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The movements in Bombay from George Fernandes to Bal Thackeray that failed to transform the commercial capital of British India and the state of Maharashtra
07/02/2022
Lacking the capital, technology and the industrial expertise on an American scale the early efforts for rapid development struggled in the state of Maharashtra and India. just as they had struggled under volatile politics of Mao in Beijing, Shanghai and China.
Linked Articles
Shiv Sena | The Maratha tiger in its labyrinth
The Hindu 07/02/2022
Remembering George Fernandes: A selfless politicianThe Indian Express 07/02/2022
Pope Francis and the challenge of the modern world in 2020
11/27/2020
Two crises back to back in 2010 and 2020 putting the working class, middle class and poor further behind each ten years. Pope Francis calls this a challenge for the modern world in his new book "Let us Dream- The Path To a Better Future." He says "we cannot return to the false securities of the political and economic systems before the pandemic, we need economies that give access to all of the fruits of creation, to the basic needs of life, land lodging and labor."
Linked Articles
A Humble Pope, Challenging the World
New York Times 09/18/2015
Opinion | Pope Francis: A Crisis Reveals What Is in Our HeartsNYTimes.com 11/27/2020
East Gemany's struggle to find its own identity after young people leave and a sense of nostalgia for the economic security under the GDR
11/14/2019
By 2019 East Germany's search for identity is in full swing as it struggles with a nostalgia for the past before integration with west Germany, and following a departure of young people going west that leaves behind a rapidly aging society with less economic security. The promise of integration appears to be failed when seen as culture and identity, economic security.
Linked Articles
Germans still don’t agree on what reunification meant
The Economist 11/02/2019
Misrule in East Germany ‘triggered rise of the AfD’11/05/2019
Ashwini Bhide and the Mumbai Metro- getting infrastructure done in India on time
10/05/2019
The desperate need for good infrastructure and millions of people in Mumbai who have put up for too long with creaky infrastructure. The Mumbai Metro led by Ashwini Bhide is a path breaking effort to speed things up, as the WSJ points out. As before petitions and other methods are used to stall projects. This time the courts not only dismissed the petition about cutting trees in Aarey Colony, north Mumbai, but also fined the petitioners Rs 50,000 for filing a frivolous petition. Trees are important, as few trees as possible are being cut for the new Metro, and new trees are being planted to replace them.
Linked Articles
WSJ 05/08/2023
‘Activists should accept defeat honourably’: Mumbai Metro MD on Aarey rowHindustan Times 10/05/2019
Assessment of U.S. president Obama's two terms in office 2008-2016 (1) - a declining middle class and a struggling working class
01/13/2016
Linked Articles
The Obama era has damaged liberalism - The Washington Post
Washington Post 01/13/2016
A voice in the wildernessEconomist 01/19/2016
The weakness in Trump's candidacy and the upsurge for Ted Cruz before the Iowa Republican primary
12/10/2015
Linked Articles
Trump Is the Democrats’ Dream Nominee
Wall Street Journal 12/10/2015
As Ted Cruz Rises in Polls, He Is Banking on the SouthWall Street Journal 12/10/2015
The miracle of Loretta Lynch- (2) a young prosecutor takes on FIFA
11/07/2014
Linked Articles
Loretta Lynch, Federal Prosecutor, Will Be Nominated for Attorney General
New York Times 11/07/2014
FIFA Charges Instantly Earn Loretta Lynch Global RecognitionNew York Times 05/29/2015
Insights into the thinking of Janet Yellen and Ben Bernanke for a strong labor market before increasing interest rates
07/18/2013
Yellen is expected to look beyond the unemployment rate target of 6.5% set by Bernanke in Dec. 2012, and give emphasis to the long term unemployed. Bernanke also mention the under employment rate as an additional factor to consider.
Linked Articles
Don’t Expect Job Data Alone to Persuade Fed on Rates
New York Times 01/23/2014
Bernanke Plays Down Link Between Jobless Rate, Fed MovesWall Street Journal 07/18/2013
Venezuela confronts the extravagant cost of almost free gasoline at the pump in 2015- (1) a history of public resistance and the Chavez government
04/12/2013
Linked Articles
Venezuela Mulls Subsidies Cuts
Wall Street Journal 01/23/2015
Almost-Free Gas Comes at a High CostWall Street Journal 04/12/2013
The EU debate between France's Hollande and Germany's Merkel before and during the EU's Oct. 2012 meeting
10/17/2012
The issue was direct aid to Spanish banks and the early setup of an EU banking supervisor so that Spain could get early debt relief as its economy struggles with high unemployment of over 25%. Chancellor Merkel turned down direct aid to Spanish banks, and partly relented on banking supervision by agreeing to have the legislation completed by Jan 2013 and the actual setup of the supervision authority during the course of 2013, probably after elections in Germany in Sept. 2013.
