Carney reaches a dilemma: price or value?; or to use Marxist terms: exchange value or use value?; profit or social need? Economics should be about increasing social well-being, but it is obsessed with market pricing instead. “This underscores the moral error of many mainstream economists, which is to treat civic and social virtues as scarce commodities, despite there being extensive evidence that public-spiritedness increases with its practice.” Carney’s answer is to restore ‘a balance’ between markets and morals; between price and value.

It is not often that employers complain about workers being deprived of fair treatment and necessary protections: usually it's a union or an advocacy group making those arguments. But that's what Uber Canada did last week with an advertising blitz to promote its new Flexible Work+ proposal, through which gig workers (including people working for Uber) would receive certain, limited benefits.

The company launched a faux protest against government over what it calls "Canada's unfair labour system in which some workers get benefits and protections while others do not." Obviously, Uber is a big part of that problem, thanks to its own employment practices -- which classify workers as contractors rather than employees, thus evading normal costs and obligations (like minimum wages, workers' compensation, and contributions to employment insurance and the Canada Pension Plan). Perhaps Uber should launch a "protest" against itself?

The Development of Productive Forces in Contemporary Capitalism

The premier’s allegations against Sol Mamakwa need to be called out for what they are—racism | Pam Palmater

The spokesperson for Mireille Ndjomouo’s family says it is too early to know whether racism, negligence or error played a role in the death of the 44-year-old Cameroonian refugee and mother of three who begged, in a heart-wrenching video made from from a Longueuil hospital bed, to be transferred to another institution.

Jacobin | John Sayles is one of the most talented left-wing filmmakers in US history. We spoke with him about radical politics, independent filmmaking, and his legendary 1987 labor movie Matewan.

Last week, the Brazilian Supreme Court overturned graft convinctions against ex-president Lula da Silva, which could clear his name ahead of a possible 2022 presidential election if he decides to run.