Also: Please join me tomorrow for my very last class ever. I’ll be summarizing my “Wealth and Poverty” class, and also — in a way — summarizing my career as a teacher. Please join me, right here.
“In other words, the economy is getting better overall — but overall has become a less and less useful gauge as the RICH ARE GETTING RICHER, the poor grow poorer, and the working middle is under worsening siege. “
Until the RICH start sharing their wealth we will continue down the same road!
We have a collection problem. According to multiple sources, we leave about $7 trillion on the table over 10 years. When I posted this in NYT yesterday, I got 1222 hits.
If I were a billionaire, I'd spend big money to lobby to collect current taxes, rather than lobby to prevent new taxes, because there would be no need for new revenue.
I don't begrudge rich people. I play the lottery about 2 times a week.
I resent those who do not pay their fair share, especially those who flaunt their wealth and disrespect the rest of us as if they are superior and entitled.
The fastest way to save the economy is 1. collect taxes that are due and penalize criminal conduct and 2. sue price fixers and price gougers.
I know that I sound like a broken record but I think foreign interests, especially Saudi and other oil interests like Russia have been undermining our economy since Nixon let the dollar float. In reality OPEC fixes US oil prices. We can thank them for inflation. I think that besides an economic issue, this is a national security issue. We don't control Congress in large part because Saudis and Russians have been supporting Republicans like the Bushes and Trump. .
@Daniel Solomon, the tax code comes up for revision in 2025. Congress could reverse the egregious provisions of the 2017 tax legislation. Congress could decide to tax capital gains and dividend income the same as individual income and kill the carried interest tax loophole,. Congress might also sprout wings and fly, I know. But the tax code debate has already begun.
Why stop at 2017? The widely yawning deficits began with the two Bush 43 tax cuts back in '03 or so, if memory serves. Remove all of them since Shrub took office and the nation is much closer to a balanced budget.
That is why extreme wealth Inequality should not exist! The Bought up 'Supreme' Court has blocked Intelligence surveillance of platforms on the internet where the next coup can be plotted. Seems that would interfere with sacred free speech of those who have already attacked the "People's House': our Capitol! Big Money bought these Judges who enable criminals and fascists!
Daniel Solomon: A billion is too much money. Multiple billions create a Musk, who can own a major internet platform, allowing bad guys to plan insurrections and other Un Democratic events. (And get away with murder.).
The Saudis can influence our elections by strategically timed cuts or increases to oil production, thereby increasing or decreasing prices at the pump.
I strongly agree with Daniel Solomon. Refusal to fund the IRS is madness and costly to the treasury. I despise those who cheat paying taxes but the blame belongs on a system that fails to identify cheats and allows loopholes. Tax laws must be better written to discourage cheaters who will always find ways to cheat. Also, Biden needs to be more feisty when identifying opponents. The nice guy approach has established his credibility in the presence of name callers but he will need to take off the gloves in the upcoming nasty election to be heard by the MAGA crowd.
Daniel, you are right about the foreign influences and with the PACs that don't even have to report who has given money to them, there is a lot of it. Ending PACs and forcing the name of every single individual and group and individuals within a donor group to be known for every dollar donated to any organization would be a good start. I don't see Republicans doing that, though because they benefit so much from the foreign money. I am sure Dems are doing it too, but I suspect not in as large numbers. Dems could be more easily shamed into stopping the behavior if people in the nation actually knew just how much foreign money is in our elections and legislative decisions. Republicans these days have no shame!
And there you have it: Citizens United. We aren't outvoted, we're gerrymandered and rigged out of a voice.
That's up to Congress to correct. And it's up to us to elect people who will do it.
I enjoyed the illusion of democracy too. But I won't give up on the hope that we can restore it, maybe even approach something that isn't an illusion because now many, many more people know that what we've had IS an illusion.
PS. Besides Citizens, there's the pesky issue of systemic racism.
What good will it do to tax the wealthy, unless it is directly dedicated to helping the people.? As it stands now, the government will just p--- it away on further bloating the military and pet projects to favor its corporate masters.
I don't begrudge rich people either. I do despise arrogant, entitled assholes who believe that they made their wealth on their own. Their accumulation of wealth only exists because the rest of society *suffers* it to exist.
If society were to burn down tomorrow (as the Steve Bannon aligned cabal appears to want it to) the tumbrels will roll for many of today's wealthy like they did during the French Revolution - except perhaps for those who will die slowly in their bunkers.
Bob & Beckie Mercer know this, as do people like Barre Seid and Peter Thiel. These old farts are dying off as fast as the Devil can take them, but I feat it isn't fast enough to save us.
