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#Republicans Are Still Waging War on Workers

PAUL KRUGMAN

Has the Republican Party, which has championed the interests of big business and sought to keep wages low since the late 19th century, suddenly become populist? Some of its rising stars would have you believe so. For example, after the 2020 election Senator Josh Hawley declared that “we must be a working-class party, not a Wall Street party.”

But while Republicans have lately attacked selected businesses, their beef with big companies seems to be over noneconomic issues. It bothers them a lot that some of corporate America has taken a mild stand in favor of social equality and against voter suppression.

What doesn’t bother them is the fact that many corporations pay little or nothing in taxes and pay their workers poorly. On such matters the G.O.P. is the same as it ever was: It’s for tax cuts that favor corporations and the wealthy, against anything that might improve the lives of ordinary workers.The latest example: the Republican push to end enhanced unemployment benefits that have sustained millions of American families through the pandemic, even though unemployment remains very high. Multiple Republican-controlled states have moved to cut off the $300-a-month supplement provided under the American Rescue Plan, even though this means states turning away free money that helps boost their economies — the supplement is entirely paid for by the federal government.

And who has been pushing for a drastic cut in aid to the unemployed? Why, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Tell me again how the G.O.P. has become an anti-corporate party of the working class?

Before I get into the substantive issues here, it’s important to be aware of the historical context — namely, that Republicans have always opposed helping the unemployed, no matter what the state of the economy may be. In 2011, with the economy still deeply depressed in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, leading Republicans attacked unemployment benefits that, they claimed, were encouraging people to “just stay home and watch television.” And last summer, as a renewed surge in the coronavirus forced much of the country back into lockdown, Senator Lindsey Graham declared that enhanced unemployment benefits would be extended “over our dead bodies.”

I mention these previous episodes to disabuse readers of any notion that the current assault on the unemployed is a good-faith response to anything actually happening in the economy. The G.O.P. has always been determined to make the lives of the jobless miserable, regardless of economic conditions.

That said, is there actually a case that relatively generous benefits are hurting the economic recovery, because they are discouraging Americans from taking available jobs? Until last week’s employment report, there was fairly broad agreement among economic researchers that the expanded benefits introduced during the pandemic weren’t significantly reducing employment. Notably, the expiration of the $600-a week-benefit introduced in March 2020 didn’t lead to any visible rise in overall employment; in particular, states with low wages, for whom the benefit should have created a big incentive to turn down job offers, didn’t see more employment than higher-wage states when it was removed. On Friday, however, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the U.S. economy added only 266,000 jobs in April, far short of consensus expectations that we’d gain around a million new jobs. Was this evidence that the economy really is being held back because we’re “paying people not to work”?

No. For one thing, you should never make much of one month’s numbers, especially in an economy still distorted by the pandemic. For example, that low reported number was “seasonally adjusted.” The economy actually added more than a million jobs; however, the bureau marked that down because the economy normally adds a lot of jobs in the spring. That’s standard and appropriate practice — but are we having a normal spring?

Also, if unemployment benefits were holding job growth back, you’d expect the worst performance in low-wage industries, where benefits are large relative to wages. The actual pattern was the reverse: big job gains in low-wage sectors like leisure and hospitality, job losses in high-wage sectors like professional services. I don’t want to make too much of this, since other things have been going on as life gradually returns to normal — although the job number actually reports the situation in mid-April, too soon to reflect the sharp recent progress against the spread of the coronavirus. But on the face of it the data don’t support an unemployment-benefits story. So what actually happened? We don’t know. Maybe it was a statistical aberration, maybe a variety of factors ranging from computer chip shortages to lack of child care were holding the economy back. The sensible thing is to wait a few months for more evidence, not rush to cut off a crucial financial lifeline for millions of families.

But punishing the unemployed is what Republicans do, whenever they can, whatever the economic circumstances. The G.O.P., posturing aside, is still a corporatist party.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/10/opinion/jobs-unemployment-benefits-republicans.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

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#Pakistan - If OIC diplomats spoke to Imran Khan freely on blasphemy, here’s what they’d say: Hoodbhoy

 PERVEZ HOODBHOY

PM Imran Khan asked OIC envoys to convince the West that blasphemy against the Prophet hurts the world’s Muslims. This failure is causing endless trouble in Pakistan.

When PM Khan summoned OIC ambassadors to his office last Monday, he assigned their countries a new mission. So far Muslim countries have failed, he said, to convince the West — France particularly — that blasphemy against the Prophet (PBUH) was hurting sentiments of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims. This failure is causing endless trouble in Pakistan. The West must therefore curb freedom of expression and introduce blasphemy laws acceptable to Pakistan and the ummah. Would OIC’s ambassadors kindly double down to their job?

