In another 2013 world leader update, the Professor focuses on France, where a surprising turn of events has suddenly shown French President François Hollande as a force to be reckoned with, nationally and internationally no less! With his political party and allies commanding a majority of the government, he has the power to make things happen, and he is now riding that train for all it’s worth here at the onset of the new year. From tax policy to labor contracts to social policy, Hollande is moving forward with clarity and resolution that is enviable in most of the other grid-locked democracies. And the final kicker? Hollande has now thrust France back into the international power regime by sending troops to take back Mali from radical Islamist and terrorist groups! France leading the way militarily? How the hell did that happen? Who knows, but this Hollande guy is one to watch as he brings France back into contention as a significant global player.
Keywords: France, taxes, austerity, social policy, gay rights, labor reform, Germany, Europe, US, Mali, Islamist, terrorists, colonial power, West Africa, war on terror
A pre-election raging rant on the US economy is in order! What sparked the Professor’s prolific and pugnacious prattle on this topic? 1)A story on the powerhouse manufacturing sector in Germany combines with 2)the total lack of any serious debate on this topic by the two wanna-be presidential contenders, as usual. Would love to hear your opinions on the state of the US economy and the US workforce in comparison to Germany’s….and your thoughts on how the US as a society should be fixing it’s sorry state of affairs.
Sacré bleu et un skunk de pew! The center-left Socialist Party of France has now swept into power and controls the entire government…both the Presidency and the entire Parliament are center-left, which means they have a mandate from the people, and the political power, to create all kinds of new policies to deal with the current European economic meltdown. This is setting up an ideological showdown between left and right about the role of government and how to fix the economy…a showdown not just in France, but in Europe as a whole. Oh, and that in turn will affect the whole planet! Is a resurgence of socialist forces worldwide underway? We shall see, based mostly on how the French fare with their leftist leanings…
The Russian throw-down has officially occurred:! Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it crystal clear (through words, actions, and official visits) that he sees Russia’s future in the East, not the West. Listen as the Professor points out all the Puin moves that make this assessment entirely obvious….including multiple disses of Team West on the G-8, on Syria, and on missile defense, while further embracing China, the SCO, and a “Eurasian Trade Union.”
Putin sez: “The fundamental interests [of Moscow and Beijing] coincide broadly both in international and economic affairs.”
Hu Jintao sez: “I am firmly convinced that your visit will contribute to further development of all-embracing strategic partnership and cooperation.”
Can you feel the love? I can smell it from here.
I’m making the call: a brand new 21st century arms race is on! The US and Russia are returning to their old Cold War mentalities by escalating competing defensive and offensive capabilities. Announced earlier this week, the US/NATO missile defense shield is now operable in Europe, which pisses off the Ruskies, who in turn tested a new type of faster sleeker missile to be able to penetrate the shield. Team West is planning massive increases in their missile shield development, and Russia promises massive increases in their offensive capabilities to render the shield useless. Yay! Massive arms spending between powers that have virtually no chance of actually ever attacking each other! A total win for defense industries everywhere! Sorry taxpayers, you will have to flip the bill for the fun!
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