Yes, especially when money is speech. And too much wealth allows people like Harlan Crow buy a 'Supreme Court ' 'Justice'. Or a Congressional seat, or two: or four.
Ralph, or at least, not for long. Billionaires are pretty useless these days because they may claim to care about this nation and our planet blah blah blah, but in reality, they just feed their addiction to money and power. We need a "tough love" intervention for billionaires, even super millionaires who just can't manage to stop using their bucks to hurt and buy others.
I agree. No one individual needs a billion dollars let alone even knows really what to do with it. Good examples: Elon Musk (Twitter for one thing) and Jeff Bezos and his treatment of the people that work for him. It's Robin Hood in
reverse. The world society in general has some kind of evil covenant to allow the rich to rob the poor. It simply has to stop!
I think Cuba sounds like a good place for you to live. Better bring the keys to a 57 Chevy because that’s what you’ll be driving. Enjoy your stucco house that hasn’t been painted since JFK was shot and you live with your extended family.
It's basically ALL mainstream media. ABC and CBS are all about both-sideism; MSNBC only touches on MAGA on shows that call themselves "news opinions" and CNN has gone so far left, I think we've come full circle to the right! I'm old enough to remember when cable news first started. It was called "Fox News Entertainment TV." Probably took a week for lazy America to stop saying the entertainment part and people who watched Walter Cronkite tell the real truth started believing Fox News was truth. The almighty dollar runs MSM, not the truth as it once did.
Daniel, yes, we need the IRS to be fully operational to collect appropriately. They used their limited resources to go after working and middle-class tax problems instead of the very rich where one victory would have brought in more than most of those pathetic small cheaters and mistake-makers. We need to address both, but the rich will get us all more and start to move us toward a more equitable society. Go IRS!
Considering the Pentagon has not passed an audit in how many years? We need to know where the enormous budget appropriations for defense ie the military industrial complex have and continue to go. We really don’t have a clue. Ask any IRS agent; want to see apoplexy up close? 💵💵💵 is OUT THERE but please elaborate. The tax payers, you know, the little people are getting feisty, annoyed, upset......they need to know. Too few agents to process a massive audit? STOP THE MONEY PIPELINE UNTIL IT IS COMPLETE. Get their attention off their “too small paychecks” the excuse given by everyone post pandemic
Daniel—PLEASE cc all your comments to your now-wasted Notes from Baghdad by the Sea so we can read you without having to wade through so much dross.PLEASE!
The rich will never “share” their wealth and shouldn’t be asked to. They should be taxed to contribute their fair share to our economy and if they cheat, then the IRS should audit them and make them pay. There are far too many loopholes for the wealthy to get out of paying their taxes. And the IRS continues to be underfunded, thanks to the recent irrational demands of the right-wing crackers in the House of Representatives.
Our community lost another plant and jobs to Mexico. We will probably see more pickup trucks without mufflers racing around our neighborhood with the US flag and the don't tread on me flag. We still don't have single-payer universal health care. I see more Berkshire-Hathaway signs in front of homes. The price of eggs is lower, though.
Keith, you are right, so how do we start siphoning off some of that wealth from the far too rich and move it to those who need it? With the filibuster and a racist old white guy wielding it, and a child-man "leading" the House, it is not likely anything positive will happen in that direction until people start to notice who is really causing their pain and struggle and turn their venom on Republican bad economic behavior and knee-jerk opposition to anything that will actually help the American people. Anger is powerful but often spewed in the wrong direction, toward the wrong people, especially when directed by a biased media who either are owned by or dependent on those rich folks for their existence, or believe they are.
Gerald, that only works if you earn living wages. A huge chunk of Americans do not earn enough to make basic ends meet. They are not being irresponsible with their meager earnings, yet they are the ones who are made to pay penalties on not earning enough to pay for their basic living necessities.
For example, if they use up all their earned income paying rent (barely), utilities, health insurance, food & basic needs groceries, transportation to & from work, etc. and they come up short, they get punished by being charged a penalty fee for not paying the full amount of whatever bill came short. Or they overdraft their bank account by $10 dollars trying to pay everything on their plate. The bank will tack on at least $50 in overdraft fees, and will continue to tack on fees until the account is made whole again.
But wait, so now, in addition to the rent, utilities, food & other groceries, health insurance, they now have to pay the bank a hefty penalty for not having enough money to cover their bills. Once they fall into that rabbit hole, it becomes nearly impossible to get out.
By design, this capitalist country financially penalizes low wage workers for not earning enough to cover their basic living costs.
