Clipmarks | Inequality Clips

German Translation Workers Report Mass Protests on University Campuses

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:48:34 GMT

clipped by: jillsimpson01
clipper's remarks: According a number of outspoken German Translation students, demonstrations began on Monday and are anticipated to continue through the weekend. Apparently, the protests began at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich sparked these new comments from the Education Minister. Other protests are being held simultaneously on 20 different university campuses throughout Germany. However, German students are not alone in their call for academic reform. In fact, the German protests are more of a display of camaraderie for students in Austria who are also demanding changes. In Austria, complaints range from overloaded degree courses, social inequality within the educational system, chronic funding shortages, and the introduction of tuition fees and the bachelor and master system into German universities problems in restructuring bachelors and masters degree programs. More specifically, student tend to be protesting most for publicly funded education.

Clip Source: www.articlesbase.com

Throughout Germany, more than 10,000 students are protesting and demonstrating in 70-cities over university programs

, rising costs and numerous other conditions. As a result of their demands for government intervention and immediate action, the Education Minister in Berlin has called for the immediate enactment of reforms that have already been agreed upon. According to German Translation workers covering the protests, there have been a number of mixed signals from school and government officials concerning the streamlining of academic programs, changes to degree programs, school policies, financial aid, age limits and national grant programs.

Tags: german translation, protests, university

love of money

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 11:06:43 GMT

clipped by: chetler

Clip Source: www.thebigmoney.com

Barclays’ (BCS) CEO, in defense of his industry, recently said, “profit is not satanic.” A Goldman Sachs International adviser seconded the thought, adding, “We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity and opportunity for all.”

Tags: money, greed

"Love of Shopping" is Not a Gene: exposing junk science and ideology in Darwinian Psychology

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:50:43 GMT

clipped by: Lexica

Clip Source: www.boingboing.net

Anne Innis Dagg's "Love of Shopping" is Not a Gene is a scathing, entertaining and extremely accessible geneticist's critique of "Darwinian Psychology" -- that is, the "science" of ascribing human behavior to genetic inevitability. Dagg, a biologist/geneticist at the University of Waterloo, identifies Darwinian Psychology as a nexus of ideological pseudoscience cooked to justify political agendas about the inevitability of social inequality, especially racial and sexual inequality.

One after another, Dagg examines the cherished shibboleths of Darwinian Psychology, examining the research offered in support

and demolishes each statement by subjecting it to scientific rigor, including an examination of all the contradictory evidence ignored by proponents.

As a debunking of pseudo-science, this is very masterful; but it is even better as a piece of social criticism, a look at exactly why Darwinian Psychology has found such a receptive audience among ideologues

Tags: books, book-reviews, evo-psych, debunking

The trouble with diversity: celebrating difference doesn't reduce inequality

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:27:02 GMT

clipped by: Lexica
clipper's remarks: More:

If you're worried about the growing economic inequality in American life, if you suspect that there may be something unjust as well as unpleasant in the spectacle of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, no cause is less worth supporting, no battles are less worth fighting, than the ones we fight for diversity…

Our identity is the least important thing about us. And yet, it is the thing we have become most committed to talking about. From the standpoint of a left politics, this is a profound mistake since what it means is that the political left -- increasingly invested in the celebration of diversity and the redress of historical grievance -- has converted itself into the accomplice rather than the opponent of the right.
Clip Source: www.prospect.org
What's important about The Great Gatsby, then, is that it takes one kind of difference (the difference between the rich and the poor) and redescribes it as another kind of difference (the difference between the white and the not-so-white).
books like The Great Gatsby (and there have been a great many of them) give us a vision of our society divided into races rather than into economic classes. And this vision has proven to be extraordinarily attractive.
the commitment to appreciating diversity emerged out of the struggle against racism
Our commitment to diversity has thus redefined the opposition to discrimination as the appreciation (rather than the elimination) of difference. So with respect to race, the idea is not just that racism is a bad thing (which of course it is) but that race itself is a good thing.
And what makes it a good thing is that it's not class. We love race -- we love identity -- because we don't love class.