Ambassadors are trained not to raise difficult questions. But making powerful countries change their cherished beliefs and laws is not easy. Hence some might be tempted to ask:

Sir: We are all Muslims and deeply pained every time our beloved Prophet is disrespected. But please explain why violence erupts in your country but not in ours. When some blasphemy incident occurs in France or Denmark we simply condemn it, shout for a bit, and then move on. In our countries we don’t let protesters paralyse cities, torture and kill policemen, or set fire to property. Back home when we call such people terrorists, we actually shoot them dead. But you seem to be a kind man. True, you did declare the TLP as terrorist but then you immediately bargained and released 669 rioters even though they had injured 700 of your policemen and killed four officers. We next heard you saying that you share the TLP’s goals but not its methods. Your approach to terrorism puzzles us.

Sir: We read in your newspapers that you agreed with TLP that the French ambassador’s expulsion should be debated in parliament. Of course we despise Emmanuel Macron. Who doesn’t? Still, none of our countries threatened to expel his ambassador. Anyway, the debate deadline of April 20, 2021, has long passed so kindly clarify whether there was a debate. Obviously we don’t know the outcome but we heard you saying in one of your near-daily addresses to the nation that Pakistan cannot sever relations with France lest the European Union react badly. Is that why we still see a French-looking gentleman strolling around in the diplomatic enclave? He doesn’t seem to have departure plans and Kohsar Market remains well stocked with French cheeses. Does this mean that the French ambassador will stay and French goods will not be boycotted? We hope to receive your guidance for onward transmission to our capitals.

Sir: If you don’t plan to expel the French or boycott their goods, how can we persuade our leaders back home to expel or boycott either? They will want to know from you how to force Westerners into accepting our demands. Of course, we completely understand that your economy hangs upon the West’s goodwill and so you have to be extra nice to them. As it is these days Covid-19 has made life tough for you. Thankfully, the West gave you some special aid to handle it but we see FATF and IMF conditions hanging around your neck. We are truly sorry that you cannot bring back the billions looted by your previous governments, get your citizens to pay their taxes, fix the head-to-toe corruption, and that your army’s spending is not for you to determine. In return we hope you will appreciate that although a few of us have lots of oil, we also can’t talk too loudly against those who supply us with weapons, technology, ideas and a comfortable life.

Sir: We can sense your panic at the recent EU parliamentary resolution seeking possible revocation of Pakistan’s GSP-Plus status. That it was approved 662 to three (with 26 not voting) must be worrying. We know that its implementation will wreck Pakistan’s textile exports and your economy may collapse. As it stands, Pakistan’s pre-Covid GDP annual growth rate of one per cent didn’t compare well with India’s (4.2pc) or Bangladesh’s (8.2pc). Now that the Americans have fled Afghanistan, Coalition Support Funds have dried up. As for the Chinese, who knows better than you how stingy they are on aid. We don’t have much advice here to offer but maybe you can get into the West’s good books by releasing those who have spent five to 10 years in jail awaiting trial for blasphemy? Stop mob lynchings? Give a modicum of religious freedom to your people? At least allow your blasphemy laws to be discussed? Yes, we know we OIC folks aren’t great on human rights but your country and Shireen Mazari still surprises us.

Sir: We much appreciate the trust you place in us to find a joint strategy against Europe but we feel you are a tad too optimistic about our unity. Frankly, we Muslim colleagues can’t agree on any big issue, including iftar timings and moon sightings. Some of us have recognised Israel, others are on the brink, and yet others say they will fight that Zionist entity till death. We differ on practically everything, including the war in Yemen. As for Kashmir, we didn’t want to offend you last December and so upon your repeated insistence — and that of Shah Mahmood Qureshi — we did eventually pass the resolution you wanted so badly. But you know well that we don’t want to offend India either and we won’t lift a finger to hurt it. That’s all that we are allowed to say as diplomats.

