http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/24/world/europe/russia-eases-law-on-political-parties.html?scp=2&sq=Russia&st=cse YAY for the interwebz
Russia, as of now, has the United Russia Party (53% of the Duma), and 8 registered opposition parties. A law that recently flew through the Duma is set to decrease the regulation on forming parties, allowing even more to form. This, however, does not confront the issue that only parties with a 5% vote get a seat on the Duma, and only parties in the Duma may nominate a president as the leader of the Yabloko party, Sergei Mitrokhin, pointed out. Another problem could come from over doing it: some political leaders have already voiced concerns that too many political parties will spring up, essentially splintering the opposition into tiny fragments against the huge United Russia.
The law was proposed in response to the protests following the Duma elections this past winter and accusations that Putin and his United Russia party have been holding too tightly too Russian Politics. And the bill seems to be very popular; several prominent figures are already picking out names or seeking to form a party, including Mikhail Gorbachev who seeks to unite socialist democrats, and Vladimir Ryzhkov leader of Parnas.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Blog Numero Cinq
the Economist March 24 Edition "Earning a hearing"
The budget cuts designed to deal with the economic downturn has been causing rifts in British politics.Ed Milliband, the Labour Party Leader called the the new budget designed by George Osborne a "millionaire's budget" by "the same old Tories". The budget cut the top income tax bracket from 50% to 45% and freezed pensioner;s tax allowances (the "granny tax").
This could be the Labour Party's moment to shine. By voters, the party is already seen
as "custodian" of social justice, but they haven't had any luck yet with the economic side of things.So far, the government has been off the hook in terms of economic growth, simply because all the neighboring countries were doing poorly too. But now that America's economy is starting to look up again, the pressure is back on. The response has been, though, that because of America's size, it has the ability to load up on debt, while Britain does not, and therefor cannot pursue the costly measures taken by the American Government.
The budget cuts designed to deal with the economic downturn has been causing rifts in British politics.Ed Milliband, the Labour Party Leader called the the new budget designed by George Osborne a "millionaire's budget" by "the same old Tories". The budget cut the top income tax bracket from 50% to 45% and freezed pensioner;s tax allowances (the "granny tax").
This could be the Labour Party's moment to shine. By voters, the party is already seen
as "custodian" of social justice, but they haven't had any luck yet with the economic side of things.So far, the government has been off the hook in terms of economic growth, simply because all the neighboring countries were doing poorly too. But now that America's economy is starting to look up again, the pressure is back on. The response has been, though, that because of America's size, it has the ability to load up on debt, while Britain does not, and therefor cannot pursue the costly measures taken by the American Government.
Blog Numero Quartre
The Economist March 24 Edition "Shifting the Problem"
the Chinese government is trying to relocate people away from poor, disaster prone areas, particularly the mountainsides in Shaanxi which have become heavily deforested. Technically, the people are supposed to be compensated, but more force has been used than economic incentives. New, better quality housing is being offered further down the mountainside in Shaanxi, but the government is only footing the bill for part of construction costs. It's the only option though, the old homes are being knocked down as soon as the inhabitants move out.
There might not be as many people to move as the government anticipates: economic incentives un matchable by the government have already pulled out the young, working age population to the cities and away from the flooding and landslides, leaving the dangerous agricultural work to the elderly.
But people's safety isn't the only reason to relocate people. An "ecological water conservation system" seems to be in to works to redirect part of the Han river's wateres, which originiate in Southern Shaanxi, to the drier areas in the north. But this water is susceptible to pollution, particularly from the farming the government is trying to move.Funding to enact environmental legislation is tiny, coming from Beijing, but Shaanxi has hit upon the solution of leaning on the state-owned companies to help out.
the Chinese government is trying to relocate people away from poor, disaster prone areas, particularly the mountainsides in Shaanxi which have become heavily deforested. Technically, the people are supposed to be compensated, but more force has been used than economic incentives. New, better quality housing is being offered further down the mountainside in Shaanxi, but the government is only footing the bill for part of construction costs. It's the only option though, the old homes are being knocked down as soon as the inhabitants move out.
There might not be as many people to move as the government anticipates: economic incentives un matchable by the government have already pulled out the young, working age population to the cities and away from the flooding and landslides, leaving the dangerous agricultural work to the elderly.