Hi Rebeca. I agree with your description of those who cannot make ends meet, but the fault is not due to a "capitalist" country. When one borrows money (e.g. from a bank or a credit card company), the borrower agrees to accept the liability for non-payment. The problem is the borrower is borrowing. The solutions are for the borrower to (1) spend less by living with others, plant a garden, ride a bike for transportation, apply for SNAP, apply for low income housing support, live with parents, etc. and/or (2) develop a skill for which others will pay more money. The alternatives to a capitalist economy are socialism and communism. The U.S. is partially socialistic- examples are social security, SNAP, low income tax credits, low income housing, Medicaid, public schools, progressive income tax, etc. All these programs transfer wealth from those who produce to those who do not but need support. Not socialistic is the sales tax which is regressive. (Not reasonable is the capital gain tax reduction, which gains should be taxed as ordinary income.) Communism is where the state owns the means of production. In France, for example, the State owns part of Total a large oil and gas company (TTE). China is not a communist country because its people individually can own their means of production. Communism is a failure, as best shown by Cuba and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ownership of the means of production and a fair tax rate on profits has proven to be the strongest economic motivator in history, which is one of the reasons we are so rich in the U.S.
The controversial question for us is how much socialism should we have. But the engine that allows us to be rich as a country is capitalism. Within that framework, many can succeed including most of my ancestors who immigrated here without any knowledge of English.
Another strong economic motivator in history is colonialism and conquering other to steal their "stuff", such as when Memhet II conquered Constantinople, or when the Polish aristocrats controlled the land in Ukraine. This is the reason cities built walls. Now, sadly, we must build drones and rockets.
I like (and agree with) the Texas approach to sales taxes. Food and medicine are not taxed. The rest to shared by all with the understanding that the rich simply buy a whole lot more. Even when purchasing a car- the poor do not buy expensive cars and the rich (usually) do not buy the cheaper ones and the tax is based in the price of the car. I am in agreement that how much you earn is none of the states business. Fair is fair.
If you believe the rich should start sharing their wealth, why don’t you go in their garage and take 50% of what’s in there and see how that works out for you.
Again, as you said, simply and clearly: "In other words, the economy is getting better overall — but overall has become a less and less useful gauge as the rich get richer, the poor grow poorer, and the working middle is under worsening siege."
It doesn't FEEL like "the economy" is getting better if you're living hand-to-mouth while food prices are rising, if you're burdened with college debt, if you can't even think of buying a house because everything is overpriced and people who are wildly wealthy are paying cash, etc. "The economy" means what? The various measures tell us how well the financiers and the Silicon Valley Libertarians are doing, contributing little or nothing in taxes.
Rebeca, In my view, because politics largely is perception, if everyday people are living precariously from paycheck to paycheck, wherein family income is only sustained by more people working longer hours, while weighted down by mortgage debt, credit card debt, and the like, the blame for the seemingly limited opportunities afforded them by a social and economic system largely beyond their individual control, fair or not, tends to be pinned on political leadership.
Postscript: As I wrote to Daniel, who is part of this thread, if we fail to recognize and engage with people’s misguided perceptions, we fail to do so at our own peril.
Like the price of eggs. Few people mention the worst avian flu on record decimating chicken populations as the reason for their high priced eggs. Also, high food prices are attributable to lengthy transportation routes from the locations which we source our food. The country’s perception of fresh food is distorted as we tend to cater to our grocery store desires to consume what we want anytime we want.
Misguided perceptions are only fixable through dialogue(verb). People speak to hear themselves instead of communicating to understand and or arrive at the best conclusion/option/strategy
@Korbtronics, Focusing specifically on your second paragraph, which I largely appreciate, I merely would add, that when people who hold different views genuinely feel they are being listened to, they typically, though not always, are more receptive to, themselves, listening.
I agree. Listening is skill we all could use daily practice in. “Two ears, one mouth, use them in that proportion” is what my father has always said to me(believe this is derived from a quote from the Greek philosopher Epictetus).
Back in the days, the US Government did have control over pricing of basic food necessities such as eggs, milk, bread, etc. There were caps set to make sure Americans were able to afford basic necessities. Then Congress eliminated all price controls, handing over the keys to the price box to the big moneyed corporations. Nobody noticed, nobody said peep.
Yes, the avian flu and gas costs contributed to the egg price hike, but when those issues are resolved, such as lower gas prices & nearly eliminating avian flu cases, the prices didn’t go back down. No, prices continue to rise.
