The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has always been there for us, and it can be there for you. Over one million members strong and still growing. Through 28 administrations we have been fighting for working families and we are there for you.
We cover manufacturing, telecommunications, Movie studios, television studios, there are 20 or more divisions that we have members in. If you need someone to come in and organize your workplace and no other Union has jurisdiction, we are always ready to make you one of our brothers or sisters in labor. http://www.ibew.org/ContactForm/
Turner Classic Movies has an excellent movie, "The Killing Floor" (1984) about union activity in Chicago's Meat Slaughtering industry during WW I and after. It is very realistic and authentic. The unknown cast does a terrific job of portraying the frustration, anger, and monumental task of forming a union in the meat packing business back in the day. As someone who has studied the history of the Am Labor Movement, I was transfixed throughout. There were several "Divide and Conquer" themes that helped to weave the story line together.
Dr. Reich, I'm torn! On the one hand, I agree with "rawgod" that you should run for president. I think you would make an excellent, if frustrated, one. On the other hand, we desperately need young adults, future professors and teachers, politicians, corporate critters, et al, who have learned from you to analyze the economic situation and offer clear explanations and actions needed to those who won't have the good fortune to have studied with you.
Daydreaming...
One of my three wishes from the genie of the lamp would be your Wealth and Poverty class, age adjusted, to be taught in all schools, colleges, and universities. Make them all question, think, and analyze.
The original version of BBB shows that the House and Biden have similar goals. You should be encouraged. Consider the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, according to the sponsors will make a historic down payment on deficit reduction to fight inflation, invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. The bill will also finally allow Medicare to negotiate for prescription drug prices and extend the expanded Affordable Care Act program for three years, through 2025.
We don't live in a perfect world, but the stars may be right to elect a Congress that could enact all of Robert's suggestions.
The rich get rich and the poor get poorer. Maybe some of the poor are a tiny bit less poor; they have things like tv and cell phones. But the truly poor are now homeless , living on streets under bridges and in tents under the freeways.
If and when the percentage of the poor is high enough to make a strong presence in public, changes will have to be made. There will be no peace in the streets until the plight of the poor is resolved. Remember those that are desperate and realize that politically they are powerless will use other options to resolve the problem. Protest and violence. Do you ever wonder why we are seeing more and more violence in our streets? It is not getting any better. These are questions that I have, and just wonder what the future holds. I will not see how all of this plays out. I am living the twilight of my life. The baby boomers which I belong to, are now seeing problems developing that affect many of them and which are not being addressed. I am seeing more and more elderly having to work instead of enjoying life. Not all of our elderly citizens have good pensions, adequate medical care insurance, and great investments. I am seeing the growth of working people becoming homeless.
I’m in the same boat. Watching friends who would like to retire unable to do so and many who have spent their lives being honest and t
ethical working “under the table” in order to have healthcare. I can’t criticize. It’s there but for the grace of God go I. I went back to school in mid-forties got a law degree and worked where I got a pension long enough to get it. I know working people who lived in their cars.
It seems to me that government should be able to arrange the economics of life in a country so that the most of its people have food and shelter and education and can take care of themselves.
No one listened to you then, though you made a lot of sense. If you sent this Memo to Pres. Biden today, would he listen?
You have great ideas, Bob, but no one else is going to put them into place for you. The best way to get things done is doing them yourself. It is time for you to run for President of the United States of Ametica -- especially while they are still legally united. You have experience, you have knowledge, an ability to see correctly into the future, snd you have a charisma lacking in current Dem leadership personnel. Please do everyone a favour. Run! (for office, that is!)
Thank you for your thoughtful, intelligence and pragmatic leadership with regards to macroeconomic and microeconomic policies that influence everyone of us in this nation. You have never swayed from your passion and your voice, caring more for the immigrants, the working poor, the most vulnerable and displaced fringes, working while trying to parent. Never lose that fighting spirit, Professor Reich. Thank you.
