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David Piper's avatar

I first began working in 1962 as a bus boy in a restaurant within walking distance of my home (a couple miles) as I was still only 15 and unable to drive. My wage was $1.25 per hour AND the restaurant provided me with full health care benefits. My next job was a summer job (in 1965) at the local paper mill and the "boss" I don't know if he was the "CEO" but there were about 400 or 500 workers in the mill - most of them supporting a family on the $3.19 wage (at least that was my wage as a summer employee) and, I believe, he made 4 or 5 times the wages of the workers. I took for granted through the 60's and 70's the benefits which seemed to happen with every job I took. I did go to college (mainly to play basketball) and ended up studying Political Science - because it was easier than math) and once out of college I didn't think too much about workers rights because union jobs were prevalent where I grew up and I always seemed to find one. This little bit gives the context of how, during the Reagan years, I - by then busy trying to be a husband and a father - only paid periferally attention to politics - but, I distinctly remember telling anyone who would listen that Ronald Reagan was turning America into a "me" society instead of "we" society. Subsequent to all this I went back to college and became a Middle School teacher and started reading MANY books about "current evernts," politics, and history - mainly American History. In this reading I've read - a couple times - and, I can't remember the books - I believe one was written by Thom Hartman - but, they both said the "foundation" for this corporate treachery (my characterization) came from the so-called "Lewis Powell Memo" to the Chamber of Commerce back in 1972 (I believe). It was during Reagan's time in the White House, based on my memory, that Powell's "Memo" was employed en masse by the corporate "elite" in America - with GE being, likely, the main "instigator." Of course, Powell would subsequently become a Supreme Court Justice and the "tilting" to the right would begin - with the most memerable (to me) examples being "Bush v Gore," "Citizens United," the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, reversal of Roe v Wade, and, most recently the elimination of Affirmative Action at America's Universities. To me, all of this is part of the same issue - the corporate/republican party "partnership" which has turned America into a semi fascist country - with Trump planning to "finish the job." And, we the people being unaware except for people like Dr. Reich. Dr, Reich's books have had a significant effect on my thinking process as I've grown into "old age." And, his book on the "Common Good" may be the most important one he's written. (I donated about 100 of my books to a local books store and, unfortunately, "The Common Good" must have been one of them - so I'm very grateful for the refresher lessons on one of the most important - if not the most - issue of our time. (Although, it's hard for me to consider any issue greater than the Climate Crisis) Bravo to Dr. Reich!

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Wayne Teel's avatar

No disagreement here, but the point is not made complete without mentioning that the Chicago School of Economics and Ronald Reagan deserve blame for the creation of Jack Welsh. Without deregulation (Government is the problem) and the mindset of Milton Friedman and Company this would not have happened. The latest battle on this front is now between the pharmaceutical companies and Medicare under the direction of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The drug giants are screaming because their profits will go down and they won't be able to find/develop new drugs. Well, they seldom find new drugs, the government and small ambitious medical research companies do that. The big boys just buy them out, or get a monopoly contract from the government, and mass produce the drug. I have zero sympathy for their argument, which Robert Reich has just torn to shreds.

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