Linked Articles
German Refusal on Bank Aid Mars European Summit
New York Times 10/19/2012
Hollande fires warning shot at Merkel over austerity on eve of EU summit | World news | guardian.co.ukThe Guardian 10/17/2012
The view that with P5+1 talks with Iran ending in no agreement, the crisis with Iran is reaching a critical stage in August 2012
08/06/2012
Israeli views on the continued development of nuclear weapons capabilities by Iran in the face of tightened sanctions and diplomatic efforts. Oren and Yadlin see this has having reached a critical stage before military action.
Linked Articles
Get ready to fight Iran - The Washington Post
Washington Post 08/18/2012
Time Is Short For Iran DiplomacyWall Street Journal 08/06/2012
Boeing and lessons learned from the $50 billion Dreamliner project- (1) a shift to incremental improvement for the path ahead
06/08/2012
No more moonshot projects, say CEO McInerney, and Ray Conner, head of the airplanes division. The cost of the Dreamliner exceeds $50 billion by 2015, according to Barclays Capital, including R&D and related costs. The focus is now on incremental change, on striving for simplicity, reducing complexity, and increasing reliability, after the experience of over 3 years of repeated delays, cost overruns, and reliability failures, high complexity, and overloaded manufacturing processes on the Dreamliner project.
Linked Articles
At Boeing, Innovation Means Small Steps, Not Giant Leaps
Wall Street Journal 04/03/2015
Boeing Hits a MilestoneWall Street Journal 06/08/2012
Alexei Kudrin and other experts see the potential for a deep economic and political crisis in Russia as the situation in the eurozone worsens
05/23/2012
The Center for Strategic Studies in Moscow was prescient in predicitng political dissatisfaction before parliamentary elections. The former finance minister, Alexei Kudrin, anticipated the 2008 global financial crisis and set aside reserves in the sovereign wealth fund to cope with the crisis. Both now see the potential for a worsening economic and political situation in Russia as Greece nears exit from the eurozone and the banking crisis in Europe leads to reduced loans to Russia. At the same time the political polarization in Russia between pro and anti Putin factions creates other tensions.
Linked Articles
Report Says Support for Putin Is Dropping
Wall Street Journal 05/23/2012
Russian Recession Could Prompt Political Woes, Report SaysNew York Times 05/24/2012
The Hong Kong, Taiwan crises and American risks in existing supply chains and manufacturing arrangements
10/06/2021
The crises in Hong Kong and Taiwan lead to a reevaluation of existing supply chain and manufacturing arrangements by the Biden administration. The coronavirus pandemic with over 700,000 deaths in the US and a large number of deaths in Europe and India are leading to a new awareness of the importance of manufacturing at home and not depending on far flung supply chains. Public perceptions have changed yet American companies continue to operate as before without an awareness of the changes in public perceptions.
Linked Articles
U.S. Trade Policy Adapts to a China That Will Never Change
WSJ 10/06/2021
China Would Be Able to Launch Attack on Taiwan by 2025, Island’s Defense Minister WarnsWSJ 10/06/2021
What Tesla after the pandemic's first wave has in common with VW in 2015 at the time of the diesel emissions crisis
09/10/2020
CEO pay packages shooting into space just before and just after the first wave of the pandemic.
Linked Articles
Elon Musk’s Payday Could Cost Tesla Shareholders Dearly
WSJ 09/10/2020
Volkswagen’s Ex-CEO Is Ordered to Stand Trial Over Emissions ScandalWSJ 09/09/2020
Britain's Labour Party's struggle to find its soul
11/14/2019
A month before the December 2019 general election Britain's Labour Party struggles to find a connection to its working class and middle class heartland.
Linked Articles
Frank Dobson’s death is a reminder of Labour’s decay
The Times 11/14/2019
Robert Crampton’s election road trip: Labour finds hostility in its heartlandThe Times 11/14/2019
How German security services, Federal criminal Police (BKA), and Berlin police handled the case of Anis Amri before the attack at Breitscheidplatz
12/23/2016
Linked Articles
After the attack: Tangle of bureaucracy, not failure of government | Germany | DW.COM | 22.12.2016
DW.COM 12/22/2016
Opinion: Germany's security services deserve more credit | Germany | DW.COM | 22.12.2016DW.COM 12/22/2016
The resilience of U.S. auto sales in 2015-2016- new management, technological advances and pent up demand
01/06/2016
The U.S. automobile market and its resilience is one factor in the improving economy in 2016. New management and technology provide a resilience for automakers that never existed before.
