Monthly Archives: March 2017

MARK KARLIN, EDITOR OF BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT

(Photo: eirigipics )

Although it might be conventional wisdom that Western colonialism no longer exists, this is a dangerous myth. Colonialism persists in the form of the continued oppression of Indigenous peoples worldwide. Moreover, when it comes to the relationship of Europe and the US to the Global South, the old system of direct colonial rule has actually been replaced with financial control over many of the same countries that were colonized. The onerous financial conditions placed on many developing nations through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund -- including austerity measures and spending requirements for goods from developing nations -- represent the colonialist notion of knowing what's in the best interest of other countries. Like colonialism, it also happens to financially benefit the former ruling powers.

The globalization of exploitative labor further reinforces the relationship of capitalism to erstwhile colonialism. The squalid working conditions and meager wages of many workers in the Global South is the focus of a revealing book by John Smith, Imperialism in the Twenty-First Century: Globalization, Super-Exploitation, and Capitalisms Final Crisis, which is this week's Truthout Progressive Pick. Capitalism provides the vehicle for much contemporary imperialism, but is often not perceived as such because it is not as directly visible as, say, an occupying army (although, of course, the US and Europe still occupy countries militarily as well). Colonialism used to be dependent upon direct rule of areas and countries by agents, bureaucracies and militaries representing the colonial power. Now, colonialism largely consists of financial dependencies and labor markets characterized by poverty.

In an excerpt featured on Truthout, Smith reflects on the 2014 collapse of a substandard garment factory building in Bangladesh that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 workers:

The collapse of Rana Plaza not only shone a light on the pitiless and extreme exploitation of Bangladeshi workers. It also unleashed a powerful pulse of x-rays that lit up the hidden structure of the global capitalist economy, revealing the extent to which the capital/labor relation has become a relation between northern capital and southern labor -- in no other sector has production shifted so completely to low-wage workers in oppressed nations while control and profits remain firmly in the grip of firms in imperialist countries.

Smith notes that "just 2 percent of the clothing worn in the United States is actually made there." Ultimately, however, this unsustainable economic imbalance of the global manufacturing labor force will implode, Smith argues.

Smith presciently asserts,

Outsourcing has boosted profits of firms across the imperialist world and helped to sustain the living standards of its inhabitants, but this has led to deindustrialization, has intensified capitalism's imperialist and parasitic tendencies, and has piled up global imbalances that threaten to plunge the world into destructive trade wars.

This leads Smith to conclude:

Neither...is the future pre-determined, but that does not mean that there are infinite number of possible futures. In fact, there are just two: socialism or barbarism.

If capitalist production continues to grow more dependent upon the "super-exploitation" of workers in many nations in the Global South, it will lead to a grave international financial crisis that Smith refers to as "a crisis of imperialism." The manner in which profitable corporations such as Apple use competitive sub-contracting to suppress wages and boost profits -- while often giving nothing more than lip service to ensure safe and humane working conditions overseas -- creates a race to the bottom in labor force manufacturing. (Countries in the Global South are hardly getting a "boost" up the capitalist ladder.) After all, as Smith observes, if globalization represented a free market, then why aren't third-world workers paid a livable wage for their generally high productivity? That is because corporations are investing in labor pools that ensure an enormous profit. They are not building up economies in need or paying outsourced overseas workers a livable wage.

Smith describes how a Sword of Damocles hangs over poor nations:

The social power of capital is enforced through the so-called rule of law, which exalts the sanctity of private property and negates the sanctity of human life. Any people that dares to defy laws protecting capitalist property, e.g. by defaulting on debts or by expropriating assets, is subject to the most severe economic penalties, and, if that is not sufficient, is threatened with subversion, terrorism and invasion. The transition from colonialism of yesteryear to the neocolonialism of today is analogous to the transition from slavery to wage-slavery, and merely signifies that capitalism has largely dispensed with archaic, pre-capitalist forms of domination and exploitation, while taking great care to preserve its monopoly of military force for use in cases of revolutionary challenge to its rule.

Colonialism hasn't ended; it has just morphed into a less visible form.

Excerpt from:

Capitalist Globalization of Labor is Modern Colonialism - Truth-Out

The advert which caused outrage when it was circulated on social media was described as racist and slave labour.

Youre expected to be diligent willing hardworking smart and quick (sic) the advert posted by a resident living in Cape Towns southern suburbs.

Youre required to follow instructions and clean thoroughly & maticulously (sic). (the way I want).

You should have no illness. Youre expected to be clean and smell good and bath and change everyday (and twice a day if necessary.

Work is sleep in Monday to Sunday. 2 Sundays off every month (sic) it added.

Estelle Nagel speaking on behalf of Gumtree told TMG Digital on Friday that the advert was clearly exploitative.