It’s corporate greed and a woefully misinformed & under educated consumer base who continue to buy eggs at $8 a carton. The greedy corporations tested the exorbitant price hikes during COVID, and the consumer market bowed down & paid. When things began to get better, lower gas prices, the allowance of raw materials into out ports ( except the anti vaxxer truckers caused more supply issues by striking), the prices never were rolled back, instead, they’ve continued to rise.
"Hence is it that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.." All's Well That Ends Well, Act 2, scene 3.
All's Well is one of a series of "bed trick" plays. In Shakespeare, the nobles are the people who are most easily fooled. Now the audience is easily tricked. Fools rush in....
Daniel, To be clear, my comment derives not from my beliefs but from my observations. As another example, while those of us who pay attention understand that the human infrastructure piece of the Biden agenda failed to pass because of 2 purported then-Democratic Senators, the same everyday people I referenced in my comment, for whom said legislation would vastly have improved their lives, typically don’t make that same distinction.
Postscript: If we fail to recognize and engage with people’s misguided perceptions, we fail so at our peril.
I realize that, however, this is a capitalist on steroids country, meaning the ones controlling the economic system are not the politicians, although they’d like you to believe they do, its again, the big moneyed corporations, who not only control our economy, but the politicians as well.
Media doesn’t help as they perpetuate the common misconceptions on who controls what in this country.
Rebeca, Thank you for your reply. I would add, barring an occasional word from President Biden calling out corporate gouging or the occasional congressional hearing unearthing data confirming that the biggest driver of inflation is corporate pricing, I am troubled that Democrats, overall, have declined to enact a united, laser-focused effort to expose how corporate profits account for over half of the increased prices people are paying.
While some might defend a party’s reluctance to bite the hand that feeds it, I believe the benefits of pinning corporate pricing as the biggest driver of inflation would outweigh the costs. I further contend, with 60% of the people in this country living paycheck to paycheck and millions working for starvation wages, not only should Democrats not ignore this biggest driver of inflation; they should make it clear to working families throughout this country, many of whom are prepared to vote Republican, that if they vote Republican, the Party that has been silent on this issue, their vote will run counter to their interests and concerns. In a word, we need Democratic leadership to be focused and disciplined and not to allow Republican deceptions and distortions related to the state of the economy to go unanswered.
Yes, until the real villain of the story is screamed out continuously by the democrats and the media unfortunately Biden will be the villain in the eyes of the poor and middle class. This is sad because President Biden is the one looking out for their best interests! Wake-up Americans!
Gerry, do you have any data that proves these “Acts” actually made a positive difference in Main Street’s economy? I am guessing probably not, as nobody bothers to measure the economy of Main Street.
My data is from wikipedia - my source for this one president Nixon.
Economic Stabilization Act of 1970
- authorized the President to stabilize prices, rents, wages, salaries, interest rates, dividends and similar transfers[3] as part of a general program of price controls within the American domestic goods and labor markets. It established standards to serve as a guide for determining levels of wages, prices, etc., which would allow for adjustments, exceptions and variations to prevent inequities, taking into account changes in productivity, cost of living and other pertinent factors.[4]
Under "Public Benefits"
- Equal Employment Opportunity Act,
- Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973
- Supplemental Security Income was established.
- Decoupled the dollar from the gold standard, the dollar price of imports increased. The cost of imports allowed Americans to focus on American-made products to keep the money circulating throughout the American economy, resulting in a higher income for American workers.[12]
- Emergency Employment Act in 1971, created about 150,000 jobs.
- in education, environmental protection, law enforcement, and other 'public
works'"
- Mass transportation systems.
- The Housing and Urban Development department was established.
This Act provided people with low income with subsidized rent for affordable housing in privately owned buildings, the "predecessor to the Section 8 rental subsidies".[17]
All from Wikipedia.
Those are just a few examples of what was in the Economic Stabzation Act.
President Nixon was the best democratic president we've had !
Why ?
Because the party has had no FDRs of late so we've adopted Nixon's policies
as our own. Ha!
Bite my tongue you say?
So I am sacrilegious.
Apparently there's not much time for doing the peoples work while
doing that bipartisan dance and chasing all that re-elect me! money !
Many things that you laud for Nixon was because he was forced to do by the Democratic Congress. Please research is lack of funding for EPA and Clean Air Act
Judy Bertelsen; it's legalized robbery; this obscene wealth Inequality! Citizens United. Along with the gaming of an Electoral College are designed to keep everyone down and those on top in full control! They even own 'our' Supreme Court and the DOJ! : It seems. Look at the biased rookie judge assigned ('fairly') to tRump's case! Magically! It's'Murphy's Law' if a thing can go wrong: it will!