Yes and you add: Working Poor: an Oxymoron that has always been part of somebody’s American Dream. We’re great in the Slogan Department. Just like every government, country and political party that needs to court citizen voters. Even Democracies.
Ours is a shameful system. Where women make up the majority of these jobs and are the bread winners for their families. I think of the book by Ms. Barbara Ehrenreich “Nickeled and Dimed” discussing the impact of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_and_Dimed
William, Excellent examples. Barbara Ehrenreich has exposed the failures of our economic system in many books. It’s puzzling how little Americans believe when we are presented with Truth and Facts. Growing up with the facts as she did is a good beginning. “In an interview on C-SPAN, she characterized her parents as "strong union people" with two family rules: "never cross a picket line and never vote Republican."[4] In a talk she gave in 1999,” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ehrenreich
This is marvelous. I really didn’t know about Dr. Barbara Ehrenreich’s long, fantastic career. If only our own populace were more in tune with our nation’s sick, fickle, short-sighted fascination with the top 10% percent and their veneer of success, while the proletarian class slaves away.
Speaking of brilliant, strong, savvy, witty women who might follow in the path of former TX Guv Ann Richards, can we lure <9 to 5> stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton into more active political endorsements, or into running for office?
'The more things change the more they remain the same'. It was nice to see a little positive news, even if it could be better. I will not believe Manchin until any deal is written and signed.
Prescient, sir. And since all of the factors you delineate are still there, and worse for at least half of our population, and the masses want change, Democrats need to not only take note, but act like they get it,
Now, the trick is tryin' to get >at least< 218 representatives and >at least< 60 senators elected, all of whom agree with Dr Reich, to support a president, who also agrees with Dr Reich. (Not excluding Dr Reich as a possible president. After all, Dr Reich agrees with Dr Reich, right?) Just sayin'.
Once again, I wanted to press the "like" button many times in a row! Such clarity you had & have. I continue to think that Biden needs to especially follow your final thought: acknowledge where we are and talk about where we need to go - his own Fireside Chats. Our world hurtles along so busily, people really do need to pull up a chair & stop to listen or they risk missing out on important ideas. As always, thank you for all your work!
Nice ideas, Robert, but Biden is severely crippled enacting most of these proposals by a severely polarized Congress, dissenters in his own party like Joe Manchin, a mainstream media that seems dead set on blaming Biden for everything, an obtuse Federal Reserve who doesn't know beans about how to fight inflation, and a U.S, population with a seemingly large contingent of ignorant, selfish, anti-government Americans who still unbelievably support Trump, the very worst, most corrupt president in American history.
Meanwhile, what has Biden done? He's successfully fought a national pandemic, spearheaded the biggest economic recovery in many years, significantly reduced the national deficit, got us out of a never-ending war in Afghanistan, and aided Ukraine greatly in its unprovoked war against international pariah Russia. In other words, under incredible pressure, Biden has had the best mid-term record of any president in my lifetime in his first two years before the mid-term elections
All the animus against him, including your denigrating statement that he should never run against, is very disrespectful of a man who has actually done quite well with quite a lot on his plate.
@Alan. I'm with RR even though I totally catch your points on the great things this Administration has actually already done. The trade-off I am trying to walk is between respect for Biden and my concern that he probably cannot win in 2024, and if he did win might not be able to govern another 4 years of the most demanding job on the planet. It's a tough conundrum to negotiate; What I would like to see is another Democrat run for President with Biden's blessing and support. Then the question becomes who that person could be....
We must all vote only for Democrats in November and all of us must get out and vote and help get others out to vote.
Democrats have done what they can do with only 48 real democrats in our US Senate. We must not lose faith, the vision is there, though it has many branches to water and nurture together. We must promise to deliver better, deliver more quickly, and deliver enough of the key nutrients to keep Democrats United.
