Mystery Economic Theater 2018-2019

[kladner]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

Geez, what an utter shambles. The following whimsical notion comes to mind: The Queen summons May, Corbyn, et al to the palace. When they arrive, they are ushered into an empty room. The ushers tell them to wait, then leave. A loudspeaker comes to life. The Queen's voice says, "You can leave this room when you have agreed on a course of action for Brexit." The people in the room find that the doors have been locked from the outside. There are no toilet facilities. No water. No food.

Fun fact: The word conclave, used for the election of a new Pope, is from the Latin "with key," and means a locked room, or a room that can be locked.

At least in some times, haven't Cardinals been locked in until they send up the Magic Smoke?
EDIT: I suspect they still had bathroom privileges.

[xilman]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

Paul, does your second-domiciling in the Canaries have anything to do with Brexit, or was that unrelated? If the latter, you may find that to have been a fortuitously timed undertaking.

Absolutely nothing to do with Brexit.

Incidentally, the guy I bought it from also expresses profound dissatisfaction with the EU, calling Spain a colony. Much of the anti-EU feeling throughout the continent is not about economics. Quite a lot is not about immigration. It concerns the widely used phrase "ever closer union", that the problems of Europe can be solved by more Europe.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by kladner

At least in some times, haven't Cardinals been locked in until they send up the Magic Smoke?
EDIT: I suspect they still had bathroom privileges.

The Wikipedia page on the Papal conclave indicates modern practice. It also has an amusing story of a protracted election in 1269.

With the PM and MP's at odds on Brexit, I think the most stringent form of conclave may be necessary.

I've even heard and read that Parliament is considering taking over the process itself -- setting up its own Brexit Commission and sidelining the PM. Wouldn't that be fun?

[Brownfox]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

I've even heard and read that Parliament is considering taking over the process itself -- setting up its own Brexit Commission and sidelining the PM. Wouldn't that be fun?

It was suggested by a pro-remain MP that the Commons Liaison committee could do it - but the Committee chairman didn't want any part of that particular poisoned chalice.


We're now at the stage where both sides say that they're reaching out to their opponents but imposing red lines which mean that nothing is apparently happening. It is to be hoped that some discussions are taking place behind the scenes.


Meanwhile the clock is ticking....

[ewmayer]

The Malign Incompetence of the British Ruling Class | Pankaj Mishra, NYTimes: With Brexit, the chumocrats who drew borders from India to Ireland are getting a taste of their own medicine.

NC reader and UK expert "Colonel Smithers" illustrates illustrates the incestuous nature of the British ruling classes and MSM by way of the family the NYT-piece author Pankaj Mishra married into:

Mishra knows the ruling class well as he’s married to Mary Mount, cousin of David Cameron, daughter of Thatcher’s policy chief Sir Ferdinand Mount, Baronet, and brother of Telegraph journalist Harry Mount.

And the Daily Mash weighs in, in its inimitable fashion:

Got that f**king grouse though, says Philip | Daily Mash

[Dr Sardonicus]

Parliament has ordered PM May to renegotiate the "backstop." Parliament has also -- apparently with PM May's blessing -- passed a motion calling for "alternative arrangements" to the "backstop," without giving any indication of what those might be. Ireland and the EU have both said the backstop is not open for renegotiation, and the EU had previously said the Brexit deal was not open for renegotiation. Apparently MP's are not familiar with the phrase, "It takes two to tango."

Parliament also rejected a motion calling for extending the March 29 deadline, which is merely redundant, since the EU had already said that wouldn't fly unless the UK gave a clear indication of what it actually wanted. Unspecified "alternative arrangements" obviously won't cut the mustard.

The idiocy of this is exceeded by another motion Parliament has passed, rejecting a "no-deal" Brexit. They seem to be completely oblivious to the inevitability that, like it or not, this exactly what will happen unless either

(a) Parliament approves the Brexit deal already negotiated, or
(b) the UK pulls the plug by rescinding its Article 50 filing.

For reasons that are not entirely clear to me, I am reminded of a long-ago episode of SNL in which Chris Evert had lost, yet again, at Wimbledon. The skit had Prince Philip boorishly saying something like, "Sorry about how you blew it out there," upon which the sports commentator says something like, "The Royal Family is the result of centuries of inbreeding."

[Dr Sardonicus]

Fears grow: 1/3 of UK firms consider move abroad over Brexit

[chalsall]

Originally Posted by Dr Sardonicus

Fears grow: 1/3 of UK firms consider move abroad over Brexit

Yeah... And Putin giggles in his sleep. A budget of only a million or two, totally fscking up the west....

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by chalsall

Yeah... And Putin giggles in his sleep. A budget of only a million or two, totally fscking up the west....

He'll be guffawing out loud in public if this Sky News report about Nissan pans out.

[ewmayer]

'Foxconn Was a Major Con': Backed by Trump Promises and $4 Billion in Subsidies, Company Admits Factory Jobs Not Coming | naked capitalism

Foxconn’s shoddy record isn’t the only red flag associated with this proposal. The electronics manufacturing giant has grown accustomed to major handouts from governments and, if their track record is any indication, they expect these freebies to keep flowing the entire time they’re in the country. In order for this plan to become a reality, the Wisconsin state legislature would need to approve $3 billion in corporate incentives to defray capital costs and workforce development costs. The math is startling: Wisconsin will pay out $230,000 in tax dollars for each one of the 13,000 jobs. This means Wisconsin taxpayers will shell out $66,000 per year to subsidize jobs that will pay less than the state average income. In a state experiencing its lowest unemployment rate in 17 years, it’s difficult to imagine there would be political will to pass this legislation…

It’s also worth asking what kind of jobs the Foxconn deal will create. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s entire political career has been framed by his battle against organised labor. With funding from the Koch Brothers and other deep-pocketed out-of-state donors, he’s waged an unceasing battle against public sector unions, including teachers and other civil servants. He also helped make Wisconsin a ‘right to work’ state, which will make it much more difficult for Foxconn’s employees to join a union if they decide to. Under Walker’s watch, union membership has plummeted faster than in any other state in the country.

Bad as those dollar figures are, you'd think there would at least be some dead-simple fraud-prevention measures in place, such as tying monies-disbursed to actual jobs created. Nope!

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by ewmayer

'Foxconn Was a Major Con': Backed by Trump Promises and $4 Billion in Subsidies, Company Admits Factory Jobs Not Coming | naked capitalism

Bad as those dollar figures are, you'd think there would at least be some dead-simple fraud-prevention measures in place, such as tying monies-disbursed to actual jobs created. Nope!

If all else fails, blame the Democrats! Foxconn factory jobs touted by Trump will not come to pass

Republican legislative leaders who pushed the project blamed new Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for Foxconn’s change in plans. They said he had created an air of economic uncertainty by supporting elimination of a manufacturing tax credit program.