Commentary on feminism’s civil war, historically important currencies, China delusions, Europe’s got things upside down, food surplus and deficit, and ending public funding of Catholic schools in Ontario.

What role mummy?

New York Times -- ‘Mommy Wars’ Redux: A False Conflict
The “mommy wars” have flared up once again, sparked most recently by the publication of the English translation of Elisabeth Badinter’s book, “The Conflict:  How Modern Motherhood Undermines the Status of Women.”

Global trade and historically important currencies.

The Globalist -- A Brief History of Global Anchor Currencies
Throughout history, the global system of trade and finance has only ever been in "balance" by lucky coincidence — or when a hegemonic power has imposed its will in order to make the system work.

A clever reminder of what China is up against.

Also Sprach Analyst -- Top 5 delusional ideas China bulls have
Early last year, we published 10 reasons to short China, with practically nobody believing in it as everyone was still rushing to get a piece of China. 

The wrong medicine.

Financial Times -- This is a fiscal straitjacket for Ireland, not a union
 “Don’t piss down my back and tell me it’s raining.” This line from The Outlaw Josey Wales, the classic Clint Eastwood western, is self-explanatory. In contending that the fiscal treaty will solve our dilemma, the European Commission and European Central Bank are pissing down Ireland’s back and telling us it’s raining.

Forget about oil, who’s got food?

Economist -- How to feed a planet
Why the world needs an agricultural revolution in Africa.

 

Calling a spade a spade.

Globe and Mail -- Politicians, not Catholics, deserve Ontario’s wrath for funding religious schools
They are stubborn in defence of views that increasingly look anachronistic. Somehow, they have convinced themselves that the “diversity” of their province hinges on their ability to continue implicitly or directly telling some of the most vulnerable kids in the high-school system that there’s something wrong with them.