Bernie Sanders basically ran his campaign on that letter, twice, and the Democratic Party united to stop him both times. Why do you think Robert Reich would do any better? We need to give other political parties a voice and break the stranglehold that the Democratic party maintains over the resistance and activism in this country. Rank choice voting is a solution, where you rank a short list of candidates rather than vote for a single candidate. If your top choice is not going to win, then your vote goes to your second choice. For example, if Jill Stein were not going to win, then my vote would be transferred to Hillary Clinton. Then people are not always faced with the lesser of two evils and would feel free to vote their conscience. For obvious reasons, the Democratic Party hates ranked choice voting and has always worked to kill it. But ranked choice voting has been implemented in a few cases and it works.
A blasts from the past that's as on-point now as it was back in the Clinton years. Perhaps it's true that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
By the way, you've got my vote. I think you'd be dynamite in candidate debates for 2024.
it has been a tough 30 years for many of us. Thanks you for work then ... and now.
My grandfather had a Union
My Dad had a Union
I have a Union.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has always been there for us, and it can be there for you. Over one million members strong and still growing. Through 28 administrations we have been fighting for working families and we are there for you.
thanks for sharing. how is this Union there fore me? I am not a electrical worker.
We cover manufacturing, telecommunications, Movie studios, television studios, there are 20 or more divisions that we have members in. If you need someone to come in and organize your workplace and no other Union has jurisdiction, we are always ready to make you one of our brothers or sisters in labor. http://www.ibew.org/ContactForm/
Turner Classic Movies has an excellent movie, "The Killing Floor" (1984) about union activity in Chicago's Meat Slaughtering industry during WW I and after. It is very realistic and authentic. The unknown cast does a terrific job of portraying the frustration, anger, and monumental task of forming a union in the meat packing business back in the day. As someone who has studied the history of the Am Labor Movement, I was transfixed throughout. There were several "Divide and Conquer" themes that helped to weave the story line together.
Dr. Reich, I'm torn! On the one hand, I agree with "rawgod" that you should run for president. I think you would make an excellent, if frustrated, one. On the other hand, we desperately need young adults, future professors and teachers, politicians, corporate critters, et al, who have learned from you to analyze the economic situation and offer clear explanations and actions needed to those who won't have the good fortune to have studied with you.
Daydreaming...
One of my three wishes from the genie of the lamp would be your Wealth and Poverty class, age adjusted, to be taught in all schools, colleges, and universities. Make them all question, think, and analyze.
Wishes.
The original version of BBB shows that the House and Biden have similar goals. You should be encouraged. Consider the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which, according to the sponsors will make a historic down payment on deficit reduction to fight inflation, invest in domestic energy production and manufacturing, and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030. The bill will also finally allow Medicare to negotiate for prescription drug prices and extend the expanded Affordable Care Act program for three years, through 2025.
We don't live in a perfect world, but the stars may be right to elect a Congress that could enact all of Robert's suggestions.
Is there a book that pretty much sums up the class? I’d like to read it.
Did he heed your advice?
Raising the minimum wage, by a wide margin, is most important.
It’s interesting how things that were true back then are still true now.
A bit. We did raise the minimum wage in 1996, even though Republicans were in control of the House and Senate by then.
Thank you, Robert Reich, for your reply.
Yes, greed endures!
The rich get rich and the poor get poorer. Maybe some of the poor are a tiny bit less poor; they have things like tv and cell phones. But the truly poor are now homeless , living on streets under bridges and in tents under the freeways.
If and when the percentage of the poor is high enough to make a strong presence in public, changes will have to be made. There will be no peace in the streets until the plight of the poor is resolved. Remember those that are desperate and realize that politically they are powerless will use other options to resolve the problem. Protest and violence. Do you ever wonder why we are seeing more and more violence in our streets? It is not getting any better. These are questions that I have, and just wonder what the future holds. I will not see how all of this plays out. I am living the twilight of my life. The baby boomers which I belong to, are now seeing problems developing that affect many of them and which are not being addressed. I am seeing more and more elderly having to work instead of enjoying life. Not all of our elderly citizens have good pensions, adequate medical care insurance, and great investments. I am seeing the growth of working people becoming homeless.