Mr Prime Minister: We agree with you that the French are a bad, blasphemous, laïcité-afflicted people. It’s therefore terribly sad that so many of us Muslims — and your countrymen in particular — are still lining up for French visas and millions of Muslims continue to live in Europe. None want to leave France or EU. Finally, we know its Islamophobia that upsets you and not Muslimophobia. But on your borders the Chinese are beating the daylights out of Uighur Muslims. Of course, we are quite aware that you don’t know anything about that but the facts are just a click away. May we therefore request that upon your next jaunt to Beijing you whisper to President Xi Jinping to be just a little nicer to them? Thank you, sir.

https://theprint.in/diplomacy/if-oic-diplomats-spoke-to-imran-khan-freely-on-blasphemy-heres-what-theyd-say-hoodbhoy-2/655274/

#Pakistan - The PTI government must leave office – says Central Information Secretary of PPPP, Shazia Atta Marri

 Central Information Secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and Member National Assembly Shazia Atta Marri has said that Imran Niazi has lost ethical and legal grounds to retain premiership and he must leave his office and go back to home . She added that like incompetent PM Imran Niazi his cabinet ministers are also making confusing statements. She further said that Imran Khan is such a Prime Minister who does not care that people are miserable and facing starvation, committing suicide due to high rise in inflation then it is useless for him to sit in the office of the Prime Minister.

 Shazia Marri said that federal government borrowed 3 billion dollars loan from Saudi Arabia and repaid to Saudi Arabia by seeking debt from China, in this regard, matter was not brought for discussion in the Parliament. This she expressed while talking to media persons during her Press conference held at Media Cell Bilawal House hereon today. On this occasion, PPP General Secretary Sindh Waqar Mahdi, PPP leader Abdul Qadir Mandhokel, MNA Shahida Rehmani, Taimor Mehar and others were also present. Shazia Marri said that poverty has been increased by 30% due to incompetent government’s bad policies and about 85 million people are living their lives below the poverty line. 

She added that federal government was cheating overseas Pakistanis and and no any parliamentary committee was also formed on issues of overseas Pakistanis. While talking about NAB letter to Sindh government in which details of rural areas officers were sought who are posted in urban areas, she said that NAB letter is shameful act on which Sindh government had already refused NAB and it was based on prejudice. She maintained that poor policies of the federal government are in front of everyone. Imran Niazi does not talk about public issues and their solutions. She added that NCOC has strictly directed for compliance of SOPs in wake of third wave of covid-19 in the country and other side, PM Imran Niazi has planed to spend his Eid holidays in Nathia gali. She added that KP government has lifted the ban on all recreational places which is a blatant violation of the NCOC’s Corona related SOPs and highly condemable act. 

She said that IRSA has been theft 2,000 cusecs of water from Sindh Province’s due share at Tunsa Panjnand which is may cause scarcity of water in the province. She added that PPP condemns this bad act of IRSA. Shazia Marri said that innocent Kashmiris are facing the cruelity of indian aggression while the policy of the government on Kashmir is not clear. 

She further said that Kashmir cause has been severely damaged due to poor and weak foreign policy of Imran Niazi’s government. She concluded that PTI-led government should take a strong stand in the United Nations to end Israeli barbarism. “PPP condemns Israel’s attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque during prayers”, she added.

https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/24782/

Imran Khan has extensive experience in soliciting alms and donations, but countries do not, can not, and should not run on donations, says Chairman PPP

Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has asked the Prime Minister to explain to the public why his government was compelled to repay Saudi Arabia’s USD 3 billion loan, and what it is going to cost the nation for taking a commercial loan from China to clear the Saudi soft loan.

The PPP Chairman said that Imran Khan had promised to break Pakistan free from the debt trap, but since coming to power he has buried Pakistan under loans, taking the begging bowl everywhere he goes. “He (Imran Khan) has extensive experience in soliciting alms and donations, but countries do not, can not, and should not run on donations,” he stated.The PPP Chairman said that the life of the common man in Pakistan had become unbearable due to the poor economic policies of Imran Khan’s regime. With the per capita debt now at Rs175,000, every Pakistani is paying the price for Imran’s Khans incompetence.Common people would continue to suffer unprecedented inflation, poverty, and unemployment if the federal governments pushes Pakistan further into debt and compounds it with their corruption and mismanagement.

“Every person in Pakistan is paying a terrible price for the tsunami of Imran Khan’s transformation,” he added.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that due to the circular debt crises, the government has been unable to keep its financial commitments to our international partners, putting projects such as CPEC at risk.“The hesitation of the Chinese government in releasing the committed USD 6 billion funds for the ML-1 railway track, is in fact an expression of distrust in the PTI regime,” he said, adding that Chinese companies investing in Pakistan have also apprised the Chinese government of their distrust of the PTI government.

The PPP Chairman further said that the puppet Prime Minister had created a climate where foreign investors and governments had become reluctant to invest in Pakistan and engage with the federal government.

https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/24777/