Just a few years ago, a powerful ideology – the belief in free and unfettered markets – brought the world to the brink of ruin. Even in its hey-day, from the early 1980’s until 2007, American-style deregulated capitalism brought greater material well-being only to the very richest in the richest country of the world. Indeed, over the course of this ideology’s 30-year ascendance, most Americans saw their incomes decline or stagnate year after year.

Moreover, output growth in the United States was not economically sustainable. With so much of US national income going to so few, growth could continue only through consumption financed by a mounting pile of debt.

I was among those who hoped that, somehow, the financial crisis would teach Americans (and others) a lesson about the need for greater equality, stronger regulation, and a better balance between the market and government. Alas, that has not been the case. On the contrary, a resurgence of right-wing economics, driven, as always, by ideology and special interests, once again threatens the global economy – or at least the economies of Europe and America, where these ideas continue to flourish.

In the US, this right-wing resurgence, whose adherents evidently seek to repeal the basic […]

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An American Hospital Association survey of 820 hospitals across the nation found that almost all of them reported a drug shortage in the last six months, and nearly half of them reported 21 or more drug shortages.

That growing shortfall has prompted some patients to take less-effective drugs or delay treatment because of drug shortages, the survey showed.

‘The number of drugs in short supply is increasing at an alarming rate and hospitals are working diligently to reduce the impact to the patients they care for,’ AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said in a statement Tuesday that came with the survey’s release. ‘Clinicians need more notice about drug shortages so they have time to act to ensure that patient care is not disrupted.’

Earlier this year Premier Inc., a hospital purchasing alliance, reported that the near-crisis shortage of drugs had reached a 10-year high. The lack of chemotherapy, sedation, and pain relief medications endangers patient safety and costs hospitals more than $200 million annually for higher priced substitutes, a Premier survey found.
The AHA survey found that in the last six months:

– Hospitals report that they have delayed treatment (82%) and more than half were not always able […]

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LOS ANGELES — Nineteen U.S. restaurant chains, including Burger King and DineEquity’s IHOP, are backing an industry effort to serve and promote healthier meals for children.

The announcement on Wednesday from the National Restaurant Association (NRA) comes as public health officials and consumer advocates pressure restaurants to reduce calories in, and improve the nutritional value of, meals for U.S. children — nearly one in three of whom are either obese or overweight.

The 19 chains collectively operate some 15,000 restaurants that will participate in the trade group’s ‘Kids LiveWell’ initiative, it said.

Other participating brands include Au Bon Pain, Brinker International’s (EAT.N) Chili’s Grill & Bar, Cracker Barrel (CBRL.O), Denny’s (DENN.O), El Pollo Loco, Outback Steakhouse OSI [OSI.UL] and Sizzler.

The NRA said the voluntary program would focus on increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy, while limiting unhealthy fats, sugars and sodium.

Participants agreed to offer a children’s meal — comprising an entree, a side and a drink — with 600 calories or less that meets the above criteria.

They also promise to offer at least one other individual item with 200 calories or less.

‘This is a great start to help empower consumers — kids and parents especially […]

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On July 1, ASTM International, a US organization that sets worldwide technical standards for airlines and other industries, gave approval for carriers to mix fuel made from organic waste and non-food plants with kerosene, which is conventionally used to power planes.