Collateral Damage: QE3 and the Shadow Banking System by Ellen Brown

by Ellen Brown
Writer, Dandelion Salad
webofdebt.com
July 23, 2013

北京央行紧急救“钱荒”(图)

Image by 禁书网中国禁闻 via Flickr

Rather than expanding the money supply, quantitative easing (QE) has actually caused it to shrink by sucking up the collateral needed by the shadow banking system to create credit. The “failure” of QE has prompted the Bank for International Settlements to urge the Fed to shirk its mandate to pursue full employment, but the sort of QE that could fulfill that mandate has not yet been tried.

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Why the U.S. Executive Branch Is a Clear and Present Danger to Our Democracy by Fred Branfman

by Fred Branfman
Writer, Dandelion Salad
originally published on Alternet, July 16, 2013
July 21, 2013

The Bug Stops Here

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

Edward Snowden’s revelations have illuminated the most critical political issue facing America today: how an authoritarian U.S. Executive Branch which has focused on war abroad for the last 50 years now devotes increasing resources to surveillance, information management, and population control at home, posing a far greater threat to Americans’ liberties than any conceivable foreign foe.

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Redemption of the Prosecutor

Dandelion Salad

Redemption

Image by Mael* via Flickr

bravenewfoundation on Jul 20, 2013

When prosecutor and devout Christian Preston Shipp began teaching in a Nashville prison, he never thought he’d be the one to get schooled. But the friendship he forges with one young prisoner puts his faith in the justice system—and in Jesus—to the ultimate test.

Go to RedemptionoftheProsecutor.org for more information! And please feel free to watch the film in HD.

This short documentary was made in partnership with the United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society; and the United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries.

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How Can We Face A Future Of Climate Change If We Have Forgotten Our Past? by Lesley Docksey

Hostas

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Lesley Docksey
Writer, Dandelion Salad
July 18, 2013

Climate change along with the disastrous effects it will have on the earth and humanity is being ignored by much of society. I differentiate between the earth and humanity because many people only relate to the problems that humans might suffer, not fully understanding that what damages the earth also damages us. During the 1992 UN Earth Summit in Rio, media headlines were screaming “We’ve only got 20 years to save the earth!” An environmentalist dryly pointed out, “No. The earth will survive. We have 20 years to save humanity.”

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Global Power Project, Part 6: Banking on Influence With Bank of America, by Andrew Gavin Marshall

by Andrew Gavin Marshall
Writer, Dandelion Salad
andrewgavinmarshall.com
Originally published on Occupy.com
July 17, 2013

Activists hold "funeral for democracy" at Bank of America HQ

Image by Rainforest Action Network via Flickr

This July, Bank of America was expecting to report an earnings increase of 32% from last year. The Washington Business Journal declared the bank among the top 10 “most improved brands” of the year. Bank of America is the second-largest bank in the United States following JPMorgan Chase.

So why does this bank deserve such an “improved” reputation? Perhaps it’s worth looking at a little of the bank’s record for some clarity.

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Edward Snowden and Latin America Expose Washington’s Impotence in a Changing World by Finian Cunningham

War Is A Racket

Image by Infidelic via Flickr

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation
July 17, 2013

One of America’s genuine heroes, Major General Smedley D Butler revealed in his memoirs the true, abhorrent nature of Washington’s foreign policy. Butler had led countless military operations in Central America and the Caribbean as a US Marines Corp commander in the era of “gunboat diplomacy” during the early 1900s. Years after his retirement, he spoke out candidly and ruefully of his highly decorated military service in a book entitled War is a Racket. Here is how Butler characterized with unsparing words his service for country in 1935, five years before his death:

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Chris Hedges: The Radical Movements Have Been Destroyed, Part 5

Chris Hedges

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

with Chris Hedges
Writer, Dandelion Salad
July 22, 2013

TheRealNews on Jul 22, 2013

On Reality Asserts Itself with Paul Jay, Chris Hedges says The Democratic Party used to watch out for the interests of labor and even for the poor. But that all changed under Bill Clinton. Although Obama, like Clinton, continues to speak in that feel-your-pain language of traditional liberalism, they’ve completely betrayed the very people that they purport to represent and defend. Continue reading