I think about this phenomenom a lot - seeing as how I see the economy so differently than so many other Americans. To me, Joe Biden is the PERFECT president to come along during these times and his "bottom up middle out" is the best thing I've seen in our economy, from my vantage point, since LBJ's attempt to eliminate poverty in America with the "Great Society." I consider myself one of the reasons to blame for this - I have two "buckets" on my "bucket list" and one of them is seeing Trump CONVICTED of (at least one of) his CRIMES - actually, I want to live long enough to see him in JAIL. I fully recognize this goes against my (liberal) Christian views, but I just can't seem to help myself. I believe there are so many other Americans "yearning" for the same outcome (of course, for a plethora of reasons) that our so-called "liberal media" continues to be focused on Trump - Cable outlets, morning, noon, and night. Combine that with the seeming incompetence of democrats in MESSAGING, and you end up with media coverage which has been focused on Trump for, well, now I suppose it's been about 7 - 8 YEARS. Obviously, "liberal leaning" outlets like MSNBC are making a boatload of MONEY by focusing on Trump's CRIMINAL conduct while virtually IGNORING the generational accomplishments of Biden's first two and a half years that people have heard mainly about the failures (Biden was set up to fail) in the withdrawal from Afghanistan AND the issue of inflation - resulting from a jumpstarted economy (apparently many Americans prefered the failures of Trump's last year in office) and the resulting inflation (affected by supply chain issues, the Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine, ALONG WITH typical American corporate GREED.) Maybe "we the people" aren't sophisticated enough to process all this (I do my best) but, again, I think people like me who are obsessed with seeing Trump held accountable for at least SOME of his CRIMINAL conduct are what keeps the focus off of Biden's successes (to me, there are MANY) and on that pathetic FPOTUS. Just a few thoughts......
We also forget that even “liberal” media outlets are owned by giant corporations who don’t want people to know that Biden is succeeding. My 27 year old son says all media, indeed, all companies of any type, are ultimately owned by one of only 3 mega-corporations. They need to be broken up before any real and lasting change will be possible.
Right on! Let's hope America's young people, like your son, vote in record numbers. The reality is the FUTURE is theirs - and, their voices MUST be heard if "we the people" are going to preserve our republic.
Thank you for deeply focusing on negative aspects of Trump. You are absolutely correct. I am a huge fan of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and his Grand Jury(s). His necessarily slow work appears to be nearing the point where the real charges will be brought. That will be a great day.
Incidentally, I also mostly agree with you about Biden. But he does have two big fumbles. 1. The Afghanistan pullout. This cost him a full ten points of support and he has never recovered those points. 2. Too much sugar pill economic stimulation. In about October of a year and a half ago an additional sugar pill hit made the news and I sat back and immediately, the word inflation arose. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve wouldn't realize this for another six months or so. But once they did they started a long slow process of edging into the problem with their only weapon, interest rates, and chewing it back down towards a soft landing.
Having said all of that, it is Biden who put Trump out of office. I know of no one who is more deserving of a chance to repeat that feat. In fact, other "possibles" would probably lose. So health to Mr. Biden. He's the right man at the right time.
Amen! My only response would be, I'm glad we're out of Afghanistan and, clumsy as it was (Remember Trump was the one who enabled the Taliban in his last year in office) it was MUCH better than the pull out from Viet Nam. Apparently, pulling out of losing military "adventures" is clumsy. (However, I totally agree with you that, regardless of any details, it cost Biden the 10 points you mentioned) As far as inflation, to me, it was inevitable - and, there were other factors causing it besides what you refer to as "sugar pill economic stimulation." I know of several families who were saved economically by the Pandemic relief bill (the child tax credit was critical for them at the time) and wages have gone up (thankfully - even though I'm no longer in the "wages" section of society) and more jobs have been created than anytime, I believe, since the "New Deal." The reality is, despite the WAR being waged in Ukraine, which is "out of sight out of mind" for MANY Americans, it's part of the cause of the supply chain issues, which to me - along with the typical American corporate GREED, is more a cause of inflation than the interest rates. I witnessed the interest rate hike as the way to stop inflation before - as if the working class Americans are the cause - The Fed has openly stated their concern for the number of jobs being created (which is continuing - thanks to the "sugar pills" (The infrastructure INVESTMENT is just hitting "high gear.") All that said, I believe your take is right on - maybe I'm subconsciously complaining about the democrats lack of "skill"? in messaging. Regardless, thanks to responding to my post.
