READING FOR THE WEEK (March 21, 2016)

On this date in 1804, the Napoleonic Code was approved in France.
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How Obama set a trap for Raul Castro (Politico).

How to transform your coffee into a wonder drug (Bloomberg).

Bitter pill ... branded drug prices double in five years (OZY).

How much is $100 really worth in each state (Mental Floss).


THE SELFISH NORDIC MODEL
What Americans don't get about Nordic countries - their selfishness (The Atlantic).

I moved to the U.S. 7 years ago from Finland - here's what Americans don't understand about Nordic countries (Business Insider).


SOME GOOD NEWS
Trump rally cops suspended for cuffing black protester instead of racist who punched him (Occupy Democrats).

'Thank you for serving me when I didn't vote for you': A Republican writes the president after Obamacare saved his life (Quartz).

California rainfall is getting reservoir levels (and hopes) up (Vocativ).

Counselor creates 'Gentleman's Club' to teach students life lessons (Fox Carolina).


WEALTH EXTRACTION 101 ... THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
The Vulture: How billionaire Rubio backer Paul Singer made billions off Argentina debt crisis (Democracy Now).

Why student loans are creating a permanent U.S. underclass (Nation of Change).

10 taxpayer handouts to the Super Rich that will make your blood boil (U.S. Uncut)

27 profitable companies paid no taxes (USA Today).

Former hospital president blows whistle on predatory U.S. healthcare pricing (PR News Channel)


OUR RETIREMENT MESS
Why the 401(k) system is a blight on the face of the American republic (The Week).

The retirement revolution that failed: Why the 401(k) isn't working (The Fiscal Times).


OK, RED MEAT FOR THE TRUMP ADDICTS
China using Donald Trump to mock the idea of western democracy (Independent).

The Rights hypocrisy on Trump protesters: It Was only OK when the Tea Party was crashing Obamacare meetings (Salon).

Cartoonists from 12 countries illustrated Trump, and the results are devastatingly accurate (Occupy Democrats).

This is how the GOP imploded: The real story behind the conservative crack-up, and the creation of Donald Trump (Salon).

"You're kind of a trickle-down media whore": Samantha Bee tries, fails to reason with actual Donald Trump supporters (Salon).


THE TRUMP-HITLER COMPARISONS ARE HERE NOW
Trump's flirtation with fascism: Where does it end (Dana Milbank / Washington Post)?

5 ways Donald Trump mirrors Hitler's rise to power (Cracked).

Side by Side comparison of Trump and Hitler, 'Heil Trump' ... via Citizen Super Pac (YouTube).

How Trump has inspired violence across the country, in one map (Think Progress).


AND, YEAH, THEY'RE STILL NUTS
Ted Cruz makes impassioned plea for repeal of Federal legislation that does not exist (Think Progress).

Alabama Republicans file bill to take away food stamps if you own a car (Occupy Democrats).


SCOTUS NOISE
McConnell: No vote on Supreme Court nominee even if Democrat wins presidency (Slate).

6 quotes from Senate Republicans about Merrick Garland that are really awkward now (Think Progress).


MISCELLANEOUS
Spaceships that could eat star destroyers for breakfast (Slate).

It's starting to make the rounds, so let's do this again ... These are the 10 most racist cities in America (Alternet).

History's most sadistic serial killer (OZY).

Unsure about socialism? Here's more evidence that capitalism is killing America (Nation of Change).

The art of marketing marijuana: How to make pot seem as all-American as an ice-cold beer (The Atlantic).

- Mark