I’m in the same boat. Watching friends who would like to retire unable to do so and many who have spent their lives being honest and t
ethical working “under the table” in order to have healthcare. I can’t criticize. It’s there but for the grace of God go I. I went back to school in mid-forties got a law degree and worked where I got a pension long enough to get it. I know working people who lived in their cars.
It seems to me that government should be able to arrange the economics of life in a country so that the most of its people have food and shelter and education and can take care of themselves.
No one listened to you then, though you made a lot of sense. If you sent this Memo to Pres. Biden today, would he listen?
You have great ideas, Bob, but no one else is going to put them into place for you. The best way to get things done is doing them yourself. It is time for you to run for President of the United States of Ametica -- especially while they are still legally united. You have experience, you have knowledge, an ability to see correctly into the future, snd you have a charisma lacking in current Dem leadership personnel. Please do everyone a favour. Run! (for office, that is!)
Did you notice there is a new minimum age to run for US president. Seems all the likely candidates already comply........
Hahahahaha
I don't know this as a fact, but I think Biden has it.
I sure hope you are correct!!
What a splendid idea
Thank you for your thoughtful, intelligence and pragmatic leadership with regards to macroeconomic and microeconomic policies that influence everyone of us in this nation. You have never swayed from your passion and your voice, caring more for the immigrants, the working poor, the most vulnerable and displaced fringes, working while trying to parent. Never lose that fighting spirit, Professor Reich. Thank you.
Yes and you add: Working Poor: an Oxymoron that has always been part of somebody’s American Dream. We’re great in the Slogan Department. Just like every government, country and political party that needs to court citizen voters. Even Democracies.
Nothing will change until Citizens United is changed.
As well as removing the vicious lies spewed by right wing. It will be very difficult to get around this. Citizen’s United is definitely outrageous.
Money is a symptom that affects everything they vote on. Character does not chase money.
Ours is a shameful system. Where women make up the majority of these jobs and are the bread winners for their families. I think of the book by Ms. Barbara Ehrenreich “Nickeled and Dimed” discussing the impact of the 1996 Welfare Reform Act. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_and_Dimed
William, Excellent examples. Barbara Ehrenreich has exposed the failures of our economic system in many books. It’s puzzling how little Americans believe when we are presented with Truth and Facts. Growing up with the facts as she did is a good beginning. “In an interview on C-SPAN, she characterized her parents as "strong union people" with two family rules: "never cross a picket line and never vote Republican."[4] In a talk she gave in 1999,” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ehrenreich
This is marvelous. I really didn’t know about Dr. Barbara Ehrenreich’s long, fantastic career. If only our own populace were more in tune with our nation’s sick, fickle, short-sighted fascination with the top 10% percent and their veneer of success, while the proletarian class slaves away.
Speaking of brilliant, strong, savvy, witty women who might follow in the path of former TX Guv Ann Richards, can we lure <9 to 5> stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton into more active political endorsements, or into running for office?
Nothing will change until Citizens United is changed.
for sure, a dagger in the heart of democracy by the Supreme Court.
'The more things change the more they remain the same'. It was nice to see a little positive news, even if it could be better. I will not believe Manchin until any deal is written and signed.
Nothing will change until Citizens United is changed.
The electoral college and filibuster don't help either, along with gerrymandering.
Prescient, sir. And since all of the factors you delineate are still there, and worse for at least half of our population, and the masses want change, Democrats need to not only take note, but act like they get it,
Yes, but Clinton never bought into Keynseian economics, he seemed satisfied Friedman. Maybe all Presidental candidates should take Econ 1A and 1B
How about pass a lie detector test?
Yes, but I've read that lie detectors don't work on psychopaths, so maybe a mental health clearance too, on all elected officials LOL
I like the MMPI. Sodium phenethyl.
