Blogotariat

Before and during the First World War, members of the German armed forces had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Kaiser. This changed after Germany’s defeat, and the establishment of a democratic Weimar Republic. Not only did the political leaders of the new Weimar Republic seek to democratise the military by changing its social makeup but also by changing the oath of allegiance. The new oath required soldiers to swear loyalty to the Constitution and its institutions, rather than to any individual.

However, for many career soldiers, the idea of swearing an oath to a constitution was alien1.

The Trump Plan is designed to reframe the issues in favour of Israel. Palestinians have been betrayed again.

The indicted war criminal Netanyahu has got what he wants. The felon, Trump, so eager for a Nobel Peace Prize, has obliged him. Tony Blair’s involvement suggests satire rather than diplomacy.

If you want bona fide proof that the Australian Treasury has become a propaganda arm of the federal government, look no further than its modelling of the impact of Labor’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers. Under Labor’s First Home Guarantee scheme, which came into effect on Wednesday, almost all first home buyers can

The post Australian house prices are rigged to blow appeared first on MacroBusiness.

Ladies and gentlemen, journalists and news watchers of the Western world, lend me your biased ear….

I have a question for you. Why do you hate Russia?

YOU HATE RUSSIA, DON’T YOU? Putin?…

What’s not to hate about invading a neighbouring country and killing many people, you might say for starters…

Australian households risk being left holding the bag for the so-called ‘gas death spiral’, without major policy reform, consumer advocates warn.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has cut the official cash rate (OCR) by 2.50% from its July 2024 peak of 5.50%: The decline in the OCR has delivered a sharp reduction in mortgage rates: Typically, such a significant reduction in mortgage rates would be associated with a sharp appreciation of home values, given improved

The post Listings deluge sinks New Zealand house prices appeared first on MacroBusiness.

Last week, the Business Council of Australia (BCA) warned of the potential economic consequences of the Victorian government’s proposal to introduce a legislated right to work from home for at least two days a week. The BCA has used its submission to an inquiry into the proposal to contend that employers are likely to respond

The post Melbourne the king of ‘work-from-home’ appeared first on MacroBusiness.

In the years since China began its meteoric rise to become the world’s unrivalled manufacturing hyperpower, Beijing has increasingly used trade as a tool to exert pressure on companies or governments. By weaponising Chinese demand for everything from overseas holidays to agricultural produce, Beijing has been able to extract concessions from nations reliant on China

Michael Read at The AFR posted the following chart showing that tax receipts as a share of GDP hit their highest level in 38 years at 25.9% of GDP. The rise in tax receipts have been driven by personal and corporate tax receipts, which has more than offset by declines in tobacco and fuel excise

The post Australians taxed punitively for ‘having a go’ appeared first on MacroBusiness.

Upon the arrival of the pandemic in Australia in early 2020, the consumer confidence of the nation’s households experienced a sharp decline and has remained turbulent. By mid-2021, consumer confidence within ANZ-Roy Morgan index had returned to pre-Covid levels. Then, with the 2021 round of lockdowns and pandemic-driven restrictions, it began to tumble again. While

The post Optimism for Australia’s future collapses appeared first on MacroBusiness.

The BHP dispute is capturing the headlines, but it’s the steel glut that is driving ferrous market pricing. Even after another accident at Simandou yesterday, costing three lives, the market could not find a bid. The problem is that there is far too much steel, so prices keep falling. This is the perverse fruit of

The post Steel piles up in China appeared first on MacroBusiness.

A state-owned water company tested the idea of putting wind turbines on land it manages; but it's just scrapped the idea because of costs.