The banking system we take for granted is unfixable. The good news is that we no longer need to rely on any private, rent-seeking, socially destabilizing network of banks, at least not the way we have so far.
shows why the current private system is unfixable – and why we don’t need to tolerate it anymore.
Like Vladimir Putin, China's leader is so steeped in a narrative of victimhood and fearful of appearing weak that it is hard to imagine him ever leading China out of the mess he has created. He could well be remembered as the leader who squandered history's most remarkable economic success story.
about the country's increasingly worrisome trajectory, both at home and abroad.
Artificial IdiocyFrank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images
纽约——华尔街精英的自恋和过于乐观的无知近乎于一种奇迹。坐在权力的宝座上、享受着减税、宽松货币和股市飞涨,他们相信在这个最美好的世界里一切都极为完美。敢于提出批评的人一定是傻瓜或者魔鬼。
当我在他们面前提到支持美国总统候选人伯尼·桑德斯时,能够清晰地听到他们倒吸一口冷气,就好像我提到了路西法的名字。他们确信桑德斯绝不能当选,或者如果真的当选,他会带来共和国的崩溃。哪怕是像纽约时报和华盛顿邮报这样的“自由”媒体,也能在不同程度上发现同样的情绪。
这种蔑视既荒谬又很能说明问题。在欧洲,桑德斯应当是主流社会民主党人。他想要恢复美国人生活的某种基本体面:由公共出资的全民医疗保健;全日制劳动者高于贫困线的工资;以及诸如婴儿假和带薪病假等基本福利;不会令年轻成年人陷入终身债务的大学教育;亿万富翁也无法买到的选举;以及由公众舆论决定的公共政策,而不是企业游说(2019年,美国总共耗资34.7亿美元用于企业游说)。
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