FM newswire for June 14, interesting articles about geopolitics

Today’s links to interesting news and analysis. If you find this useful, please pass it to a friend or colleague.

Today’s antidote to faux economics, disproof of an often-repeated myth: “Unemployment in the 1930s“, Eric Rauchway (Prof History, UC Davis), The Edge of the American West, 10 October 2008
Another example of conservatives argument by lie: “Better Conservative Ideologues, Please“, Jonathan Chait, blog of The New Republic, 11 June 2010 —
Recommended: “A Remarkable Lie, from Your Taxpayer-Funded NOAA“, Art Horn, 12 June 2010 — “The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, facing the reality that their temperature readings are hopelessly inaccurate, claims that accuracy doesn’t matter.”
“Impacts of President Obama’s Order Halting Work on 33 Exploratory Wells in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico“, Arthur Berman, Petroleum Truth Report, 12 June 2010
This must result from chemical pollution: “Girls now begin puberty aged 9“, The Times, 13 June 2010 — For more about this see here.
Avoiding trouble of a certain kind: “YouScrewed by YouTube“, Mark Steyn, 14 June 2010
More about solar cycle 24: “What’s wrong with the sun?“, Robert Clark, New Scientist, 14 June 2010 — Note the reporter’s sneering tone when mentioning scientists researching links between the sun and Earth’s climate (for more about this see here and here).

Feature articles

(8) About Afghanistan’s mineral bonanza

“U.S. Identifies Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan“, New York Times, 13 June 2010 — From the Pentagon’s lips to the NYT’s pages
A skeptical look at the story: “Say what? Afghanistan has $1 trillion in untapped mineral resources?“, Blake Hounshell, blog of Foreign Policy, 14 June 2010 — For one thing, it’s not new news. Just useful news.
If true, it’s good news for China. This explains why: “Karzai’s Balancing Act: Bringing ‘China’ In?”, Institute of South Asian Studies, 18 May 2010

(9) One of the most comprehensive looks at this subject: “The New Americans Economic, Demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration“, National Academy of Sciences, 1997 — Conclusions (source)

Immigration is the driving force behind rapid population growth. Immigration has a negative impact on lower-skilled, less-educated Americans.
Immigration is exacerbating the wealth gap. Immigration has contributed to the increase in high school dropouts.
Immigrant-headed households use more in government services than they contribute in state and local taxes.
Immigration is a substantial tax burden to native households, especially in states with large immigrant populations, and, on average, for the nation as a whole.

Afterword and contact info