When really bad policy has bi-partisan support

[beagleboy]

http://cepr.net/press-center/press-rele ... -of-deaths


A new paper from the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), by economists Mark Weisbrot and Jeffrey Sachs, finds that economic sanctions implemented by the Trump administration since August 2017 have caused tens of thousands of deaths and are rapidly worsening the humanitarian crisis.

“The sanctions are depriving Venezuelans of lifesaving medicines, medical equipment, food, and other essential imports,” said Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director of CEPR and co-author of the report. “This is illegal under US and international law, and treaties that the US has signed. Congress should move to stop it.”

The paper notes that the recognition by the Trump administration of a parallel government in January created a whole new set of financial and trade sanctions that are devastating to the economy and population. These new restrictions make it much more difficult to even pay for medicines and other essential imports with the limited foreign exchange that is available.

The authors also explain how the sanctions prevent an economic recovery from the country’s severe economic depression and hyperinflation.
“Venezuela’s economic crisis is routinely blamed all on Venezuela,” said Jeffrey Sachs, co-author of the paper. “But it is much more than that. American sanctions are deliberately aiming to wreck Venezuela’s economy and thereby lead to regime change. It’s a fruitless, heartless, illegal, and failed policy, causing grave harm to the Venezuelan people.”

Among the results of broad economic sanctions implemented by the Trump administration since August 2017:

An estimated more than 40,000 deaths from 2017–18;

The sanctions have reduced the availability of food and medicine, and increased disease and mortality;

The August 2017 sanctions contributed to a sharp decline in oil production that caused great harm to the civilian population;

The US sanctions implemented since January, if they continue will almost certainly result in tens of thousands more avoidable deaths;

This is based on an estimated 80,000 people with HIV who have not had antiretroviral treatment since 2017, 16,000 people who need dialysis, 16,000 people with cancer, and 4 million with diabetes and hypertension (many of whom cannot obtain insulin or cardiovascular medicine);

Since the sanctions that began in January 2019, oil production has fallen by 431,000 barrels per day or 36.4 percent. This will greatly accelerate the humanitarian crisis, but the projected 67 percent decline in oil production for the year, if the sanctions continue, would cause vastly more loss of human life.

[PimpDaddy]

We've got 40,000 here in the US that could use food and medicine. Just sayin.

Funny how 1/2 the country say Trump is not qualified to the run THIS country, and yet expect him to save the world.

[beagleboy]

We've got 40,000 here in the US that could use food and medicine. Just sayin.

Funny how 1/2 the country say Trump is not qualified to the run THIS country, and yet expect him to save the world.

And a significant percentage wanted him to get tougher with Russia because afterall - who is more rational when it comes to dealing with a nuclear armed enemy?

[AnalHamster]

A left leaning think tank looking to pin another crisis on Trump? Gee, who saw that one coming?

You think there's anything controversial about the idea that sanctions kill people? It's just a fact. Starve countries of money and trade and essential goods don't get bought in.

The justification for them is that it achieves some goal like regime change, justifying the short term harm because of the good done by forcing long term change. Thing is though, it generally doesn't work so you do the harm for no benefit.

[CaptQuint]

A left leaning think tank looking to pin another crisis on Trump? Gee, who saw that one coming?

You think there's anything controversial about the idea that sanctions kill people? It's just a fact. Starve countries of money and trade and essential goods don't get bought in.

The justification for them is that it achieves some goal like regime change, justifying the short term harm because of the good done by forcing long term change. Thing is though, it generally doesn't work so you do the harm for no benefit.

If we go in with M1A1 Tanks and F22 Raptors we're bad. If we use sanctions to make the populous uncircumcized enough to do the job themselves and overthrow their shitty leader, we're bad.

[AnalHamster]

A left leaning think tank looking to pin another crisis on Trump? Gee, who saw that one coming?

You think there's anything controversial about the idea that sanctions kill people? It's just a fact. Starve countries of money and trade and essential goods don't get bought in.

The justification for them is that it achieves some goal like regime change, justifying the short term harm because of the good done by forcing long term change. Thing is though, it generally doesn't work so you do the harm for no benefit.

If we go in with M1A1 Tanks and F22 Raptors we're bad. If we use sanctions to make the populous uncircumcized enough to do the job themselves and overthrow their shitty leader, we're bad.

Yes the point is it usually doesn't work, so all you do is make the populous uncircumcized, which in reality generally means killing vulnerable people. And political reality means that failed sanctions stay in place anyway. Take Cuba, fifty years of failed sanctions have held it in stasis. Compare to Vietnam, where engagement with the filthy commies has created a vibrant success of a country. Sanctions have their place, you could even argue they were worth a try in Venezuela given how close Maduro was to being toppled, but there needs to be a clear aim and timeframe, and failure of a sanctions policy needs to be recognised and responded to. If the benefits are not forthcoming then the harms are not worthwhile.

And it's not like punitive sanctions and bombing are the only two options, ever. Not interfering is also available for consideration. Or positive interference like sending aid with strings attached like allowing free information flow and educating people.

[CaptQuint]

A left leaning think tank looking to pin another crisis on Trump? Gee, who saw that one coming?

You think there's anything controversial about the idea that sanctions kill people? It's just a fact. Starve countries of money and trade and essential goods don't get bought in.

The justification for them is that it achieves some goal like regime change, justifying the short term harm because of the good done by forcing long term change. Thing is though, it generally doesn't work so you do the harm for no benefit.

If we go in with M1A1 Tanks and F22 Raptors we're bad. If we use sanctions to make the populous uncircumcized enough to do the job themselves and overthrow their shitty leader, we're bad.

Yes the point is it usually doesn't work, so all you do is make the populous uncircumcized, which in reality generally means killing vulnerable people. And political reality means that failed sanctions stay in place anyway. Take Cuba, fifty years of failed sanctions have held it in stasis. Compare to Vietnam, where engagement with the filthy commies has created a vibrant success of a country. Sanctions have their place, you could even argue they were worth a try in Venezuela given how close Maduro was to being toppled, but there needs to be a clear aim and timeframe, and failure of a sanctions policy needs to be recognised and responded to. If the benefits are not forthcoming then the harms are not worthwhile.

And it's not like punitive sanctions and bombing are the only two options, ever. Not interfering is also available for consideration. Or positive interference like sending aid with strings attached like allowing free information flow and educating people.

Not interfering is not on the table. Best they can do is not make eye contact and hope that Iran shoots a missile at an Aircraft Carrier or China rams a spy plane and hope the lumbering war machine get distracted.

[beagleboy]

Sanctions kill old people, the sick and children. But hey, we are the good guys so there is that.

Coups have bi-partisan support also - especially after we are obsessed that the Russians tried to manipulate our elections.

[CHEEZY17]

Sanctions kill old people, the sick and children. But hey, we are the good guys so there is that.

Coups have bi-partisan support also - especially after we are obsessed that the Russians tried to manipulate our elections.

This is what's hilarious to me. Many of the same people who think the Russians buying some Facebook advertising is the worst thing ever have absolutely no problem saying we should be encouraging a gentle regime change in Venezuela.

[beagleboy]

This is what's hilarious to me. Many of the same people who think the Russians buying some Facebook advertising is the worst thing ever have absolutely no problem saying we should be encouraging a gentle regime change in Venezuela.

And after the sanctions and embargoes are in place we are shocked to find out the Russians are the group that fills our place in their economy. Shocking. Who would have ever thought it was possible? (North Korea, Syria, Iran, Cuba, Myanmar, Yemen..)

[Charliesheen]

Iran is a nation dying to get out from under its fucked up government. How should we help them?