Commentary on need for France to change direction, the myth of America’s accidental empire, Europe’s confidence deficit, the gap between productivity and compensation, and the two-state solution is dead.

What cannot continue cannot.

Financial Times -- Stop fretting about a French revolution
France’s presidential election has offered a glimpse of Europe in revolutionary mood.

Related. Plus la meme chose, plus c'est la même chose.

Economist -- The rather dangerous Monsieur Hollande
The Socialist who is likely to be the next French president would be bad for his country and Europe.

Not accidental.

Globalist -- Is The United States An Accidental Empire?
The United States was born out of a struggle against an imperial power.

Related.

This Time We’re on Your Side: Be Patient
President Polk’s impatience with dealing with Mexico led his administration to cut a deal with the British to extend the Canadian-America border along the 49th parallel and under Vancouver Island. Had he waited Canada may not even have extended to the Pacific Ocean).

Deutsche Bank argues that what Europe needs is confidence.

Pdf below – Growth Versus Austerity In Euroland

Study that argues income inequality is being driven by the inability of labour to bargain increased productivity into a similar rise in compensation.

Pdf below -- The Wedges Between Productivity and Median Compensation Growth

Explaining America’s penchant for bloodbath killings. Thanks to David of London.

Spectator -- Slaughter in Pennsylvania
It was what the psychiatric services, with commendable understatement, often call a ‘special’ murder: obscure in its motive, repugnant in its selection of vulnerable and powerless victims, excessively brutal in its denouement.

The two state solution has been suffocated. Thanks to Tony of Victoria.

straight.com -- Gwynne Dyer: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict after the “peace process”
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993, were supposed to lead, through a “peace process”, to the final solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: two sovereign states living side by side in peace.

Related.

Project Syndicate -- Put Palestine First
Not long ago, a Dutch journalist interviewed me about the Iranian nuclear question.