This isn’t the first time a charismatic nationalist has used a simple, good-vs.-evil narrative to push a radical economic measure. In 1958, China’s Mao Zedong called upon millions of citizens to wipe out the country’s rats, sparrows, mosquitoes and flies to fight disease and prevent crop losses. And like Mao’s campaign, which engendered a plague of locusts by wiping out the sparrows that ate them, Modi’s strike against corruption has led to some unexpected and painful consequences.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Racism In The New Zealand Criminal Justice System
A growing body of statistics about how Maori fare in the justice system make clear that for similar offences Maori get a rougher deal at every stage of the criminal justice system.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Larry Summers On Modi’s Demonetisation
Without new measures to combat corruption, we doubt that this currency reform will have lasting benefits. Corruption will continue albeit with slightly different arrangements.
The Kushner Factor
Just as Trump’s unorthodox style allowed him to win the Republican nomination while spending far less than his more traditional opponents, Kushner’s lack of political experience became an advantage. Unschooled in traditional campaigning, he was able to look at the business of politics the way so many Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have sized up other bloated industries.
“Jared understood the online world in a way the traditional media folks didn’t. He managed to assemble a presidential campaign on a shoestring using new technology and won. That’s a big deal,” says Schmidt, the Google billionaire. “Remember all those articles about how they had no money, no people, organizational structure? Well, they won, and Jared ran it.”
“There’s some aspects of the Democrat Party that didn’t speak to me, and there are some aspects of the Republican Party that didn’t speak to me. People in the political world try to put you into different buckets based on what exists. I think Trump’s creating his own bucket–a blend of what works and eliminating what doesn’t work.”
The Two Party System Continues
NATO is too expensive. That is the electoral verdict. The unfinished business of ending the Cold War once and for all perhaps now will be finished. Architecting a normal relationship with Russia might be at hand.
Trump's ascent might be a challenge to the solar entrepreneurs who now have to make sure dirty energy gets priced out completely.
Monday, November 21, 2016
Demonetisation
Demonetisation result of power concentration in one man: Rahul Gandhi
Change PM, not notes: Arvind Kejriwal on demonetisation
Enemies couldn't have hurt rural India as demonetisation: Sitaram Yechury
Mamata Banerjee: Note ban hit lower class, traders, women the most
Opposing demonetisation against country's interest: Devendra Fadnavis
Demonetisation:Queues get shorter at banks; no respite at ATMs
Demonetisation has hit those seeking money for poll tickets: Modi
Anxiety due to cash crunch takes ministers to shrinks
Congress running away from discussion on demonetisation: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Senior bureaucrats to visit states to assess demonetisation drive
Demonetisation: Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal threaten intense protest
Demonetisation: Currency recall issue creates storm in Parliament
Demonetisation: Regulations changing faster than notes; banks stumped
Demonetisation move poorly executed: Ajay Maken
Demonetisation: A painful shift in rural economy, but all could be well by January.
Demonetisation will not address the problem of black money, say social activists.
Demonetisation: Banks get about Rs 5.44 lakh crore worth of old Rs 500/1000 notes.
Demonetisation: More important to address deeper problems in war against black money
Demonetisation seems like deflation for many people; danger signal for PM Modi
Demonetisation a 'bold move' to curb shadow economy: Bill Gates
Demonetisation: Modi should have gone after 8 lakh wealthy 'farmers', not common man
Rs 500, Rs 1,000 ban: Reaction to Modi's demonetisation move shows how it has upset upcoming elections