Tags: equity, fairness, diversity, economics, class-issues

US income inequality cramps opportunity:suckers

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:38:41 GMT

clipped by: beanz

Clip Source: yglesias.thinkprogress.org

Inequality Begets Inequality

Pete Davis mentions a new book that sounds interesting. He observes that we like to think of the United States as a land of opportunity, “but a new book, Creating an Opportunity Society, by Ron Haskins and Belle Sawhill of the Brookings Institution proves otherwise.”

42% of American men with fathers in the bottom income quintile remain there as compared to: Denmark, 25%; Sweden, 26%; Finland, 28%; Norway, 28%; and the United Kingdom, 30%. They present a wealth of new and old research evidence to support the conclusion that if you’re born poor in America, you’re likely to remain poor.

This basic result has been known for quite some time, at least in liberal circles (conservatives like Greg Mankiw believe the U.S. is ruled by a genetic aristocracy

The high level of income inequality in the United States leads to highly unequal opportunities for American children, whereas the low levels of income inequality in Nordic countries lead to more equal outcomes.

Tags: us economy

On Income Inequality: the US sucks

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:22:59 GMT

clipped by: baydawg
clipper's remarks: The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett

Clip Source: rmadisonj.blogspot.com

among rich countries, the more unequal ones do worse according to almost every quality of life indicator you can imagine. They do worse even if they are richer overall, so that per capita GDP turns out to be much less significant for general wellbeing than the size of the gap between the richest and poorest 20 per cent of the population (the basic measure of inequality the authors use).

measuring various welfare functions, the authors show that the best predictor of how countries will rank is not the differences in wealth between them

but the differences in wealth within them (so the US, as the most unequal society, comes last on many measures

this pattern holds inside the US as well, where states with high levels of income inequality also tend to have the greatest social problems.

Tags: income inequality, quality of life

The truth about Income Inequality.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:48:31 GMT

clipped by: glossop

Clip Source: www.everytherapist.com

EveryTherapist

The truth about Income Inequality.

Did you know that most modern affluent societies harbor the greatest income inequalities and they also encounter the highest rate of psycho- social problems.

We can all agree that as most modern day countries develop, then their living standards improve…right.

So the majority of people do not have to worry about basic needs like food, clean water and keeping warm.

Increasing our incomes does not increase our life expectancy, nor does it create happiness or well being, what it does do, is quite frankly, increase our psycho-social problems.

Apparently it is the - “individuals sensitivity to this social structure that causes unequal societies to be so problematic. Understanding this relationship between social standing and income inequalities is the key. It is the person that needs to change and not society. In other words reduce inequality and the quality of life would increase for us all.”

Blog Home

Find a Therapist

Tags: income health, income inequality, inequality, poverty income, social class, wage inequality

Goldman Sachs and Lehman bankrupt the South.

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:07:01 GMT

clipped by: beanz

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

After the Billionaires Plundered Alabama Town, Troops Were Called in ... Illegally

By Mark Ames, AlterNet. Posted October 24, 2009.

"We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity and opportunity for all," said one Goldman Sachs vice-chairman recently. Well, here's a tale of the kind of inequality the finance industry expects citizens to tolerate.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

One of this year's more disturbing stories that were ignored was the illegal Army occupation of Samson, Alab., in March following a shooting spree that raged across two towns by a disgruntled worker, leaving 11 people dead.

As I wrote earlier this year, Pilgrim's Pride hooked up with Wall Street to leverage itself into bankruptcy while enriching the executives' family and a handful of insiders at the expense of tens of thousands of Americans workers:

With bankruptcy came huge unpaid local tax bills, leading to further layoffs and reduced services for the already-beleaguered locals:

Tags: alabama

Why the Super-rich WANT the USA to be another Mexico

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:21:09 GMT

clipped by: leevardi
clipper's remarks: ....its a DELIBERATE PLOY...read the article in full.