David Piper - EVERY SiNGLE TIME I click on a T*** bit of news, I hate myself, because I KNOW I am doing what you say, prolonging the obsession with that man. I figure I SHOULD now what he’s up to, the better to be ready for it, or counter it, or whatever, but I know the country is in the throes of what we called “rubbernecking” when people stopped to gawk at my ambulance crew at an accident.
But I am at a loss as to WHY he has risen to such a perch of “power” - I know he’s a tool, and not someone who actually gets anything done, but how did he become the tool of so many powerful behind-the-scenes characters? He’s a carnival barker, and that explains some of it. And a celebrity, which taps into our national cult or celebrity worship.
But, egad, he’s such a skeevy individual!!!!! And he sucks up all the attention ...
What can we DO about that?I too dream of and long for the day the man is convicted -- oh, wouldn’t it be a red-letter day if he went to jail!!! But mostly, wouldn’t it be nice to never hears from or see him ever again. ...
Right on! I read a book called "Rising out of Hatred, The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist" by Eli Saslow which chronicled the life of Derek Black whose father, Don Black, had been a "Grand Wizard" of the KKK. His God father is David Duke. Derek was destined to take the "reins" of the White Nationalist movement - until he spent a couple years at the "New College" in central Florida. (Maybe why DeSantis sent in a new "Board") I read, afterward, as much as I could find on the White Nationalist movement and, at the time, I remember them - at one of their sicko gatherings - saying Trump was their "vehicle" (my characterization) into the mainstream of American politics. Duke had run before in Louisiana for the Senate and lost, but he claimed Trump had the same views as himself. I think I've learned that I totally underestimated the backlash to Obama and, using the word of one of the liberal Supreme Court Justices (I believe it was Sotomayor), it's going to be difficult to remove the "stench" of what Trump has brought to the surface. I believe you're absolutely correct, it was here all along, Trump was just the "mechanism" to get it to the "surface." And, I believe, they will "fight like hell" to keep it there - using whatever "tools" are required to do so. To me, that is why Trump is so valuable to them - he's willing to LIE with impunity and CHEAT in order to "win." To his "base" that is a positive "quality." (sorry for all the quotation marks) I'm 75 (and, apparently, in failing health) but, I believe those of us who've been watching all this transpire MUST remain vigilent in encouraging anyone and everyone who wants to see our republic continue the slow transformation toward "her better angels" to continue VOTING and realize this "fight" will last for a generation (thanks to Trump's packing of the SCOTUS.) The sad reality is that racism has been a significant part of American history and the republican party seemingly believes they can blot that out via book bans and intimidating public school teachers. (I'm a retired 6th grade teacher.) I wish I could stop my obsession with wanting Trump behnd bars because, to me, that's just the first step in stopping the problem. It's taking too long. But, the next steps will be harder and take longer, in my view. Thanks for responding to my post - I think you hit a lot of "nails" right on the "head."
So did you. Hit the nails on the head. [Yes, I’ve heard about Derek Back and heard him interviewed -- the kind of human interaction and redemption that gives me hope.] I’m a 76-year-old retired community journalist and writer [not retired writing!]. I see so much of the way things are now as you see them, and remember so much as you remember it. Maybe because I considered it SUCH a huge mistake to let Richard Nixon off the hook, I simply cannot abide the thought that T*** will eventually prevail and never be convicted. I think the UNIVERSE needs for T*** to be convicted and held to account to redress a grave wrong that is rippling through reality.
OK, I’m being a writer here, but In very plain language, I totally agree with you.
I will miss your commentaries and classes immensely!!’ I rely on them for truth. Thank you from the bottom if my heart for your dedication and perseverance. Much luck in your future pursuits! Thank you! Pamela Ashnault.
Just returned from BC and Calgary, AB. It seemed pretty apparent that these Canucks were "on the whole" better-off financially and shared better government-provided facilities and infrastructure than we have in the States. Taxes aren't all bad.
USA might boast of Gates', Musk's, Bezos', etc. wealth but all it does is skew the average wealth with outliers that don't contribute tax to the bulk of us.
Sad returning to the States and immediately seeing singlewides and shacks surrounded by trash and junk proudly flying Trump flags.
Your last statement is what pains me the most - trump's fans are largely from the bottom level of the population, mostly the white males, who appear to have ZERO recognition that trump is the very last person who cares about them - his history is of making nasty comments about such people, and not wanting to 'dirty' his hands by contact with them - yet they have no clue, appear to think he is telling them the truth ! THE most ridiculous situation ever - and we can't get thru to them ! When asked why they support trump their answers are as if he were a benevolent billionaire come to rescue them from poverty - the very opposite of what such a man has done his whole life ! The illogic of this is beyond belief !
