USA - Judicial independence: Commentary: Politics is threatening local judicial independence - by Diane Shelley

Politics has no business in America’s court system but it has done so over the years.

Rad more at: Commentary: Politics is threatening local judicial independence - Chicago Tribune

European right politics thwarts the welfare state - by Muratcan Isildak

In the last quarter of the last century, the social state phenomenon in Europe was developing when the left leaders were in power. Starting from the end of the century, the burden brought by the welfare state began to restrict it, starting from Germany. Right-wing governments that came one after another in Europe almost competed with each other in narrowing the social state phenomenon.

Leaders in Europe at the end of the century such as Olof Palme, Willy Brandt, Francois Mitterrand, Papandreou paid attention to the social state phenomenon.

In 1999, the Schröder-Fischer duo in Germany, social democrats and green people started to implement a policy to bring the market to life. They brought aid money to the unemployed, aiming to expand employment. Employment increased with the project named Hartz IV. Thereupon, they started policies that cut social spending.

European right politics thwarts the welfare state - Modern Diplomacy

US Republican apologizes for equating mask rule to Holocaust

A Kansas county Republican Party chairman apologized on Sunday after the newspaper he owns posted a cartoon on its Facebook page that likened being ordered to wear a mask to the treatment of Jewish people meted out by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

The owner and publisher of The Anderson County Review, Dane Hicks, said in a statement posted on Facebook that he was taking down the image following "some heartfelt and educational conversations with Jewish leaders in the US and abroa

Read more at
US Republican apologizes for equating mask rule to Holocaust | News | DW | 06.07.2020

Is Europe headed for divorce? - by Timothy Garton Ash

Now that the German elections are over, Germany and France will launch a great initiative to save the European project. Marking the centennial of 1914 and World War I, this will contrast favorably with the weak and confused leadership under which Europe stumbled 100 years ago. Before the May elections to the European Union Parliament, the Franco-German duo's decisive action and inspiring oratory will drive back the anti-EU parties that are gaining ground in so many European countries.

In your dreams, Mr. and Ms. Pro-European Union. A new German government won't be formed until just before Christmas. In the German coalition negotiations, European affairs are being handled by — wait for it — a subgroup of the working group on finance. For the three participating parties — Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, the Bavarian Christian Social Union and the opposition Social Democrats — the hot-button issues are all domestic: the minimum wage, energy policy, dual citizenship, a proposed road toll; these things count for more than the future of the continent.

The trouble with grand coalitions is that because mainstream, centrist parties are burdened with the responsibility of government, the field of opposition is left wide open for the protest parties. On the other hand, if the anti-parties succeed at the polls, it could at last mobilize a younger generation of Europeans to defend achievements they take for granted.

It won't be 1914, but 100 years on, Europe will again be living in interesting times.

Note EU-Digest: always great pessimism about Europe from our "Anglo-Saxon Partners" .

Read more: Is Europe headed for divorce? - latimes.com

Hunger is a political problem

A world without hunger, where all seven billion people are well fed, can indeed be achieved. The planet produces enough food. Hunger is not a problem simply caused by natural crises. It is tolerated because other things are deemed more important. The voices of European consumers and farmers, for example, carry more political weight. If we took all our fine words about solidarity seriously, then subsidies would have to be abolished, trade relationships revolutionized and the price of food in the industrial states would rise.

The voices of the hungry carry little weight - they have no lobby. Perversely, people go hungry - of all places - where food is produced, among small farmers in rural regions. These people have nobody to represent their interests in multilateral economic institutions. When free trade treaties and global trade flows are negotiated, they have no voice, despite the fact that there are very many of them: Just under half of all people worldwide live either directly or indirectly from agriculture. The large, unheard majority in the developing world pays the price for our economic system: One billion people are hungry or undernourished.

European politicians always behave as if they were helpless and ask how they should convince voters to restructure taxes to the benefit of the world's poorest people. That wouldn't be so difficult. Elected officials simply need to convince their constituencies that fighting hunger is in the interest of their own well being. How will Europe cope with 150 million potential refugees fleeing hunger in sub-Saharan Africa for our continent by the year 2020?

For more: Hunger is a political problem | Environment & Development | Deutsche Welle | 31.10.2011

Britain: Ed Miliband attacks 'arrogant' David Cameron over NHS reforms

British PM David Cameron today defended the radical shakeup of the NHS as he was accused of breaking promises and of being "arrogant" by pressing ahead with reforms despite warnings from unions and health experts over the plans.

The prime minister said the government was reforming the NHS "so that we have got the best in Europe" as he was challenged by both Labour and a member of the coalition benches over planned health service reforms at prime minister's questions today.

The total number of adults under 25 who are out of work hit 951,000 in the three months to November, just 1,000 short of its record high. There was a particularly sharp rise in the number of 16- and 17-year-olds classed as unemployed, rather than in employment or education, up to 204,000 from 177,000 in the previous quarter. The statistics will fuel fears that Britain's young people could become a "lost generation" who cannot find work despite the recession ending a year ago.


For more: Ed Miliband attacks 'arrogant' David Cameron over NHS reforms | Politics | guardian.co.uk

Conservatism: income inequality makes even the poor more conservative

Income inequality makes the poor more conservative -- more likely to support smaller government and actually to perpetuate income inequality, two academics argue in a report released earlier this year.

The report, "Inequality and the Dynamics of Public Opinion: The Self-Reinforcing Link Between Economic Inequality and Mass Preferences" (pdf), authored by Nathan J. Kelly and Peter K. Enns, says income inequality is a self-perpetuating condition: As it increases, public opinion among both the rich and the poor shifts increasingly in its favor.

The authors' conclusion, which they say is likely to be "surprising to many readers," is that "both the rich and the poor respond to rising inequality by shifting in a conservative direction." This conservatism includes a desire to cut government programs such as welfare.

For more: KellyEnns_preprint.pdf - By Nitro PDF Software

Merkel's Government On The Brink As Poll Crushes Her Coalition - sabelle Schafer

Angela Merkel's government coalition is in terrible shape according to a new poll published by the ARD. The coalition would have only 36% of the votes if an election would be held this Sunday. A staggering 83% of Germans are discontent with the government's work.

A SPD - Green coalition, however, could easily have a majority with a solid 48% of the votes. They would not even need a complicated cooperation with the Linke, the leftist party.

For more: Merkel's Government On The Brink As Poll Crushes Her Coalition