Clip Source: www.alternet.org

"We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity and opportunity for all," says one Goldman Sachs adviser. But tell that to the people of Samson, Ala.

Earlier this week, a Goldman Sachs adviser made the mistake of publicly confirming what most of us already assumed: They believe that the shocking gap between their obscene wealth and the rest of America's declining incomes is actually a good thing.

That's right, America is now in a class with corrupt Third World basket-case nations, or what are euphemistically called "developing nations." And that's exactly what the billionaires' goal has been, whether you want to believe it or not: to turn America into Mexico or Turkey.

Wall Street Bonuses Vs. Normal Wages: A Disturbing Trend

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:18:02 GMT

clipped by: sincitykitty
clipper's remarks: (CHART, VIDEO)

A Goldman Sachs International adviser defended compensation in the finance industry as his company plans a near-record year for pay, saying the spending will help boost the economy. "We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity and opportunity for all," Brian Griffiths, who was a special adviser to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said yesterday at a panel discussion hosted by St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/20/wall-street-bonuses-vs-no_n_324281.html

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Wall Street Bonuses Vs. Normal Wages: A Disturbing Trend (CHART, VIDEO)

It may be hard to believe but there was a time, almost 25 years ago, when Wall Street and Main Street weren't so far apart -- at least when it came to the average worker's salary and the average financial industry employee's annual bonus. Back in 1985, the average annual salary for all workers across the country was actually a bit higher than the average bonus ($19,000 to $13,970). (Note: these numbers are not adjusted for inflation)

A Goldman Sachs International adviser defended compensation in the finance industry as his company plans a near-record year for pay, saying the spending will help boost the economy. "We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity and opportunity for all," Brian Griffiths, who was a special adviser to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, said yesterday at a panel discussion hosted by St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

The Speech We Wish Obama Would Make

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:41:01 GMT

clipped by: debbyski

Clip Source: www.365gay.com

there is a very real struggle for basic human rights engaged in everyday by LGBT people in the United States.

It is a constant and painful inequality. I know something about this kind of discrimination. My family knows something about this kind of discrimination.

I believe in the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

I believe in hate crimes legislation that protects Americans from homophobia as well as racism.

We simply cannot afford to lose anymore good people from our military simply because of their sexual orientation.

As we speak, members of Congress are mobilizing around an inclusive hate crimes bill

We will push to get it passed.

We are ready for progress. We are ready for equality. We, together, are going to make that equality happen.

US In Worst Top 3 For Income Inequality

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:05:16 GMT

clipped by: ljsdesign

Clip Source: finance.yahoo.com

The U.N. Development Program recently came out with a report looking, among other things, at income inequality worldwide.

The UNDP ranked countries and regions based on a number of factors, including their Gini coefficient, named for Italian statistician Corrado Gini.

We have listed the world's most advanced economies based on their Gini score, with zero marking absolute equality and 100 absolute inequality. Scandinavian countries, Japan, and the Czech Republic have the least amount of inequality. The U.S. is among the most unequal, but it's not No. 1.

No. 1 Hong Kong

No. 2 Singapore

No. 3 U.S.

No. 4 Israel

No. 5 Portugal

No. 6 New Zealand

No. 7 (tie) Italy

No. 7 (tie) Britain

No. 9 Australia

No. 10 (tie) Ireland

No. 10 (tie) Greece

National Gaps Between Rich & Poor - USA is No. 3

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:02:56 GMT

clipped by: thinkingblue
clipper's remarks: When I saw this headline, I thought for sure the ole USA would be at the top of the list but NO there really are greedier nations (people) residing on this Earth. Though only 2, for USA hit the number 3 slot.
It's a pity that the human race has yet to understand that we are all one, all traveling in the same direction of unknowing. Yet material-wise we struggle to have a one-upmanship on one another; a need of sorts to look down your nose at those financially beneath you due to hard luck or heritage.
The visualization of this gap is hardest to stomach. With architecturally handsome buildings on one side of the picture (You can envision those within these structures looking out their ivory tower windows at the ants below.) and poor people, on the other side, in fetal-like positions, huddled against buildings to protect themselves from the elements, cold, hungry and hopeless. It’s the food-chain, only the winners aren’t the fittest but the greediest.

