you gave it your all, and for that we thank you. You continue to speak out for what is right, and against all that is wrong in our society. You have something many democrats don't have -- courage and strength. I don't know whey these other Dems don't have it - some went to the best schools, worked at the highest paying jobs, and frankly, already have enough saved up for a comfortable retirement. YET despite all this, they do not have the courage to stand up for what is right and speak out. It is mind-boggling. Thank you for sharing all this and for your continued fight for good against evil. If more Dems had the COURAGE to do the right thing all the time, we'd be in a much better place.
Thank you for sharing the C-Span video with us! You have done so much for our nation and have received many accolades throughout your career. I Googled you and the list is impressive: Rhodes scholar, Yale Law, 18 books, Secretary of Labor for Clinton 1993-1997 after working with Ford and Carter, and much more. The video of you is impressive. You are eloquent, professional, and refined. I had forgotten that sweatshops were an issue! You cared about your work and the people who worked with you. I can tell you were an amazing Secretary of Labor and that you must be a wonderful professor. As you told your group, it is important to keep moving forward and to keep the momentum going. It seems that even though you left to go to Boston to be with your family, you never stopped caring and working for the American people and the labor force. I commend you for your work. It is not easy to present a strong, confident persona when things may be hectic for your internal self, as you said. You should be proud of all you accomplished and all you continue to do to get the word out to Americans about what is happening in our government and labor force today. You inundate the media and social media with facts and make them clear so that people like me can understand what is going on in the U.S. I will try to retweet more of your posts so that the word gets out to my followers. Although you were young and handsome in the 90's, you have become more handsome and distinguished now. Thank you for all that you do for our country and thank you for sharing the video which gives us a glimpse of your life. We need to keep the momentum going.
Thank you for your past, yet continuing service. You have been on the right side of history, & that must bring joy. You have also given millions of Americans hope for our future in our endless quest for a more perfect union. Today we also celebrate the Build Back Better vote.
What a wonderful look back at a time when our Labor Secretary actually worked hard for the American people. We are so fortunate that Robert Reich never "vanished from the planet" and continues to be the peoples advocate and friend. President Biden is working hard to get us back to a time when workers and families had value and support from our government, let's do everything we can to ensure that he succeeds. Great video indeed, if you want more Reich history read 'Locked in Cabinet" it's great.
Overturning citizens United and doing something about the lobbyist plague would be one thing to help change the course away from the cliff off to oligarchy/authoritarianism
Totally agree. The question is how to do it. The current Supreme Court won't. A constitutional amendment is extraordinarily difficult to achieve. One small but important step is the Freedom to Vote Act, currently before Congress, which provides some public financing of elections.
What a great and very human man! You have done the right thing! I do admire you! Your mellifluous tongue, sense of humor and talent have astounded me from the beginning! Those of us who try to do the right thing are often vilified and we do make enemies! You are a voice in the wilderness!
Thank you for existing in these turbulent times. We all need you to keep our sanity! You truly are a gift to America, and we still need your steady hand to guide us. We are all very grateful. But please, take care of yourself and stay strong.
Dear Robert. I believe we ALL can look back 25 years ago at our former selves and see a different "ME" than we are today. Technology has changed our world. For the better or worse? I am not sure but I know more change is coming. Digital money will change the world. How will poor people beg on street corners? The more things change the more things stay the same. Thank you for caring and working so hard for so many years. We must all try to push forward with grace and grit. That is the American way. Democracy is messy.
Democracy is messy, because so many citizens do not pay attention.But today, we are thankful for the vote in Congress. We must persist, so that ALL Americans can celebrate Christmas.
We Americans are so blessed that you have continued to work on our behalf and to advise us through these past 4+ years about what you know is going on at the highest levels of our government -- the presidency and the congress.
So few with senior leadership roles have done that, and so many should. As you know, in most cases only the retired are free to speak out. I know that you will continue to do that.
"only the retired are free to speak out" -- this is true. However, sadly some people who have saved enough for a comfortable retirement and COULD afford to speak out don't do so because of [fill in the blank, greed? continued need for power? Something else?]. Many of these career politicians should do the right thing already. Equally sad are all those that are born with enough wealth that they could speak out but they don't. Instead, they launch a new jewelry or shoe line.
You have made and are still making contributions in significant ways. Your books, articles, and opinion pieces in newspapers are a true testament to your values and morals in this world. Well done!
It is moving to see all these faces of dedicated civil servants willing to do good for their country, and it is sad to think that their captain, the president, believed economic value was in money, not in the work of people.
Luckily you've aged well. But I can't imagine all the stress you must have been under during those years, after well-meaning Carter went after the unions to bring down costs, and Reagan put his heavy hand on the squashing of the unions, again to bring down costs but also out of pique, to teach those unionists a lesson.
Freedom, you know, but paid for by reduced wages of labor in industries like interstate trucking, with results that we're seeing now at our ports and on store shelves.
Do you see any way out of the current malaise in interstate trucking - long, hard hours at low wages - or any chance that American labor will come back and that unions will once again build up what used to be a vibrant middle class in America?
you gave it your all, and for that we thank you. You continue to speak out for what is right, and against all that is wrong in our society. You have something many democrats don't have -- courage and strength. I don't know whey these other Dems don't have it - some went to the best schools, worked at the highest paying jobs, and frankly, already have enough saved up for a comfortable retirement. YET despite all this, they do not have the courage to stand up for what is right and speak out. It is mind-boggling. Thank you for sharing all this and for your continued fight for good against evil. If more Dems had the COURAGE to do the right thing all the time, we'd be in a much better place.
