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By Elias Esquith, Salon

As devoted readers of Paul Krugman know well, there’s plenty of evidence from the last six years indicating that austerity, the idea that the government can best boost the economy by engaging in significant tax hikes as well as spending cuts, simply doesn’t work — at least not in today’s economic conditions. With the U.S. going through a period of significant GDP growth, a decrease in the unemployment rate and a falling deficit, it’s a lesson that holds less salience today than it did in years past. But in the eurozone economy, the application of “expansionary austerity” has been vigorous — and rather unsuccessful.

But with the victory of the anti-austerity party Syriza in Greece’s recent election, the state-of-play in Europe has changed dramatically. After years of economic pain and dislocation, Greek citizens now have a reason — however small — to hope that political pressure may force the leaders of the eurozone (German Chancellor Angela Merkel, first and foremost) to reevaluate their approach. Still, years of failure have not loosened austerity’s grip on much of the West; the appeal of the economic philosophy to its proponents seems to operate beyond the level of simple reason.

And this is why Brown University professor Mark Blyth’s book “Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea,” released in paperback last month, remains such necessary reading. Simultaneously functioning as an economics explainer, a merciless polemic, and a penetrating history, Blyth’s book offers a clear insight into austerity’s lineage, its theories, its champions and its failures. Recently, Salon spoke over the phone with Blyth about the book as well as the U.S. economy and the future of Europe. Our conversation is below and has been edited for clarity and length.

So, first off, I have to say that the book was a much funnier, feistier read than I’d expected, considering the subject.

[Laughs] I try to find the humor in death and gloom, yes.

In the introduction, you say austerity is an offensive canard. Can you tell me what you meant …read more

Source: ALTERNET

By Alyssa Figueroa, AlterNet

In October, organizers in Ferguson put out a call for people nationwide to come to the city to participate in four days of resistance to demand justice for Michael Brown, who was killed in August by police officer Darren Wilson.

Hailing from Oakland, New York, DC and Boston, Chinyere Tutashinda, Celeste Faison, Laila Williams, Nene Igietseme and Terry Marshall went to Ferguson to answer the call for black direct action trainers to help coordinate Moral Monday and to facilitate direct action trainings. But in the middle of a protest, something unexpected happened.

“All of us unsuccessfully attempted to bring black non-violent direct action trainers down there, and when we got to Ferguson most of the training team were white allies. We noticed that there was a shortage of black direct action trainers,” Faison said. “We looked at each other and said we need to develop some more folks to train our people and coordinate actions. And from there burst the BlackOUT Collective on the frontlines around 11 o’clock at night in front of the police station.”

Since then, the collective has helped black communities think through, facilitate, train, and execute numerous direct actions. One of their first projects was helping a group of young organizers in Oakland who wanted to take action. The result of that process was Black Brunch, an action, now expanded into other cities, in which protesters enter restaurants that cater to a white crowd at busy brunch hours and conduct a ritual for black people killed by police. This includes reading the names of those killed by police and vigilantes. The collective also published the group’s manual on the tactic for others to use.

On Black Friday, they assisted 14 black protesters in shutting down the Bay Area’s major public transportation system, BART, for four hours (how long Brown’s body lay on the street after he was killed) and 28 minutes (every 28 hours …read more

Source: ALTERNET

By Janet Allon, AlterNet

Not that he needs the help, but Jon Stewart is getting lots of suggestions for his next job via the twittersphere. Hours after the beloved late night comedian and host of the wildly popular “Daily Show” announced he would be leaving after September, #JobsForJonStewart was launched, and naturally became a worldwide trending topic.

Nevermind that Stewart mentioned having dinner with his family on weeknights might be pleasant, just swapping positions with his pal Brian Williams seems like a natural. Another excellent idea: spokesman for Arby's, Stewart's favorite fastfood chain punching bag. A lot of people would like to see him go into politics, maybe as Hillary Clinton's runningmate.

Plenty of show-biz in jokes in the mix, too. Here are 11 suggestions that Stewart should serioiusly consider:

1.

2.

3., 4. and 5.

6. 

7.

8. and 9.

10. 

11.

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…read more

Source: ALTERNET

By Kali Holloway, AlterNet

After a week of nonstop media attention and scrutiny, NBC announced that it has suspended beleaguered “Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams for six months without pay. Williams’ removal from the anchor chair follows his on-air admission last Wednesday that he fabricated a story about being in a helicopter that was shot down in Iraq in 2003. The suspension is yet another blow to Williams’ legacy, sullying the reputation of a media figure previously considered one of the most trusted names in news.

NBC News president Deborah Turness announced the decision in a statement that included harsh words about the anchor’s exaggeration. “This was wrong and completely inappropriate for someone in Brian’s position,” Turness wrote. “As managing editor and anchor of 'Nightly News,' Brian has a responsibility to be truthful and to uphold the high standards of the news division at all times.”

NBC Universal CEO Steve Burke also didn’t mince words in his criticism of Williams, going so far as to take the anchor to task for also tarnishing NBC’s image as a trustworthy news source. “By his actions Brian has jeopardized the trust millions of Americans place in NBC News. His actions are inexcusable and this suspension is severe and appropriate,” Burke said.

The suspension comes amidst an NBC investigation of Williams' claims that Turness says is “ongoing,” and suggests the network may have uncovered more lies Williams may have told. “In addition, we have concerns about comments that occurred outside NBC News while Brian was talking about his experiences in the field,” Turness said.

Several sources have questioned whether Williams “misremembered”—or rather, invented—his tales of harrowing experiences, including witnessing bodies floating in flood waters, getting dysentery and watching roving packs of lawless street gangs, during his coverage of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, others are now calling into doubt Williams’ story about being held up at gunpoint by a robber in the 1970s while he sold Christmas trees in Red Bank, New Jersey, near his hometown.

A report in New …read more

Source: ALTERNET

By Lanre Bakare, The Guardian

Amy Schumer. Schumer is arguably the most natural fit to replace Stewart. She’s had a hugely successful show on Comedy Central (Inside Amy Schumer), her act revolves around playing with left-leaning topics (gender politics, discrimination and objectification) and she manages to pull in an almost equal amount of male and female viewers. She’s also in the new Judd Apatow film Trainwreck, which has a work-in-progress screening at SXSW, and that could push her brand into the US mainstream for good. Whether she really wants to commit to a four-day-a-week show that grinds up political news and repackages it satirically is another matter.

John Oliver.Probably the most successful Daily Show alum after Colbert, Oliver has taken his pithy, witty and incredulous British shtick over to HBO and managed to create what is effectively a weekly version of The Daily Show. He ably covered for Stewart on The Daily Show in 2014 and would be more than capable of picking up the mantel and continuing to riff on political idiocy four times a week. The big stumbling block for him coming back is HBO. The cable giant has made Oliver a staple of its political coverage, in which he serves as a more distinctly left-leaning and politically correct foil to the cranky and more volatile Bill Maher. He also may just prefer the weekly format: he turned down the chance to take over from Craig Ferguson on CBS’s 12.30am slot, instead opting for HBO. But the chance to take over the most anticipated satirical late-night spot (one where he has clear links and history) may prove too good an opportunity to turn down.

Ricky Gervais. Some early reports have mentioned the British comedian as a possible replacement for Stewart. A cursory look at his background may have had many scratching their heads as to why a comic who is known for pushing the boundaries of good taste and hasn’t done any form of political satire would be a …read more

Source: ALTERNET