Clip Source: finance.yahoo.com

Countries with the Biggest Gaps Between Rich and Poor

income inequality worldwide

The UNDP ranked countries and regions based on a number of factors, including their Gini coefficient, named for Italian statistician Corrado Gini.

Scandinavian countries, Japan, and the Czech Republic have the least amount of inequality. The U.S. is among the most unequal

Top 11 Countries With the Biggest Gaps Between Rich and Poor

No. 1 Hong Kong

ED Jones

No. 2 Singapore

No. 3 U.S.

share of income for the top percentile of Americans was 23.5% in 2007, the highest since 1928,

Income for the top 0.01% hit a record-high 6.04%. And the recession may be exacerbating income inequality.

No. 4 Israel

Gone are the days when Israel was one of the world's most egalitarian societies.

men who study the Torah rather than work has worsened the inequality problem.

No. 5 Portugal

Spencer Platt/Getty Images, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

No. 6 New Zealand

No. 7 (tie) Italy

No. 7 (tie) Britain

No. 9 Australia

No. 10 (tie) Ireland

No. 10

Greece

Tags: rich, poor, politics, usa, capitalism

On Income Differences, D. Boudreaux

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 05:14:23 GMT

clipped by: willhelm

Clip Source: cafehayek.com

Here’s a letter that I sent a few days ago to the New York Times:

Ross Douthat’s plausible explanation for why income inequality won’t decline any time soon (”Inequality as Usual,” Oct. 5) prompts this question: so what?

If some persons are robbed of their property or are unfairly blocked from pursuing economic opportunities, that’s wrong and should be stopped. If some persons are so poor that they lack life’s barest necessities, they should be helped. (How best to help them is a different issue.) But neither of these problems has anything to do with income inequality. We would want to correct these problems even if doing so would make the income distribution more unequal.

To worry about differences in earned incomes simply because some persons earn more than other persons is to wallow in envy. And envy is, and ought to remain, a deadly sin rather than be fashioned into a livewire for energizing public policy.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux

10 Mediveval Torture Devices

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:50:19 GMT

clipped by: ljsdesign
clipper's remarks: More from the article:
Some courts used torture to determine if someone accused of a crime was truly guilty. This torture would take strange forms: Someone's arm would be forced into boiling water, and the verdict would be based on how well the arm healed days later. Other courts simply tortured people to get them to confess to the crime. The courts themselves even recognized, in their twisted way, that a confession given under torture held no legal meaning. Such a confession had to be confirmed by the victims while not being tortured within 24 hours. If they refused, however, they were simply tortured until they confessed again

People were often tortured to force religious conversions. They also faced torture because they may have committed heresy against the established church. Thousands were tortured during the Inquisition on the pretext of religious heresy or conversion, although Inquisitors in general were often motivated by more earthly concerns - they took over the estates

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

10 Medieval Torture Devices

The Middle Ages stands out as one of the most violent eras in history. This epoch, lasting roughly 1,000 years, from the 5th century to the 15th, was a time of great inequality and brutality in much of Europe.

What really sets this time apart is the ghoulish inventiveness that gave rise to a plethora of torture methods. There were many grounds for torture during the Middle Ages -- religious fervor and criminal punishment come to mind -- but why would a person take the time to invent a device designed to maim?

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

10. The Brazen Bull

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

9. Thumbscrews

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

8. The Rack

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

6. The Stake

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

5. The Pillory

Clip Source: history.howstuffworks.com

3. The Scavenger's Daughter