Items of Interest, 12 October 2011

The Occupation Movement:
Thomas Fleming, Occupied America
Why the metamovement will ultimately fail by Dave Pollard (EB)
Ralph Nader, Rumble from the people (Counterpunch)
Welmer, Occupy Wall Street Protests: Real Movement or More Party Politics?
The Occupation Movement: Grand Alliance or Anti-Tea Party?
John Robb, JOURNAL: A Capitalist Reformation?

More on the Economy:
The FALL of Phantom Assets by Dr. Peter Chojnowski

Tomgram: Andy Kroll, America's Lost Decade

Transition Culture: “Communities are more important than individuals, and probably more important than states and nations”: An interview with Bill McKibben

Joel Salatin:
The Self-Sufficient Gardener: Episode 125 Interviews – Joel Salatin, Cheryl Long, Diane Ott Whealy (mp3)
Farmer And Philosopher Joel Salatin (mp3)
Joel Salatin, Part 1: “Folks, This Ain’t Normal”
Joel Salatin, Part 2: Food Regulation And The Little Guy
Mother Earth News (2008)
Making Food Friendly
Dekacrossfit

Peak Oil:
How I prepared my family for peak oil - Nicole Foss (EB)


Catholic:
Papal Vespers in Carthusian Monastery

Solemn Ambrosian Vespers and Benediction (Usus Antiquior Ambrosianus)

Rob Vischer, Occupy Wall Street v. Tea Party: Should Catholic Identity Shape Our Preference?

Are we really talking about identity, as opposed to political preferences or the alliances that we form with others? Is there any movement that embodies CST? Would we not be better off pursuing concrete strategies of relocalization and living in accordance with the order of charity?

CD-Aufnahmen zur neuen CD "Chant - Amor et Passio": 1. Tag


Probe mit David Ianni für die CD "Chant - Amor et Passio"


Predigt von Kurt Kardinal Koch

Diet and Health:
Mark Sisson: How I'd Change Gym Class


Music:
NPR: A Final Gift From Steve Jobs, Plus New Music From First Aid Kit

Breathing New Life Into Hank Williams' Lyrics : NPR

Exclusive Interview: Scotty McCreery talks hitting No. 1, his 'no' list and prom

Dr. Peter Chojnowski reviews Economics for Helen

Distributist Review

Items of Interest, 10 January 2011

Happy Birthday to my mum!

Dr. Peter Chojnowski, The Coming American Default

America on the Rocks By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Spinning Unemployment in a Collapsing Empire

A Shocking Act of Political Violence By CHRIS FLOYD
Silent Surge in Afghanistan

"I Want to be a Helicopter Gunner!" By DAVE LINDORFF
A Disturbing Meeting at the Gym

Michael Shedlock, Brown Seeks 10% Pay Reduction For State Employees, Unveils $12.5 Billion Spending Cuts; Suggestions to Eliminate the Gap

From Bloomberg: "Voters will be asked to extend increases in sales and income taxes as well as vehicle license fees in a special election in June, Brown said."

Peter Chojnowski, A Parallel Economy

A reminder of why distributism is relevant:
Peak Energy, Climate Change, and the Collapse of Global Civilization: The Current Peak Oil Crisis
Tariel Mórrígan; Global Climate Change, Human Security & Democracy, UCSB,
(pdf)

The Economy Is Not Coming Back
Gilles d'Aymery, Swans Commentary

The Free Market Fetish By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
Garbage In, Garbage Out

The efficient markets theory is that unregulated markets are efficient and rational. According to this theory in which Greenspan placed his trust, unregulated markets produce the best possible result. Any regulatory interference worsens the outcome.

Greenspan blamed his own bad judgment on a theory. The theory, or Greenspan’s understanding of it, nevertheless still holds sway as Congress has proved impotent to re-regulate the gambling casino that is Wall Street. Clearly, the theory serves powerful interests.

But what is the truth?

The truth is that markets are a social institution. Their efficiency depends on the rules that govern the behavior of people in markets. When free market economists talk about markets deciding this or that, they are reifying a social institution and ascribing to it decision-making power. But, of course, markets do not act or make decisions. People act and make decisions, and markets reflect the decisions and actions of people.

The entire debate over regulation is misconstrued. It is not the market, an efficient social institution, which is regulated. What is regulated is the behavior of people in markets. If you want good results from markets, good regulation of human behavior is a requirement.

The market is like a computer. Garbage in, garbage out.

If people who use markets are not regulated, they issue fraudulent financial instruments. They leverage assets with absurd amounts of debt. They market their instruments with fraudulent investment grade ratings. They deal themselves aces.

Richad Aleman links to this piece by Dr. Chojnowski, which is worth another read: Interview on the Crash of 2008.

Two from Dr. Peter Chojnowski: The Dollar's Demise: The Coming American Default and from 2008, Interview on the Crash of 2008.