Hasta La Gadget!

Several years ago, I became convinced that some of us have an ability to see the future, as, admittedly and quite practically, for those that pay detailed attention to socioeconomic shifts, the future is looking right at them. In 2014, my version of this “anticipated” future appeared to be eerily close to what is currently unfolding around the globe, but expressly in the U.S.: In A Vertical World, I concluded that, in a similar fashion to the 1920s/30s, the U.S. (which back then was afflicted with the penalties of armed conflict and deep-rooted economic malaise) may once again become averse to absorbing the ongoing cost and effort of “policing the world.” In simple terms, America would soon be ready to “turn within,” especially as unfavorable socioeconomic conditions – mainly as the result of the global financial crisis of 2008/2009 – had not been fully shrugged off.

Quite evidently, “turning within” is a euphemism for the path to nationalism or, at a minimum, elements of it. With this in mind, we acknowledge that the U.S. does not stand alone. As much as the recent Brexit was a determined anti-Westminster vote rather than an anti-Brussels vote, so, too, was the U.S. election outcome one of anti-establishment (or standards). We will see this trend continue in most other parts of the developed world, with major shifts to occur in Europe next, likely led by Italy and France.

Inherent to current developments is a renewed strong-minded protest of society, now blaming post-WWII super-structures (e.g., trade agreements, economic/monetary unions, etc.) for the common person’s lack of participation in economic share and position. Around this narrative, the idea of an anti-establishment vote comes with another fundamentally important point of critique: the decline of accepted and valid economic standards, particularly with respect to natural price formation in financial markets. Central bank policy, especially since the dot-com bust in 2000/2001, has set the stage for one of the greatest financial experiments in history – having a profound impact on asset prices and creating a sharp dividing line between the “haves” and “have-nots.”

Whenever persistent economic struggle strikes – on a sovereign level, as well as a very personal level – it is only human to assign blame, for all the right or wrong reasons: In Brexit, it was the overarching European idea that was blamed; in the U.S., it is, at its core, the protest against the emergence of a predominantly two-class system, with the “good” middle-class having been eroded over the past 50 years. In real terms related to both household income and commonly acknowledged benefits of society (especially of a wealthy one), Americans have voted with their depleted wallets.

Donald Trump, as the new President of the United States, and with him other populist leaders that are currently entering the global political scene, will have the potential to reintroduce the concept of Realpolitik – a rather pragmatic approach to shaping affairs on practical, but less ethical and moral grounds.

There is another disturbing, yet possibly promising, development to mention. As observed during the Brexit vote, the slim minority of “winning” voters in favor of Brexit (51.9 percent) was led by a) the 50-and-over age group, and b) less-educated voters (I am not passing judgement, but stating the facts). A similar picture is true for the recent U.S. election. Behind the data stands a young generation of global voters, rewarded with the privilege of democratic choice, but not “giving a hoot” to exercise it. The issue at stake – protesting the establishment – may be different altogether, and not even captured. Our parents (and their generation) are “taking their countries back,” potentially fearing that, for the first time, their children do not have a better life than the preceding generation. The “children,” however, are seeking opinion and another version of democracy – not through elections, but through means of social media – for engagement, as well as to change the establishment.

Brexit, the U.S. elections, and developments in Europe are nothing else but a reminder that it is time to draw the proverbial line and give way to more broad-based social-market capitalism – a system that benefits most members of a given society, inclusive of an affordable approach to education and healthcare. It is time to venture on a new path away from reckless monetary policy, which has provided some economic relief but essentially just benefited those who had investable assets to begin with. Specific to Europe, we are being reminded that the Union, even if noble in its original objectives to secure peace, continues to be flawed in its design, as it does not allow for a transfer (and appropriate balancing) mechanism. With inadequacies not being addressed properly, in Europe and beyond, the world will continue to witness a rise of nationalistic ideas and associated values.

Leaders have come and gone, revolutions have taken place, and societies around the world have reset. It has always been the overemphasis of super-structures, paired with power (economic and/or real) amassed in the hands of a few, that started the process of “cracking” imbalances. With this in mind, in making reference to “the end of the world as we know it,” then, strictly speaking, it is not the end to what is measured as knowledge, but rather the end (once again) as it relates to necessary critical observation of long-term changes and their impact on society: seeing the future while the future is looking at us, and making critical choices on this very basis.

With the emergence of newly defined political, economic, and social networks, as in 2014, I continue to foresee a material shift from an East-West-dominated socioeconomic global system – as found in today’s horizontal world – to a more North-South-bound framework, from the perspective of the U.S. Overall, globalization should take a different course compared to the post-WWII era, and this one will likely be paired with increased conflict. It is this very development that we can take to heart, study for further insights into the world that is to come, and use to apply changes wherever necessary and possible (even if only from the perspective of us as individuals).