We are very aware of the advert we were very concerned about it. It is clearly exploitative".

Nagel said as an investigation was launched into the advert the person who uploaded it had removed it. Gumtree she said would monitor the account.

"We are busy setting up a hub on our blog just to make advertisers aware of what the laws are with links to the South African labour website sample contracts and also for job seekers just to know their rights when they are applying for a job like that she said.

TMG Digital tried to contact the woman responsible for the advert via phone and Whatsapp but received no reply.

Domestic workers minimum wages effective as of December 1 2016 in major metropolitan areas is R12.42 per hour or R2422 per month provided the person works more than 27 hours per week.

However the advertisement stipulated a seven day working week.

The job was advertised at a starting salary of R2000 including food and accommodation.

I will increase your salary even after the 1st month if you are capable of doing all my work THE WAY I WANT) up to R2500 said the advert.

You must have a valid passport which I keep while you work for me it added and no criminal records the advertisement said.

Department of Home Affairs spokesperson Mayihlome Tshwete says when an employer wants to keep a persons passport it is some form of exploitation in one way or another.

People should be cautious when applying for a job where the employer wants to keep their passport as this could be a slave-wage type setup".

You can keep a copy of someone passport so you know who is working for you thats fine but there is no valid reason why anyone should keep your passport for you. No one is allowed to keep your passport.

Social media users who circulated the advert reacted with shock.

I think youll find its standard practice in the industry. The human trafficking & modern slavery industry that is said Matt du Plessis on twitter.

Gumtree does not check every advert placed on the website but Nagel said those which were reported or violated human rights would be taken down.

Read more:

Gumtree pulls 'slave labour' domestic worker advert - Times LIVE

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Saturday, March 11, 2017, 3:00 AM

Manhattan: Its tempting to be snarky about the ludicrous statement made by Ben Carson when he equated immigration in search of a better life to the forced removal from their homelands and transport under horrifying conditions of millions of human beings who then would be sold into slavery and held captive the rest of their lives (They came in chains, Ben, March 7).

Instead, I am going to be earnest and suggest that Carson might have been onto something if he had compared immigration to migration , in this case, of the millions of African Americans who, in the last century, came north to escape the horrifying prejudice of the Jim Crow South.

But heres the rub: Its unlikely that anyone in the Trump administration would utter out loud those last three words. The white South was influential in electing Trump, and a good slice of that cohort has, for more than 150 years, continued to think of itself, and not African Americans, as the true victims of history. One piece of evidence: many whites in the South still call the Civil War the War of Northern Aggression. Judy L. Richheimer

Salt Lake City: Im sure by now Leonard Greene has learned that President Obama said basically the same thing, making this article quite lame (Ben Carsons a disgrace for calling slaves immigrants, column, March 7). If you just want to attack Dr. Carson, why don't you accuse him of plagiarism? Harley Griffith

Bronx: To Voicer Rosemary E. Kennedy: Surely you cannot be defining action to mean not the action of the persons concerned? Isnt the use of language colored by custom? Calling a slave an immigrant is a stretch. Robert G. Gallimore

Nyack, N.Y.: In his takedown of Ben Carson, Leonard Greene got a lot of things right, but got one thing wrong: We are not, the sons and daughters of slaves. We are sons and daughters of the enslaved. A slave is a kind of being. Enslavement is a state of being. R.K. Byers

Valley Stream, L.I.: The article about the CIA's eavesdropping doesnt surprise me in the least (They hee-ear!! March 8). Years ago when we were first introduced to cable TV programming, I watched the little green light on the cable box go on and off; with that I thought to myself, If we all have account numbers assigned to us, and the cable companies transmit video and sound to the box, Im sure they can in some way extract the same video and sound from the same place just by entering an account number. Well, it seems like they did it! John Esposito

Manhattan: Obviously, Republican politicians havent got a clue about health insurance: Thats because they have excellent insurance that were paying for. We should demand that they share the same insurance that the rest of us have, and repeal and replace the politicians who refuse. Carol Robinson

Brooklyn: I think they must make it mandatory that you have to disclose your taxes when running for President or you cant run at all. This will tell, in addition to ones income, what business interests they have, as in President Trumps case that he was doing business in Russia. Perhaps if they had this law prior to the past election, it would have saved us from having this unhinged individual in the White House! Dave Silverblatt

Brooklyn: Much thanks to the Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark for putting her time, effort and love behind the beaten and left-for-dead dog, Peanut Butter (formerly known as Hennessy). Its law enforcers and politicians like her that put the scum of the earth in jail (hopefully in general population ) for their horrific deeds. This human piece of garbage beat this puppy and left her for dead in a snowbank. Thanks for making our laws work and for making Raul Cruz, Peanut Butters abuser, pay for it! Kelly Starr