Linked Articles
U.S. Car Sales Set Record in 2015
Wall Street Journal 01/06/2016
U.S. car sales hit record high in 2015 - The Washington PostWashington Post 01/06/2016
Two party systems and Malaysia's UMNO Party- (2) the future economic prospects of Malaysia under Razak, India under Modi, Indonesia under Widodo
12/08/2014
Najib Razak follows his father Tun Abdul Razak, Mahathir before him, all the way back to Tunku Abdul Rahman, all of the UMNO party, in an uninterrupted control of the United Malay Naional Organization Party which has ruled Malaysia for almost 6 decades. Malaysia has followed the example of Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore by keeping the opposition parties weak to maintain control. Both the UMNO and the party of Lee in Singapore face questions about the merits of suppressing the development of two party systems, at a time when government is changing hands to opposition parties in most of the region and improving economic prospects in each country with a change of government- Abe in Japan, Widodo in Indonesia, Modi and Sharif in India and Pakistan, Aquino in the Philippines, Wickremesinghe in Sri Lanka. A economic drift with no clear direction under Singh and Bhutto in India and Pakistan was reversed with the election of Modi and Sharif, the economic drift and deflation under the Kan and Noda governments was reversed in Japan with the election of Abe, and the economic drift in Indonesia is being reversed by the Widodo government. This shows how critical two party systems are to functioning democracies as middle classes develop and voters look for competing views of the future to choose from.
Linked Articles
Fund Controversy Threatens Malaysia’s Leader
Wall Street Journal 06/19/2015
Indonesian President Joko Widodo Pledges to Cut Investment BarriersWall Street Journal 12/08/2014
Greece's Path Back (1) - A Win for the Samaras government by April 2014 as Greece's 5 year bond yield reaches 4.95% and negotiations with the EU end favorably
03/18/2014
Linked Articles
Greece Gets Strong Demand for Bond
Wall Street Journal 04/10/2014
Greece Reaches Deal to Release Foreign Rescue FundsNew York Times 03/18/2014
Norway parliament's decision to divest holdings in companies 30% dependent on coal opens up the debate on coal- (2) a study showing 5 years less life expectancy in areas north of the Yangste river in China
07/09/2013
Linked Articles
Norway Will Divest From Coal in Push Against Climate Change
New York Times 06/05/2015
Air Pollution From Coal Use Cuts Lifespans in China, Study ShowsWall Street Journal 07/09/2013
Assessment of U.S. president Obama's two terms in office 2008-2016 (2)- a declining middle class and struggling working class
02/13/2013
Linked Articles
Obama’s Legacy: Trump and Bernie
Wall Street Journal 01/13/2016
Obama, in State of the Union, makes case that middle class is job one - The Washington PostWashington Post 02/13/2013
Canada's DBRS, a little known credit ratings firm that made a large difference for the credit ratings of Italy and Spain
08/09/2012
Canada's DBRS put less weight on the political shifts in Italy and more on the low growth rate. It rated Italy A (low) in November 2013, much higher than the ratings given by Moody's and S&P. This was important in the eurozone crisis because the European Central Bank uses the highest rating on a sovereign country's bonds to decide discounts on collateral pledged by banks to the ECB. DBRS has more faith in the lasting value of the euro and sees through the ups and downs of the crisis. It takes a similiar upbeat long term view of Spain. DBRS has credibility because it did not move ratings up as much before the 2008 financial crisis, and did not move the ratings down as much during the crisis, as the large credit ratings firms.
Linked Articles
Wall Street Journal 08/09/2012
The Key to Italy's Rating Is Kept in CanadaWall Street Journal 11/02/2013
Torrelodones, Castilla La Mancha and the effort to clean up accounts in local government in Spain
06/25/2012
Wasteful spending, cronyism, corruption and lack of transparency in local government marked the years of the construction and real estate boom in Spain. Now grassroots efforts are taking place across Spain to clean up accounts, ensure transparency, and divert wasted resources to meet vital needs. Similiar efforts are taking place from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Sicily, Italy, as Europ faced with high unemployment and austerity cuts comes up with its own efforts for renewal from the bottom up setting the political elites aside.
Linked Articles
Europe's Recession Sparks Grass-Roots Political Push
Wall Street Journal 05/21/2013
A Spanish Leader Emerges as a Crusader for AusterityWall Street Journal 06/25/2012
Obama and election advisor Plouffe- responsible governance, Simpson-Bowles and an election imprint on "everything"
05/26/2012
A White House aide says election advisor David Plouffe's influence affected "everything" in the Obama White House. Tom Friedman points to the influence of campaign consultants on the White House as overreaching and pervasive, going so far a to describe the campaign being developed in test tube fashion. Karl Rove pointed to president Obama keeping an eye on reelection 18 months before Nov. 6, 2012, as not a positive development. Friedman specifically mentions president Obama's failure to endorse the Simpson-Bowles commssion on deficit reductions as part of the imprint of election advisors because reducing tax expenditures or deductions might prove politically unpopular. Yet this was part of responsible governance to take on unpopular positions- something other presidents, including Democratic president Truman, did not fail to do choosing instead to educate pubic opiion on difficult steps needing to be taken. Truman took the decisions head on such as confronting the soviets in Greece and other parts of Europe and in Korea after the fall of the Iron Curtain, so soon after a major war when the public was weary of conflict.
Linked Articles
Obama Adviser's Strategy Is High Risk, High Reward
Wall Street Journal 10/31/2012
President Obama Should Seize the High GroundNew York Times 05/26/2012
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