Casting Out Demons by Chris Hedges

Missal of Eberhard von Greiffenklau, Harrowing of Hell, Walters Manuscript W.174, fol. 95r

Image by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts via Flickr

by Chris Hedges
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Truthdig
July 22, 2013

Noel Lyons, a member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1976 to 1981 and once one of the country’s top professional skiers, found herself in a Vail, Colo., hospital in the spring of 2010 after another round of binge drinking. “I had given up on myself,” she would say later. Her boyfriend and sister decided she needed rehabilitative help. Because their resources were limited, they turned to the free Total Freedom Program, a Florida ministry for women and men that identifies itself as Christian.

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Noam Chomsky: The Corporatization of the University (2013)

Say No to the Corporate University

Image by Cold Cream Coffee via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

with Noam Chomsky

Isaac Epstein on Jul 14, 2013

July 12, 2013. Rackham Auditorium, University of Michigan

Sponsored by: GEO, LEO, MI-AAUP

Lead Organizer: Jim McAsey

Videographer: Isaac Epstein

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“Justice for Trayvon” rallies in 100 cities across USA

Rally in response to the George Zimmerman verdict

Image by Fibonacci Blue via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

TheRealNews on Jul 21, 2013

Marches across the country demands civil right charges against ZImmerman. Continue reading

Michael Hudson: Game Over for Our Post-Feudalistic Economy

It's Capitalism.

Image by eyewashdesign: A. Golden via Flickr

with Michael Hudson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
michael-hudson.com
July 21, 2013

CapitalWatch on Jul 20, 2013

Here’s what’s in your Prime Interest today:

Insolvent! That would be Detroit, which gave us the Supremes and the vehicles that fueled our happy motoring paradise for decades. Unfortunately, after years of decline, the Motor City finally filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday — a move that was not entirely unexpected. That’s right — $18 billion in liabilities is at stake — a record for the US. Is this the first domino that might just validate Meredity Whitney’s 2011 prediction of a wave of muni defaults? Continue reading

West Losing On All Fronts In Syria by Finian Cunningham

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from PressTV , July 17, 2013
July 21, 2013

Not only are the US, Britain and France losing their criminal covert military war for regime change in Syria, these state terrorists are also caving in on the propaganda front.

Such a criminal conspiracy was bound to fail sooner or later. Now, its weight of falsehoods and lies are imploding. The arrival of the UN chemical weapons inspection team this week in Damascus marks another hammer blow against Western malicious designs on Syria.

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TPP agreement cuts banks loose, undermines Buy America, hurts food and environmental safety, but still on the fast-track by Obama

TPP Leesburg Rally

Image by GlobalTradeWatch via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

TheRealNews on Jul 20, 2013

Lori Wallach: TPP agreement cuts banks loose, undermines Buy America, hurts food safety and environmental safety, but it’s still being put on the fast-track by Obama.

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Journalist Helen Thomas Dies At 92 + Helen Thomas on Her One Question for Obama (2010)

Helen Thomas died today

Image by Michael Foley Photography via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

Condolences and sympathies to Helen Thomas’ family and friends.

Pioneering correspondent Helen Thomas dies at 92

lord lord fec fec on Aug 13, 2013

Correspondent Helen Thomas spent 49 years covering the ins and out of the White House. Now the veteran journalist has died, aged 92. Thomas was a pioneer for women in the industry, putting tough questions to ten US presidents. Al Jazeera’s John Terrett reports from Washington, DC.

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Barack Obama’s Notice: Regarding the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Significant Transnational Criminal Organizations + Executive Order 13581–Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations

Dandelion Salad

TIME TO PULL THE PLUG ON KING OBAMA

Image by SS&SS via Flickr

Propaganda Alert!

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 19, 2013

On July 24, 2011, by Executive Order 13581, I declared a national emergency with respect to transnational criminal organizations pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the activities of significant transnational criminal organizations.

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