Ok, I'll go for that (:-)
I definitely think a mental health clearance should be mandatory as well as a test on what a government is.
And show tax filing records for the past ten years.
@Fay. Already a book written: Psychopathology of Politics. Harold Lasswell, 1930.
Now, the trick is tryin' to get >at least< 218 representatives and >at least< 60 senators elected, all of whom agree with Dr Reich, to support a president, who also agrees with Dr Reich. (Not excluding Dr Reich as a possible president. After all, Dr Reich agrees with Dr Reich, right?) Just sayin'.
The US needs democracy.
Nothing will change until Citizens United is changed.
Amen!
The stars may be right. SCOTUS, massacres, 1/6 revelations many other reasons why we can sweep both houses.
Once again, I wanted to press the "like" button many times in a row! Such clarity you had & have. I continue to think that Biden needs to especially follow your final thought: acknowledge where we are and talk about where we need to go - his own Fireside Chats. Our world hurtles along so busily, people really do need to pull up a chair & stop to listen or they risk missing out on important ideas. As always, thank you for all your work!
Nice ideas, Robert, but Biden is severely crippled enacting most of these proposals by a severely polarized Congress, dissenters in his own party like Joe Manchin, a mainstream media that seems dead set on blaming Biden for everything, an obtuse Federal Reserve who doesn't know beans about how to fight inflation, and a U.S, population with a seemingly large contingent of ignorant, selfish, anti-government Americans who still unbelievably support Trump, the very worst, most corrupt president in American history.
Meanwhile, what has Biden done? He's successfully fought a national pandemic, spearheaded the biggest economic recovery in many years, significantly reduced the national deficit, got us out of a never-ending war in Afghanistan, and aided Ukraine greatly in its unprovoked war against international pariah Russia. In other words, under incredible pressure, Biden has had the best mid-term record of any president in my lifetime in his first two years before the mid-term elections
All the animus against him, including your denigrating statement that he should never run against, is very disrespectful of a man who has actually done quite well with quite a lot on his plate.
@Alan. I'm with RR even though I totally catch your points on the great things this Administration has actually already done. The trade-off I am trying to walk is between respect for Biden and my concern that he probably cannot win in 2024, and if he did win might not be able to govern another 4 years of the most demanding job on the planet. It's a tough conundrum to negotiate; What I would like to see is another Democrat run for President with Biden's blessing and support. Then the question becomes who that person could be....
We must all vote only for Democrats in November and all of us must get out and vote and help get others out to vote.
Democrats have done what they can do with only 48 real democrats in our US Senate. We must not lose faith, the vision is there, though it has many branches to water and nurture together. We must promise to deliver better, deliver more quickly, and deliver enough of the key nutrients to keep Democrats United.
Nothing will change until Citizens United is changed.
Amen.
Nothing will change until Citizens United is changed.
It’s really cool to read history like this and also look at the parallels to what’s happening now and just how extreme corporate greed has become.
Bernie Sanders basically ran his campaign on that letter, twice, and the Democratic Party united to stop him both times. Why do you think Robert Reich would do any better? We need to give other political parties a voice and break the stranglehold that the Democratic party maintains over the resistance and activism in this country. Rank choice voting is a solution, where you rank a short list of candidates rather than vote for a single candidate. If your top choice is not going to win, then your vote goes to your second choice. For example, if Jill Stein were not going to win, then my vote would be transferred to Hillary Clinton. Then people are not always faced with the lesser of two evils and would feel free to vote their conscience. For obvious reasons, the Democratic Party hates ranked choice voting and has always worked to kill it. But ranked choice voting has been implemented in a few cases and it works.
I am good with RCV. Don't expect a pancea though.
That is an excellent idea
"I feel your pain." BillyC squandered a lot of the political capital he was granted ....
A blasts from the past that's as on-point now as it was back in the Clinton years. Perhaps it's true that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
By the way, you've got my vote. I think you'd be dynamite in candidate debates for 2024.