Perth Amboy, N.J.: Raising the minimum wage is a good idea but it would only apply to a portion of wage earners. There is another solution that would apply to most people: raise the standard income tax deduction to $40,000 or more. This would benefit more people than an increased minimum wage alone. While the federal budget isn't balanced now, limiting capital gains deductions could adjust for lower revenues. Everyone who buys a domestic product or service pays for someones income tax, which is built into the price or cost. Imported goods and services should pay a tariff of 35% to adjust for their non-payment of income taxes, Social Security and Medicare. While the laws cant and shouldn't prevent sending jobs offshore, they can adjust for these losses. Ronald A. Sobieraj

Forest Hills: To pay for his wall, Trump plans to cut funding for the Coast Guard and the TSA by 14% and 11%, respectively, thus making life easier for drug smugglers and terrorists. But to look at the bright side, the wall will thwart any attacks by Gen. Santa Anas army. Alan Hirschberg

Brooklyn: As a New York State resident and a volunteer for the American Heart Association, I am extremely excited at the prospect of the Empire State Trail, a 750-mile hiking and biking trail that would run north from New York City to the Canadian border, and west from Albany to Buffalo. The trail which Gov. Cuomo proposed in this years budget would provide a new opportunity for millions of New Yorkers to engage in physical activity in a safe, community space. Exercise is a great way to prevent heart disease and stroke, the nation's No. 1 and No. 5 killers. New York State currently spends more than $11.8 billion dollars annually on obesity-related health care costs. Every $1 spent on biking trails and walking paths could save approximately $3 in medical expenses. I strongly urge the state Legislature to approve the Empire State Trail. Yuki Courtland

Manhattan: Following International Womens Day, the cover choice of Jennifer Lopez and A-Rod was incredibly poor. The Daily News decrees that who J-Lo. is dating is more important than the scores of women around the world making a statement on their second-class treatment, more important than the travesty to our democracy thats going on in Washington. Step it up; your readers deserve better from you. Laurie Jakobsen

Lawrence, L.I.: The question here is not whether women are capable of coaching men (Hey Mike Francesa, stop spewing sexist garbage that women cannot coach men and just shut up, March 6). The question is whether the players can bring themselves to respect a woman coach; the players are the ones who need rise above generations of convention. Most of us have a weak ego that prevents us from rising above our basic nature and ideally one would hope that we are capable of doing this. Being successful as a coach is a two-way street that requires every player and staff member to be on board. Its not just sexism; its male biology and psychology at play. So maybe a select few with exceptional character can rise above, but expecting every team member to rise above is not a reasonable expectation. Michael Weiss

Hawthorne, N.Y.: I understand that WFANs Mike Francesa is retiring at years end. He has really been phoning it in for a long while. It is obvious to any knowledgeable sports fan that Mike does no homework and is poorly prepared for his show and his interviews. He is always the last to know what is going on in the sports world, relying on tired cliches and picking heavy favorites to mask his incompetence. And now he feels women cannot coach? Lazy men like him should not be on the radio. Mitch Green

Island Park, L.I.: To Voicer Sonia Valentin: Sonia, Sonia, Sonia no, actually I dont care. You dont get it. The only reason I actually know who won and why I chose to write in about it is because of the news created last year by the crybabies who that did not win. Otherwise, any award show is a non-event for me. My point is, in case you missed it, that I am against people receiving awards, promotions, trophies, etc. because they think they deserve them for some unjust action perpetrated years before this generation was born just to even a score. It is not who won the Oscar. As far as watching the PBS show, its not necessary. I've heard that story before; its time to move on. Rose Johnson

Original post:

Readers sound off on slavery, the CIA and Mike Francesa - New York Daily News

Ten years ago, I walked into my boss's office at the large corporate company where I worked and announced that I was quitting my job. What are your plans? my boss asked casually after he had time to absorb the unexpected news. I took a deep breath and began to explain that I had been reading a book by William Bridges called Managing Transitions,and I wanted to take some time away from the rat race. He looked amazed. Is this a midlife crisis thing? he asked bluffly.

Actually, I had decided to take a mini-retirement. The term originates fromTimothy Ferris'The 4-Hour Workweek,in which he argues the case for taking a series of meaningful respites from our structured 9-to-5 careers rather than an end-of-the-line grand exit. I had always planned to retire early and follow a FIRE -- financially independent and retired early --lifestyle. I had read about it, joined forums, and I started to save and invest my money in real estate to reach this goal. I did well, and by the time I stood in front of my boss, I was 40, financially independent and 50 percent on my way to joining the FIRE set.

