Random Facts from Jason Hckel's book 'The Divde'...

Neoliberal policies from the 1980s have been the cure worse than the disease. They were Intended to reduce debt, but have vastly increased it. External debt stood at 25% of national incomes in the global South in 1980, but increased to 38% in 1990, then to 39% in 2000.

The debt grew from $100 billion to over $1.5 trillion - of which only $400 billion was actually borrowed - all the rest is just rolled-up interest.

There is no way these sums can ever be repaid. They are, in fact, simply rents extracted by the wealthy from the poor.

@aadeacon

Does this help at all
Its not the best list, most are fairly obvious, hopefully someone has another link that includes more unexpected US owned firms
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/lifestyle/consumer/which-us-brands-can-i-avoid-in-protest-390654/

Strangely #BootsTheChemist isnt on the list despite being owned by Sycamore Partners

@Captain_Jack_Sparrow @Andii @therightarticle

The research finding that poor education leaves people more vulnerable to the right-wing bias of the media is not surprising.

There's a lot of analysis in cultural history showing that lower levels of school systems equip children with the basic skills needed by industry - they produce 'factory fodder' - while only at higher levels are skills like critical thinking introduced - and, crucially, these higher levels and skills tend to be reserved for privileged classes.

Look for example at the old division between English Language and English Literature in British schools. The invention and adoption of English Literature as a separate discipline can be charted against the decline of Classics. The old class marker - reading Latin and Greek - declined as capitalism elevated the middle class alongside the old aristocracy, and Literature, only taught at private and grammar schools and universities, took over as the marker of class distinction.

It's a conflict in education at least as old as capitalism. When the appalling schoolmaster Gradgrind in Dickens' 'Hard Times' (1854) says "Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts" - he is seeing education as merely a preparation for work, providing the skills needed to boost the economy, rather than enabling all children to fulfill their potential, think for themselves. discover their passions, talents and creativity, and become rounded human beings.

The last thing capitalism wants is people outside its privileged cliques thinking for themselves.