Are you sure you went to Canada? I have family all over Canada and they do not share the same sentiment! Have you ever heard of Medical Tourism? That's when you can't get the help you need in time to save your life in Canada, so they come the the US for treatment and it happens a lot! My aunt had a cancer and couldn't get help in Canada in time to save her life so she came to NY for treatment. Plus most good Drs from Canada come to the US to practice because they make more money. So the Uber rich don't contribute to the economy either? Wow, this whole comment section gets more and more delusional. The top 1 percent of taxpayers paid $723 billion in income taxes while the bottom 90 percent paid $450 billion. The share of income taxes paid by the top 1 percent increased from 33.2 percent in 2001 to 42.3 percent in 2020.
The dread that many Americans feel is real. However, I'm not sure if that has really changed since 2008 crash. I think this feeling of awful economy has more to do with how we get the news and the quality of the news we get. The news programs on TV have been getting more selective in what they show and how they show the "news" that they choose to show. Take, for instance, the recent Supreme Court ruling on the bigoted web designer. The New Republic reported several days ago that the supposed web designer didn't have a web design business and that the gay couple that requested a wedding webpage didn't really exist. Shouldn't this be a BIG news that, in a normal society, should lead to the Supreme Court ruling being vacated, since the decision was based on lies. I'm just flabbergasted.
It won't get vacated because that is what the six justices on the supreme Court want. Even though they're acting like a bunch of dogs they think they're gods.The supreme Court we used to know has now become the property of the Catholic bishops of America and evangelicals. They are now pushing Church law.
As Justice Kagan said they are making up the law. Biden had the authority with the Hero’s Act. Here millions of dollars in loans given to businesses during the pandemic were forgiven. It’s unjust!
'Flabbergasted' says it all. I join you there. But listen closely to the disinformationists' banging their drumbeat of doom; do you hear echoes of the same tune playing 24/7 in pre-Fascist Europe before WW2? As the noise gets louder and more persistent, obscuring its source, we are finding it nearly impossible to think straight. We are being pulled into a perfect storm of confusion, terror and helplessness, ripe for promises of 'fixing everything' made by authoritarian strongmen whose fat little fingers are crossed behind their backs. Put in your earplugs and vote blue as if your life depends on it because it does.
There is a general sense of insecurity. That whatever good there is, it is fragile. That the Fed is determined to cause a recession. That major corporations continue to resist unionization. That housing remains out of reach as existing homeowners won’t move up, in order to keep good interest rates, and the few houses available can be bought only at exorbitant interest rates. That many see they have less of a voice in public affairs as courts usurp legislative authority and gerrymandered districts send to Washington legislators who are not representative of the vast majority of the people.
Agreed, but no voting for Buden isn't going to fix anything!
We know that Republicans have done nothing to improve the lives of the American people!
Their plans include making Trump tax cuts permanent, cutting Social Security and privatizing Medicare (and SS). In addition of dismantling the Federal government, as well as State government, when the get control.
Instead of focusing on what's wrong in America, I think we need to focus on what will happen if the MAGA Republicans gain anymore power; it's not going to make anyone feel better but the wealthy!
As one who views the USA from a foreign perspective I can see that the US press is spouting a lot of gloom which average citizens totally understand. Unfortunately Americans think that the president can fix everything with the snap of his fingers and if heShe doesn’t then heShe isn’t listening. Well in Australia we have all of the same issues including housing shortages, inflation, soaring interest rates, supply chain issues, drug gangs etc. (but we do have universal healthcare and more gun control and few mass shooters!) We know that it is complex and not all caused by our PM. Americans have become desperate for a Messiah in the White House and good old narcissistic Trump says “I alone can save you!” - but he can’t and doesn’t really care. Those who feel disenfranchised are unlikely to view the complex system and follow a Messiah, and that mentality is spurred on by Russian trolls and Q Anon. The money controllers who own the GOP are using this to promote Trump. He won’t fix much if elected (except balloon out his income) but his followers won’t see to it that the rich will get more and more tax deals, subsidies, concessions and reductions in their taxes while the struggling average citizens will have to pay for it. The GOP has a lot to answer for! (Btw I’m American born raised and educated )
I've just read the 74+ comments on another fabulous column by Robert Reich and have come to the same conclusion I always do: Campaign Finance Reform would fix (almost) everything that ails our country. From guns to voter apathy to income inequality to the scourge of Maga to the cost of health care to needless wars...it could all be fixed if we financed campaigns with public dollars. If the DEMS can get back control of both houses and retain the presidency, Joe Biden must pass big, brave legislation getting money out of our politics once and for all.