Thank you, Melissa.
Thank you for sharing the C-Span video with us! You have done so much for our nation and have received many accolades throughout your career. I Googled you and the list is impressive: Rhodes scholar, Yale Law, 18 books, Secretary of Labor for Clinton 1993-1997 after working with Ford and Carter, and much more. The video of you is impressive. You are eloquent, professional, and refined. I had forgotten that sweatshops were an issue! You cared about your work and the people who worked with you. I can tell you were an amazing Secretary of Labor and that you must be a wonderful professor. As you told your group, it is important to keep moving forward and to keep the momentum going. It seems that even though you left to go to Boston to be with your family, you never stopped caring and working for the American people and the labor force. I commend you for your work. It is not easy to present a strong, confident persona when things may be hectic for your internal self, as you said. You should be proud of all you accomplished and all you continue to do to get the word out to Americans about what is happening in our government and labor force today. You inundate the media and social media with facts and make them clear so that people like me can understand what is going on in the U.S. I will try to retweet more of your posts so that the word gets out to my followers. Although you were young and handsome in the 90's, you have become more handsome and distinguished now. Thank you for all that you do for our country and thank you for sharing the video which gives us a glimpse of your life. We need to keep the momentum going.
Thank you, Jane.
Thank you for your past, yet continuing service. You have been on the right side of history, & that must bring joy. You have also given millions of Americans hope for our future in our endless quest for a more perfect union. Today we also celebrate the Build Back Better vote.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. I also look forward to a great Holiday Season, when the Build Back Better bill becomes law.
What a wonderful look back at a time when our Labor Secretary actually worked hard for the American people. We are so fortunate that Robert Reich never "vanished from the planet" and continues to be the peoples advocate and friend. President Biden is working hard to get us back to a time when workers and families had value and support from our government, let's do everything we can to ensure that he succeeds. Great video indeed, if you want more Reich history read 'Locked in Cabinet" it's great.
I wish you were the Secretary of Labor now.
The current Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh, is a good man.
Overturning citizens United and doing something about the lobbyist plague would be one thing to help change the course away from the cliff off to oligarchy/authoritarianism
Totally agree. The question is how to do it. The current Supreme Court won't. A constitutional amendment is extraordinarily difficult to achieve. One small but important step is the Freedom to Vote Act, currently before Congress, which provides some public financing of elections.
What a great and very human man! You have done the right thing! I do admire you! Your mellifluous tongue, sense of humor and talent have astounded me from the beginning! Those of us who try to do the right thing are often vilified and we do make enemies! You are a voice in the wilderness!
Thank you for existing in these turbulent times. We all need you to keep our sanity! You truly are a gift to America, and we still need your steady hand to guide us. We are all very grateful. But please, take care of yourself and stay strong.
Dear Robert. I believe we ALL can look back 25 years ago at our former selves and see a different "ME" than we are today. Technology has changed our world. For the better or worse? I am not sure but I know more change is coming. Digital money will change the world. How will poor people beg on street corners? The more things change the more things stay the same. Thank you for caring and working so hard for so many years. We must all try to push forward with grace and grit. That is the American way. Democracy is messy.
Democracy is messy, because so many citizens do not pay attention.But today, we are thankful for the vote in Congress. We must persist, so that ALL Americans can celebrate Christmas.
We Americans are so blessed that you have continued to work on our behalf and to advise us through these past 4+ years about what you know is going on at the highest levels of our government -- the presidency and the congress.
So few with senior leadership roles have done that, and so many should. As you know, in most cases only the retired are free to speak out. I know that you will continue to do that.
Bless you, Robert.
"only the retired are free to speak out" -- this is true. However, sadly some people who have saved enough for a comfortable retirement and COULD afford to speak out don't do so because of [fill in the blank, greed? continued need for power? Something else?]. Many of these career politicians should do the right thing already. Equally sad are all those that are born with enough wealth that they could speak out but they don't. Instead, they launch a new jewelry or shoe line.
You have made and are still making contributions in significant ways. Your books, articles, and opinion pieces in newspapers are a true testament to your values and morals in this world. Well done!
Thank you, Kate. My hope is that the work--even on the margin--continues to push forward the common good.
I particularly loved this post. Real humanity is in such short supply these days. Thank you! Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Thank you over and over again for your service to our country! You are a treasure.
Well said.
It is moving to see all these faces of dedicated civil servants willing to do good for their country, and it is sad to think that their captain, the president, believed economic value was in money, not in the work of people.
Luckily you've aged well. But I can't imagine all the stress you must have been under during those years, after well-meaning Carter went after the unions to bring down costs, and Reagan put his heavy hand on the squashing of the unions, again to bring down costs but also out of pique, to teach those unionists a lesson.
Freedom, you know, but paid for by reduced wages of labor in industries like interstate trucking, with results that we're seeing now at our ports and on store shelves.
Do you see any way out of the current malaise in interstate trucking - long, hard hours at low wages - or any chance that American labor will come back and that unions will once again build up what used to be a vibrant middle class in America?
Thank you for your candor and your commitment to justice and truth--reading your words gives me comfort and hope.