More importantly, we must stay relentless in our mutual pursuits to help “bridge” inequality and avoid the curse related to our human condition that more often ignores the lessons of the past and allows for repeat of the tragedies that have been.

In the beginning and end, we are all one.

Please also see our detailed work in support of The End of the World as We Know It.

With kind regards,
Matthias

P.S. Follow me on Twitter: @MoneyClipBlog

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The day after 9News broke the story about U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Aurora) exiting early out the back door of a library filled with people wanting to ask him about Obamacare, Blair Miller, a reporter for Denver7 News, tweeted, “Gotta give the competition credit for a good story: Congressman Coffman leaves frustrated crowd.”

It was a well deserved tip-of-the-hat to Nelson Garcia, who broke the story for the NBC affiliate.

Who could possibly argue about the news value of catching a Congressman on video slipping out the back door early with a room of people still waiting to see him? It doesn’t matter who tipped Garcia off, where Coffman was going, why the people were mad. Coffman’s exit, spotlighted with police tape, was undeniably news.

Yet,  ColoradoPeakPolitics bloggers and others are claiming the story was “fake news,” an accusation Denver writer Corey Hutchins shredded in the Columbia Journalism Review last week. Hutchins stated the obvious, calling Garcia’s story a “credible news report.”

But in case anyone sides with conservatives on this, the best proof of the news value of 9News’ story is U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman’s own respoonse to it!

Coffman said in a subsequent interview that the library was “the wrong venue for the event,” which the Congressman described as a “protest.”

“So what I’m trying to do right now is get a very large venue and just really get the word out for people to come. Probably at least it would handle 300 people, not in a library.”

Coffman admits the venue was too small and more people want to see him. That’s about the best acknowledgement of the importance and validity of Garcia’s story you could imagine–and that’s without adding the public’s interest in knowing that Coffman slipped out the back door early.

So, when will Coffman hold his big meeting?

Are conservatives going to try to say that journalists aren’t justified in asking that question either?

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Ahead of the Jan. 21 Women’s March ― the D.C.-based protest that attracted around half a million demonstrators and sparked sister marches across the globe ― the Amplifier Foundation called upon artists to step up.

In partnership with the Women’s March organizers, the visual media organization posted a solicitation for poster art from women-identifying and non-binary people across the country. Hoping to make powerful and creative artwork available to any and all interested marchers, Amplifier received 5,000 submissions in response.

As we previously reported, Amplifier selected eight designs as its official Women’s March artwork, awarding $500 grants to the artist behind each winning work. Five of those poster designs were made available, free of charge, to demonstrators to download and print themselves. On top of that, Amplifier also made sure that over 40,000 posters were present at the D.C. march for participants who wished to pick them up on the day of the event. 

Today, those in opposition to President Donald Trump’s exclusionary policies continue to take to the streets (and airports) to demand change. The handmade signage created by protesters has been impressive, but in case dissenters are in need of some more professional protest art, Amplifier released a new batch of downloadable work on its website Wednesday.

The organization did so to celebrate an upcoming exhibition of 50 never-before-released images from the 5,000 open call submissions it received, held at Seattle’s Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) from Feb. 2 to Feb. 25. As Amplifier wrote in a press release, the artwork on view is “inspired by the mission and values detailed by the [Women’s March] manifesto, ‘We stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families — recognizing that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country.’”

In an email to The Huffington Post, Amplifier program director Cleo Barnett added that the exhibition organizers will be giving away artwork ― from both Shepard Fairey’s now-famous “We the People” series and the Women’s March poster project ― to the first 100 people to arrive at the Seattle gallery.

In anticipation of the opening night, we’re previewing 15 new posters (along with the five original winning designs) from Amplifier’s call out below. If you’re inspired by the bold messages, head to Amplifier’s website learn more.

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U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order banning people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, including Libya, from entering the US has triggered legal challenges, protests and travel chaos across the world.

One of the many who experienced the chaos first hand is Najwa Elyazgi, a student from Tripoli studying International Relations at George Mason University in Virginia. She holds an F-1 visa and left the country on a transit ticket to Istanbul Friday evening. Security in Ataturk International Airport said she was clear to travel but when she arrived at the gate they said a new update on her case was made and the U.S. Department of Immigration banned her from coming back to America.
She is now in Turkey trying to apply for a National Interest Waiver in the hopes of finishing up her last semester at school.

“In the last four years, I have re-entered the U.S. seven times without any concerns,” says Elyazgi expressing her frustration with the current ban.

According to The United Nations, there are 10,000 Libyan students in America. Some of them with families and children that are stuck. Others fear going back to Libya to visit family knowing they may not be able to return to the United States.

