Author Archives: stephenkmacksd

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About stephenkmacksd

Rootless cosmopolitan,down at heels intellectual;would be writer. 'Polemic is a discourse of conflict, whose effect depends on a delicate balance between the requirements of truth and the enticements of anger, the duty to argue and the zest to inflame. Its rhetoric allows, even enforces, a certain figurative licence. Like epitaphs in Johnson’s adage, it is not under oath.' https://www.lrb.co.uk/v15/n20/perry-anderson/diary

janan.ganesh@ft.com on ‘moderation to the point of tedium’. Political Observer comments

The cast of characters of Mr. Ganesh’s latest political melodrama is a crowded field! First to appear in the headline of this Capitalist Apologetic newspaper is ‘The Populist Left’ ,hardly a surprise: the specter of Marx in his various political/economic … Continue reading

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@TheEconomist Oxbridgers on the possibility of a ‘Global Downturn’. Political Observer comments

Headline: Markets are braced for a global downturn Sub-headline: The signals from bonds, currencies and commodities are increasingly alarming  Its almost as if American Television’s dreck merchant Aaron Spelling had reincarnated as a writer or writers for the Economist. The … Continue reading

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Andy Divine on the ‘brilliant,bespoke’ Michael Anton! Political Observer comments

Andy opens his essay of August 16, 2019, with praise for Straussian Michael Anton as ‘brilliant, bespoke’ it might be a faux pas to call a man ‘chic’?  Mr. Anton began his career, at least to my knowledge, with his … Continue reading

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@TheEconomist jumps on the ‘Inequality Bandwagon’? Old Socialist comments

The Posh Boys & Girls @TheEconomist  now find it necessary to address the vexing question of ‘inequality’ ? In this  very narrow political/historical context: Headline: The Mittelstand’s corporate success comes at a cost Sub-headline: Germany’s rising current-account surplus has been … Continue reading

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edward.luce@ft.com on ‘The Hong Kong Test’ . Old Socialist comments

Headline: America is failing the Hong Kong test Sub-headline: Indifference to pro-democracy protests highlights degeneration of US foreign policy Mr. Luce frames his lament, maladroitly, in the deeply held notion of American Exceptionalism. Except that this version of exceptionalism renders … Continue reading

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In the pages of The Financial Times: Macri declared a failure! Political Observer comments

Mr.  Torres’ essay doesn’t even begin to offer something like a diagnosis, for the failure of Macri’s failed ‘Austerity Lite’. Awash in Econo-Speak , a stand-in for obfuscation.  Or is this offered in lieu of an actual diagnosis. In sum, … Continue reading

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From the pages of The Financial Times: Macri stumbles, Economic Disaster follows! Political Observer comments

The Greek Chorus in this latest installment of The Argentine Political Crisis, 2019 Edition is made up of Economic Technocrats, representing those Investment Houses, left high and dry with the election of  Néstor Kirchner and his successor Cristina and their … Continue reading

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The Financial Times and Elisabeth Braw on the necessity of an alliance between Business & National Security States. Political Observer comments

Headline:Business must prepare for aggression by states Sub-headline: Companies should consider participating in military exercises A hireling from  RUSI (https://rusi.org/) Elisabeth Braw advocates what is ,in sum, Fascism: the vital connection between National Security States and their suppliers of weapons of … Continue reading

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Andy Divine drowns in a sea of definite/indefinite pronouns, in the first part of his latest polemic. Political Observer looses patience!

In Andy Divine’s latest essay he puts rhetorical distance between himself as political scribbler, and these political actors: *some, others, many, we, ours, they, one.  Andy’s political desperation expresses itself in the second part of his essay by resorting to … Continue reading

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The Financial Times celebrates the Labour Party’s loss of 45,000 members in 2018. Old Socialist comments

‘He has faced continued questions over his handling of anti-Semitism complaints within the party.’ The Great Lie of Corbyn’s mythical antisemitism, has been the hysterical accusation made by the New Labour faction, since Mr. Freedland’s Guardian column . With the … Continue reading

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