Saturday, September 29, 2018

Current Events Write-Up: Fahrenheit 11/9, Iran-U.S. Friendship, EU Austerity and the Collapsed Bridge, Hospital Monopolies

Time for this week’s Current Events Write-Up.

Counterpunch: “Moore’s ‘Fahrenheit 11/9’: Entertaining Film, Crappy Politics,” by Louis Proyect.

Reviews Michael Moore’s newest film about the Trump victory, while contrasting current Democratic Socialist candidates with old-style socialists.

Vridar: “Iran, Iran, If Only We Had Been Friends,” by Neil Godfrey.

Iran was standing beside the U.S. soon after 9/11, ready to help the U.S. take on the Taliban.  Then President Bush said Iran was part of the “Axis of Evil.”

Consortium News: “Privatization, the EU and a Bridge,” by Andrew Spannaus.

The EU’s austerity measures hinder Italy from making necessary infrastructure improvements, with dire results.  Yet, the article acknowledges that Italy is mired in waste and bureaucracy and has lots of debt.

The Federalist: “Why Hospital Monopolies Are What’s Wrong with American Health Care,” by Christopher Jacobs.

To quote the subtitle: “Obamacare’s crony capitalism—allowing hospitals to grow their operations in exchange for political endorsements—continues to contribute to higher premiums.”