But people's safety isn't the only reason to relocate people. An "ecological water conservation system" seems to be in to works to redirect part of the Han river's wateres, which originiate in Southern Shaanxi, to the drier areas in the north. But this water is susceptible to pollution, particularly from the farming the government is trying to move.Funding to enact environmental legislation is tiny, coming from Beijing, but Shaanxi has hit upon the solution of leaning on the state-owned companies to help out.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Blogo Numero Trois
Still in my old fashioned print form, so no link: March 17 edition blah blah blah "Stashing the Cash"
Britain's financial crisis is pretty similar to ours (though there's never got quite to the "crisis" level). However, George Osbourne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be making his third budget statement on March 21st and things are looking up since last quarter (in which Britain's economy shrank). One of the ratings agencies, Fitch, reaffirmed Britain's AAA status (this is good, almost necessary for a country), but threatened a downgrade if public borrowing increases in the next two years. So naturally, Osbourne is cutting back. But there is the same delicate position as in America (although nothing is done delicately here), if companies and households save more, and the government spends less, there will be no more recovery. Interestingly enough, companies have been hoarding, due to low trust in banks. So, Osbourne is writing the tax rates to get the desired results: he lowered the main corporate tax rate, while keeping the tax relief on capital spending lower. He's hoping for companies to invest in Britain, increasing the competitiveness of the pound.
the economist has the weirdest article titles. you can't make these things up.
Britain's financial crisis is pretty similar to ours (though there's never got quite to the "crisis" level). However, George Osbourne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will be making his third budget statement on March 21st and things are looking up since last quarter (in which Britain's economy shrank). One of the ratings agencies, Fitch, reaffirmed Britain's AAA status (this is good, almost necessary for a country), but threatened a downgrade if public borrowing increases in the next two years. So naturally, Osbourne is cutting back. But there is the same delicate position as in America (although nothing is done delicately here), if companies and households save more, and the government spends less, there will be no more recovery. Interestingly enough, companies have been hoarding, due to low trust in banks. So, Osbourne is writing the tax rates to get the desired results: he lowered the main corporate tax rate, while keeping the tax relief on capital spending lower. He's hoping for companies to invest in Britain, increasing the competitiveness of the pound.
the economist has the weirdest article titles. you can't make these things up.
Blog Numero Deux
I went back in time and am using a printed copy of the economist: the March 17-23rd 2012 edition, "The sacking of Bo Xilai" and "Bo Bo Black Sheep"
We talked a bit about this issue in class, but this article goes a bit more in-depth into the real meaning behind some the boat being rocked.
Bo Xilai was fired from his position as party chief of the region of Chongqing on March 15th and replaced by Zhang Dejiang. He was previously thought to have been destined for the standing committee of the Politburo, a very prestigious position. That was partly because of his status as a "princeling", his father, Bo Yibo, was a leader from Mao's generation.
His dismissal doesn't indicate any change in the party structure, but rather the direction that the party will take. Bo was infamous for his supposed "no holds barred approach to going after gangsters" when he cracked down on his region's mafia problems. But, his violent campaign really just satisfied his own ends: there are allegations he selectively attacked his personal opponents, including wealthy entrepreneurs. More suspicion is cast on this situation by the fact that his former police chief, who led the anti-mafia campaign, fled to the American consulate and now is under Chinese investigation. On top of that, Bo followed extremely "leftist" policies, reviving the "red songs" of the Cultural Revolution and favoring state enterprises. ( Ironically, he also sends his kids to schools in the West.) His campaigns can be seen as an attempt to discredit his competition for the standing committee seat, Wang Yang, who is more liberal. This is an indirect vicotry for Wang and may indicate a more liberal future China.
More indications of China's growth come from comments that hinted at Bo's dismissal. The day before Bo was fired, Wen Jiabao made stated that without political reform "a tragedy like the Cultural Revolution" could happen again. Although turmoil like the the Cultural Revolution has no indication of being on the horizon, the remark was directed at "die-hard Maoists", who form most of Bo's support.
We talked a bit about this issue in class, but this article goes a bit more in-depth into the real meaning behind some the boat being rocked.
Bo Xilai was fired from his position as party chief of the region of Chongqing on March 15th and replaced by Zhang Dejiang. He was previously thought to have been destined for the standing committee of the Politburo, a very prestigious position. That was partly because of his status as a "princeling", his father, Bo Yibo, was a leader from Mao's generation.
His dismissal doesn't indicate any change in the party structure, but rather the direction that the party will take. Bo was infamous for his supposed "no holds barred approach to going after gangsters" when he cracked down on his region's mafia problems. But, his violent campaign really just satisfied his own ends: there are allegations he selectively attacked his personal opponents, including wealthy entrepreneurs. More suspicion is cast on this situation by the fact that his former police chief, who led the anti-mafia campaign, fled to the American consulate and now is under Chinese investigation. On top of that, Bo followed extremely "leftist" policies, reviving the "red songs" of the Cultural Revolution and favoring state enterprises. ( Ironically, he also sends his kids to schools in the West.) His campaigns can be seen as an attempt to discredit his competition for the standing committee seat, Wang Yang, who is more liberal. This is an indirect vicotry for Wang and may indicate a more liberal future China.
More indications of China's growth come from comments that hinted at Bo's dismissal. The day before Bo was fired, Wen Jiabao made stated that without political reform "a tragedy like the Cultural Revolution" could happen again. Although turmoil like the the Cultural Revolution has no indication of being on the horizon, the remark was directed at "die-hard Maoists", who form most of Bo's support.
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