StarrNarrative

Niger Coup, or Revolution, Inspires Africans to Rise Up Against Colonialism and Imperialism   By David Starr   “Niger coup widely condemned; countries urge return to order.”  This was the headline  from  Reuters  news service and it’s typical of the Western media. A coup or revolution that threatens Western colonial/imperial interests in the Global South is considered a bad thing, while the largely substandard conditions of native populations is overwhelmingly ignored.    The coup, or revolution, was condemned but not worldwide. But  Reuters  makes it sound like this is the case. Mainly, Western leaders and their supporters were in opposition to it, along with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Those who were concerned in the West took a typical “righteous” stance by using the word “democratic,” as has always been the case in these situations. The word is used and abused.   U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, quoting from  Reuters , said that Niger’s government was

  “Charter/Model Cities”: A Privatization Scheme That Violates the Sovereignty of Nations   By David Starr   “Build New Cities. Maximize Human Prosperity.” That’s the slogan of  Prospera , an entity that creates what it calls “model cities” or “charter cities,” a privatization scheme built for investors like libertarians etc., in other words, voracious capitalists. These cities have operated in foreign countries, like Honduras, a victim of this mad, monetary experiment.    Prospera’s website says that it is “for builders, pioneers, and risk-takers who believe in the boundless potential of human achievement and choose to build the future we want.” (Who is “we”?) It continues: “Our platform powers the development of new cities in special economic zones that maximize generalized prosperity and wealth creation.” Translating the rhetoric: it is a haven for the privileged, mainly white people, who come from developed countries like the United States to get obscenely rich.    What Prospera’s

  Comparing Corruption: Donald Trump vs the Bidens By David Starr   There’s been a long back-and-forth between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party regarding accusations of corruption and criminal behavior targeting Donald Trump and the Bidens, specifically Joe and his son, Hunter.    Hunter Biden is a tragic figure with a  history of drug abuse. And allegedly committing illegal acts . The Republicans have made shrill accusations against him for both situations. Hunter is accused of tax evasion (he did pay up, but not on time), and illegally possessing a gun while being a drug addict. The first accusation is a misdemeanor while the second is a felony offense.    Hunter did agree to accept a guilty plea in return for receiving probation. But U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika didn’t allow this arrangement, and Hunter switched to pleading not guilty. Regarding the arrangement, Donald Trump was  quoted by Sam Cabral  of the  BBC , asserting that it was comparable to a “mere tr