There was one problem; I didn't want to retire. What I really wanted was not so much freedom from wage slavery(as Noam Chomsky and others call it), but a meaningful life. I wanted to climb Abraham Maslows pyramid to the self-actualization apex. The work that I had been doing on developing leaders still interested me, I just wanted to have a deeper understanding and to work more independently rather than being bounded to a single organization. So I opted for mini-retirement.

Related: 5 Lessons From People Who Retire at 40

Mini-retirement is different from a sabbatical or career break, which connotes taking time out and resuming where you left off. I needed a complete severance, atransitionfrom my entrenched thinking and task and targeted career path. The idea of personal transition came to me when reading the aforementioned Managing Transitions.This brilliant book tells the story of Bridges, who left his career in teaching and found himself facilitating a weekly support group for people going through major changes in their lives. Based on his experience and observations, Bridges theorized that successful personal transitions go through three stages -- ending (letting go), neutral zone (a moratorium from the conventional activity of your everyday existence) and new beginning (embracing the new opportunity).

The idea of leaving my comfortable life and voluntarily entering a phase of structurelessness and uncertainty (what Bridges terms the wilderness) in order to experience growth, potential and new opportunities appealed to me. For the next five years, I lived in 10 different cities across the world for six month periods studying, researching, writing conspiracy thrillers and having the time of my life.

Today I am back on the hamster wheel and loving every minute of it. I started my own leadership consulting company and feel that my mini-retirement experience enriched my life and allowed me time toassess my life values and preferences andgain a deeper appreciation and passion for developing leaders. The mini-retirement bug is still in my blood. I work for part of the year before heading out into the wilderness with my backpack and laptop.

Here are five insights that I picked up with respect to leaving behind the structured life of work.

Despite a progressive move toward flexible, mindful and holacratic working environments, the majority of organizations still move around in narrow functional hierarchies as John Kotter termed it in his book Leading Change--presentism, fixed hierarchies and transactional management are still depressing realities in our workplaces. With the average retirement age remaining at 64 for men and 62 for women, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College,and presidential candidates telling us that we need to work longer hours, we may need to take matters into our own hands to bring about the white space needed in our lives.

This is where reality kicks in. You can't contemplate time away from work unless you have the means to support yourself. Most experts focus on the saving habit, but I think the real secret lies in managing the spending habit. I stayed in affordable locations and rented budget apartments where I lived as a local, shopping in the local markets and cooking at home. It is easy to fall into the Diderot effect, the kind of spiralling consumption that the French philosopher Denis Diderot wrote about in his quirky essay Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown.Simplifying your life and reducing your spending habit will make your mini-retirement plans more than just a pipe dream.

Related:11 Ways To Be Frugal Now So You're Rich Later

Isn't it curious that whenever we do something that is a little offbeat and goes against received wisdom, we suddenly find a bunch of previously disinterested parties becoming passionate about how we should run our lives? I received my fair share of negative comments.

You're bonkers to leave a responsible position just when you're hitting your maximum earning potential.

Aren't you scared that people will think you're a drop out?

Have you considered therapy?

It is best to ignore the naysayers and create an inner circle with people who really believe in you.

In Henry IV Part 1, Shakespeare wrote: If allthe yearwere playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work. Sitting in hammocks watching sunsets willsoon feel every bit a routine as a 10:00 amteam meeting. Have some fun, but also set some goals. It will feel more rewarding and your re-entry into the workplace will be easier if future bosses and clients see personal growth and a transitional journey.

One of the myths about mini-retirements is that it shuts doors and leaves awkward employment gaps. Employers are becoming more tolerant to breaks in resumes especially if you can demonstrate that the time was used in a meaningful way. Keeping a blog is a good way of charting your experience. Trust your network and a little serendipity. Ironically, the first person who offered me a job when I came out of mini-retirement was my old cynical boss, but I already had other plans.

Related:Ignore the Cynics, Hope Is Your Greatest Asset

I guess reading about mini-retirement in a publication dedicated to entrepreneurship may seem a little discordant, but I think reflection, personal transition and a generous sprinkling of nonconformity is key to being an effective entrepreneur. The ancient Sanskrit text, Mundaka Upanishad, uses the metaphor of a bow and arrow to describe how reflection and concentration can help us hit the target: Draw the string with full absorption and shoot at the target. I concede this is not going to be for everyone, particularly thosepeople who find purpose and importance in the workplace, preferringstructure, a built-in social group and hierarchical status. But taking time out can help us determine whats important to usandgive us the ideas, vision and confidence to become who we truly want to be.

Dr. Ric Kelly has spent 25 years developing leaders for multinational companies. He is currently launching a leadership consulting company in Europe and South America and finishing a book on leadership and enablement. Ric editsleaders...

Link:

How a Mini-Retirement Brought Meaning to My Life - Entrepreneur