to come until the end of time (sometimes you just have to go warring, right). The defense against this particular constantly repeated propaganda assault is as follows - collapse of capitalist ecnoomics created depression, depression created violence and desperation (re: leftists and the brownshirts lead to 'Feuhrer principle' as Hitler arises to save Germany from terrorism caused by the depression). Warhawking brings Germany out of depression several years before everyone else (Keynesian economics, warhawk style).
Economic collapse -> depression -> Hitler -> warhawking
I just mention this because I am tired of visiting the main indy site and reading about Hitler posted by all those simplistic war hawks, and wouldn't want you to be left slack jawed without an appropriate response if they try that Hitler mumbo jumbo to support todays (or every days) war, war being 'neccesary' and 'a good thing' after all, as Hitler 'proved'. Well there certainly was something proved in all that, just not what they simplistically keep trying to insist was the case...
In a story from Iran this morning, officials continue to begin to admit that street protests are not 'football riots' (as wrongly reported by BBC in October). In the following story Karroubi suggests that if there are protests then it must be 'the leaders fault.'
I find examining even the 'spin doctoring' of foreign media to be interesting (if you can read between the lines). In this case it suggests some kind of 'power struggle' perhaps is going on in Iran . It is strange to hear a parlimentarian say of the current leadership "if a rift develops between the people and officials, the latter is to be blamed." Keep in mind that over half of Iran's population are the young students who doing the protests so he could be thinking ahead of his own chances of getting elected or something like that as well.
In any case, at least it isn't more of that 'football violence' propaganda that was being put out before...
http://www.irna.com/en/tnews/011105174903.etn05.shtml
Karroubi: Rift between officials and people a threat to system
Rasht, Gilan prov., Nov 5, IRNA -- Majlis Speaker Mehdi Karroubi Monday warned that any rift between officials and people will pose a serious threat to the Islamic Republic. He said that all should be vigilant in preventing this from taking place. Addressing a public gathering in Siahkal, Gilan province in northern Iran, Karroubi quoted the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini and said that if a rift develops between the people and officials, the latter is to be blamed. Karroubi said that everybody should carry out the duties he/she is entrusted with and expressed hope that public participation and efforts by officials to carry out their responsibilities will strengthen the Islamic Republic.
He said governing in Islam requires accepting responsibility and rendering service to the people which have to be thoroughly carried out.
Earlier in October, Karroubi stressed that it is important under the `current sensitive circumstances' to reinforce unity and solidarity among the Muslims.
Karroubi stated that the enemies should be aware that the standpoints of officials in Iran may be different over a range of issues but they should also be aware that the officials and people are together in hard times and in times of crises. He called on the officials of the three branches of the government to demonstrate and strengthen unity among them.
In the aftermath of the recent regional developments and its proximity to the center of the crisis, Iran should be vigilant in closely monitoring the situation, he said adding that Iran condemns terrorism in any part of the world.
One thing the students understand is that no government can govern without the consent of the governed, as the parliamentarian above suggests. Propaganda wars are always more important than bombs and bullets for this very reason, human power being an illusory thing (merely consent, or in the case of blatant propaganda, even manufactured consent). Propaganda exists and has always been used for a reason after all, even great empires with tremendous military might having crashed into ruins once losing the propaganda war and the hearts and the minds of the people at the same time.
The previous stories are here:
Student Protests in Iran
And more stories on the same theme are found near the top of the October Index page
bh