THE HEADLINES

Paul Craig Roberts

MARCHING TO ARMAGEDDON: THE JEREMIAD OF PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS.

(Counterpunch)

Roberts, the former Reagan under-Secretary of the Treasury, issues one of his strongest condemnations of the combination of economic mismanagement and imperialist misadventure which has taken the U.S. and the world to the brink of self-destruction. While “economists” disguise the seriousness of unemployment and fail to note how economic “recovery” was based on short-term “stimulus” measures that have now expired, the U.S. has used its string of dubious overseas missions to perpetuate a war industry but also to worsen the federal deficit. Disguised as part of the “war on terrorism,” these operations have, in places like Libya and Syria, been efforts to combat the influence of China and Russia in these areas.

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HAWKS AND DOVES ARE BOTH UNHAPPY WITH MILITARY CUTS IN NEW BUDGET DEAL.

(Asia Times)

While critics of military spending characterize the budget as giving “free rein” to the Pentagon by minuscule and dubious cuts, hawks decry the budget as a threat to national security. One of these, neo-conservative columnist William Kristol, condemns the budget as providing the “best day the Chinese ever had,” as it threatens that much-prized U.S. global hegemony.

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IN ALABAMA IT’S NOW A “CRIME” FOR AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT TO LIVE OR WORK IN THE STATE.

(USA Today)

Immigration reform “liberals” often say that immigrant deportation enforcement will only apply to “criminal” immigrants not those honest, hard-working, tax-paying ones on which the productive economy so much depends. A new law in Alabama shows the slippery slope of that “criminals only” approach to enforcement. The law criminalizes immigrants themselves as well as those who would hire or otherwise give them “material support.” This “Arizona style” of immigration enforcement, complete with id checks and local law enforcement in immigration matters, threatens to become the “style” of the country at large.

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DE-REGULATION MANIA HITS IOWA AS A STATE NOTED AS A “MODEL” FOR ANTI-SMOKING PROGRAMS BECOMES A STATE WITH A DISAPPEARING TOBACCO CONTROL AGENCY.

(Des Moines Register)

Head of an agency credited by American Cancer Society with drastic reduction in smoking-related cancer in the state is “fired” as the agency faces 2/3 budget cut and the prospect that it may face total elimination. Tea Partyists seemingly will be inhaling more nicotine as they enjoy their tax-cutting tea

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OFFICIALS OF TWO “INTERVENE” HIGH SCHOOLS IN JACKSONVILLE FL URGE STUDENTS AND PARENTS NOT TO TRANSFER OUT OF THEM.

(Florida Times-Union)

Ribault and Raines schools were designated for “intervention” by State Department of Education after they got “failing” grades for several years. The state gave the Duval County school district a “waiver” for a year from intervention, provided that the schools held meetings to explain to students and parents how they could be “transferred” to other schools. The required meetings were held, but officials used the occasion as well to make a case with special presentations as to why parents should keep their kids in these schools.

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Quote of the day…

Economic historians will look back on this era as a time when policy-makers damaged Americans’ welfare with ideologically driven, self-inflicted wounds.

Joshua Holland, on House-passed deficit reduction bill which promises to worsen recession by removing the classic idea of the “safety net” of government spending to stimulate the economy.

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