Youssef Tarhouni is getting his Masters in Business and Administration at The University of Washington. He is on an F-1 visa and was planning to visit Libya in the summer. He had plans to secure an internship after his masters but is worried that is no longer an option. Tarhouni said he received an email from Optional Program Training informing him that internship may no longer be an option for students from countries affected by the ban.

“The whole idea of interning with companies is for both parties to see if they are a match, but if the company knows that you cannot work full time after finishing the program then they’ll avoid hiring you, said Tarhouni. “I am meeting up with a lawyer next week to see what my options are. I believe the ban will definitely be extended (past 90 days) in which case I won’t risk traveling outside the U.S.”

Another Libyan student who attends college in Chicago and wishes to remain anonymous says he feels the order is discriminatory towards Muslims.

“I think the order is under the guise of protecting the U.S. and its citizens against terrorism is misguidedly targeting Muslim countries. The order feels heavy-handed and punitive to people of the Muslim faith,” he says. “I’ve followed the laws of this country and followed a lawful process to be here.”

Hani Shennib, founder and chairman of the board on The National Council on U.S.- Libya Relations says his organization was looking forward to a more engaged new administration. They organized a conference titled “Libya-U.S. Relations 2017 New Vision, Hope, And Opportunities” scheduled to take place on Feb 16, where Libyan officials from outside of the U.S. were booked to attend.

“Over 200 people from business, law firms, investment, security, and politics were looking forward to this meeting here in Washington,” he said. “But now with no visas issued to our speakers and participants we are extremely disappointed.”

The seven Muslim-majority countries targeted by U.S. President Donald Trump in his executive order on immigration were initially identified as “countries of concern” under the Obama administration.

President Trump’s order bars citizens from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the U.S. for the next 90 days.

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If you have not been living under a rock this past week, you’d be painfully aware that the buzz phrase these days is ‘alternative facts’. Thanks to the current administration, blatant lies or falsehoods can no longer be treated as such, but instead should be gracefully embraced as mere allowances to how much truth can be stretched even to its unrecognizable version.

Just to be clear, I had a really difficult time finishing that last sentence above because any sane person knows how impossible the task is when you are forced to make sense of the nonsensical. A normal person can really only take so much bullsh*t. Unfortunately, the current U.S. president and his minions don’t have much trouble with said task.

As a parent, I’m having serious trouble with the concept of ‘alternative facts’ and pray to the heavens that it never ever becomes acceptable. Let’s be clear…

THERE. IS. NO. SUCH. THING.

Facts are facts. Objective reality exists to be acknowledged and to be used as a standard. My training as a Sociologist makes me a stickler for observable or measurable data. You don’t get to twist numbers or proven conclusions and still claim to be correct and equally true.

If my reverence for facts and objective reality makes me a tiger parent, then so be it. The whole point of socializing our children is so that they realize there is a whole world outside of themselves and their families, and standards exist against which they will be measured. These standards don’t revolve around them, nor do these standards bow down to their every whim.

When children go to school, they spend time with their peers and all of them are measured according to certain requirements. If my son is not the best student based on the grades he receives or other assessment, then he needs to know and respect that. I will not tell him those standards don’t mean anything. I am not the kind of parent who will not tell her child the need to do better when he’s clearly not measuring up.

I will not tell him that everyone is a winner when there is a game. No! Scores are there to show who played better and who did not. Not everyone can claim victory. That’s why it’s called a game, for crying out loud. There are rules, standards and skill sets required. It’s a competition and it’s either you win or you lose.

When my son tries to practice a song for a school program, I tell him when he’s out of tune. I don’t tell him, “Oh sweetie, you’re the best! Keep it up!”, even when his tone makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Yes, I’ve been known to be quite harsh at times, hurting my son’s feelings by uttering the words, ‘you suck’, even when I say it with as much tenderness as I can afford.

But honestly, I would rather be this kind of parent than one who only praises all the time, or one who tells her child he is ‘the best’ in everything even when it’s objectively not true. I want him to not grow up oblivious to others. I want him to grow up knowing that he needs to work hard to excel and being the best you can be is a lifelong process. I want him to know that though he is special or unique and will always be loved by his parents, he still has to respect how he will be measured by social institutions he is or will be a part of by virtue of his citizenship in this social world. I need him to know that you can only define your reality to a certain extent and imposing such on others when that reality clearly does not align with objective reality, facts, or widely accepted and proven truths, is INSANITY.

I don’t want to raise a mad man and I don’t believe it’s too early to say that I haven’t. My son, even at 9 years of age, knows that ‘alternative facts’ carries the same meaning as ‘lies’ or ‘delusions’. It really isn’t that hard to understand… IF you are sane.

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