Will America’s curiosity about socialism outlive today’s socialist moment?

by C. J. Atkins

People’s World | February 28, 2020

Can our country’s interest in socialism and what it means outlive the “socialist moment” we are currently living through? Or will the idea fade from discussion once the 2020 election is over? In this photo from Nov. 2015, Sen. Bernie Sanders checks his watch during the commercial break of a Democratic primary debate in Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall / AP

It started with the near collapse of the economy in 2008-09 when millions lost their homes and jobs and started questioning the status quo. Discussion about it picked up again with the Occupy Wall Street movement as young people realized the future they faced—low-wage jobs, endless student debt—was anything but bright. Then, it emerged more fully into the open with the insurgent campaign of Bernie Sanders in 2016. Now, as it looks like the independent senator might actually win the Democratic nomination, it’s a topic that everyone seems to be talking about: Socialism.

These last few years, the United States has been living through what’s been described as a “socialist moment.” In the post-Cold War days of the 1990s and early 2000s, when global capitalism reigned triumphant, the idea socialism seemed all but dead. But the self-declared “democratic socialist” from Vermont—along with hundreds of other progressive lawmakers, grassroots candidates, and movements across the country—has changed all that.

The “Economic Calculation” Controversy

Unravelling of a myth

by Robin Cox

Dissident Voice | March 02, 2020

The economic calculation argument (ECA) has to do with the claim that, in the absence of market prices, a socialist economy would be unable to make rational choices concerning the allocation of resources and that this would make socialism an impracticable proposition. Tracing the historical development of this argument, this article goes on to consider some of its basic assumptions about how the price mechanism actually works in practice; in so doing, it attempts to demonstrate that the argument is based upon fundamentally shaky foundations. A rational approach to the allocation of resources in a socialist economy is then sketched out.  Such an approach is predicated on a particular view of socialism as entailing a largely decentralised – or polycentric – structure of decision-making in contrast to the view typically held by proponents of the ECA that socialism would entail central – or society-wide – planning.  Applying a decentralised model of socialist decision-making, this article identifies a number of key components of such a model and goes on to show how, through the interactions of these key components, the objections to socialism raised by the ECA are decisively overcome.

The Media’s Deafening Silence on Mike Bloomberg’s Ties to Epstein and Other Criminals

by Whitney Webb

MintPress News | February 28, 2020

After his late jump into the Democratic primary and, as critics argue, purchasing his way into the primary debates, former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg has received mixed coverage from corporate media, with many negative critiques of the current presidential contender’s history, conduct and connections.

Yet, despite efforts by other campaigns and more progressive-leaning media outlets to dampen Bloomberg’s chances at the nomination, one clear weakness of Bloomberg’s has thus far evaded meaningful media coverage: his ties to key players in the Epstein scandal, including Leslie Wexner, Ghislaine Maxwell and even Jeffrey Epstein himself.

FACE OF AN ECONOMY: U.S.: Car-home, debtors’ exam, 2020 federal poverty guideline

A Journal of People report

Capitalist economy creates many anomalies. It is full of irrationalities. Inhuman living condition for people is inherent part of the economy. The following information, all gathered from the mainstream media (MSM), not those claiming to be alternative, help understand the capitalist economy. These are primary information. The information related to life in capitalist economy, instead of haphazard comments, is yet to reach all who are suffering under the yoke of the capitalist economy.

U.S. initiative to stake claim to world’s rare earth minerals

A Journal of People report

Rare earth minerals have become highly prized issue in imperialist conquest. Competition for rare earths has risen steadily since the middle of the 20th century. Yet there are no alternative materials to replace these elements.

The U.S. is increasingly concerned about securing a stable supply of critical minerals used in car batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. Many of the minerals required for decarbonization are used in other high-demand products including smart phones.

By 2050, 24% of the world’s electricity will be used to power electric cars, and solar and wind energy will provide almost half the world’s electricity, BloombergNEF predicts. The BNEF forecasts nickel demand from lithium-ion batteries alone will grow 15.6 times between 2018 and 2030.

There are a few regions that are have a lot of rare earths, and these are mostly in China.