I like the public financing idea but think we need to go further and make lobbying illegal. Money > Access > Influence. It's ruined our system of governance. I also believe that ranked choice voting will help minimize the effect of the far right and left voices commanding so much attention.
I should have added ranked choice voting to my comment above! It might reduce the binary nature of our political dialog. I think I am a fan, or at least I would like to try it.
It’s not lobbying that’s the problem per se. It’s the cost of funding lobbyists which gives the rich the powerful advantage. A tax law that essentially levels the playing field by establishing both a floor and a ceiling for both income and wealth would be ideal. If we can enforce a minimum wage why not a maximum as well?
But certainly we need to get Citizens United overturned and stop fleecing the poor and middle classes to fight the greedy Uber Rich’s and corporate (as people?) schemes to own the government of, by and for the rich.
We need to get rid of citizens united first thing. This inferior out ruling allows the rich and the religious to send millions if not billions to the Christo- fascist party.
I echo your sentiments. If we fail to separate public service from private gain we will get more of the same. Here are some ideas. A. Ethics reform is key. Our public service ethics laws all the way to SCOTUS should be strict, transparent and enforceable. B. Campaign finance laws should be revamped to at a minimum prohibit dark money--if donors cannot take a seat at the table of public debate they should not be able to anonymously influence policy. C. Publicly fund elections. The 2020 election cost a record setting $14.4 billion, yet I cannot identify a public good that came from that. Running for office requires so much money that it becomes inaccessible to most people Also, elected representatives spend over 50% of their time fundraising, not serving--bologna to that! Finally, media is dining off of a perpetual election season with meaningless polls and stories focused only on the clicks. D. My most controversial idea, subject any legislation drafted by a lobbying organization to public disclosure and analysis. Too often we find out after the fact that special interest organizations such as ALEC and the new Christian Nationalist lobbying groups drafted the legislation before our elected officials. Just like campaign disclosure laws, Americans have a right to know the monied interests influencing legislation. E. We The People must become more active participants in our democracy. Voting alone is not sufficient. We need oversight, participation, and good, honest candidates. We have over 89,000 local governments in this country and that's a great place to start. Thank you to all of the thoughtful and earnest participants in these stacks. I learn so much from you.
Wow! I want you to run for office! But, will you honestly try to accomplish what you proposed. Can you get enough support for these projects and how do you propose to handle the fascist party trying to make you look bad. Again, I love your ideas but politics right now is like swimming with sharks and blood sucking leaches. Would you, or your proposals, make it in this environment?
I know Biden is having one hell of a time. He needs to pull a Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Hahah! Thank you. I am an unlikely candidate for office. I sure would like to teach and train new public servants though. And if had the ability to enact these measures I would do it in a hot second. In my humble opinion, we have had too much role blur between private sector and government. Industry is not admirable when its money comes not from hard work and innovation, but from buying legislators, policies, and deregulation such that money can be made by exploiting labor or public resources. It's not cool. Likewise, government should be protecting public health, safety, and welfare and serving public interests--not picking winners or increasing net worth. I truly believe we need to reestablish role clarity. I think these policies (or something similar) could get bipartisan support from the public, but I admit not likely from some current office holders who have been benefitting for a long time.
But he can't do it with a 50-50% split or even 49-51. The filibuster or expanding the court are the bold steps he could take. He is still about uniting us - which is admirable if somewhat naive. and sometimes I wonder if Biden's catholicism is keeping us on the fence without him announcing it. (#TaxTheChurch being another one of Professor Reich's principles.) I feel like the last 3 elections have been do or die, but I can't imagine that if we lose this election we are only going to have elections like Putin holds! AGAIN we are saying we have to vote like our lives depend on it.
McCain & Feingold really tried to achieve campaign finance reform, but there was too much intransigence in Congress due to corporate influence. And not long afterwards the reliably corporatist Supreme Court made that horrible Citizens United decision, making things that much worse & more hopeless.
Your right but I think the hope is gone too wha we need is to see that trump and his people that were involved in the aJan 6th attack on our capitol are being held accountable ABD that has not happened! Trump is still spouting hate and lies and Jim Jordon, MTG, Boebert, Hawley, Gaetz and the rest are making a mockery of our House! All were involved in Jan 6th how are they still in our government??? People are angry!! They want justice!
The GOP is working on hampering the economy through every means possible. The intent is to keep the middle class in check from being able to become any sort of donor class or have any ability to have any from their ranks to have a hopeful chance at running for office. The wealth disparity works fine for them and they want to keep it that way.
We well know there is a sweet spot where inflation and wages actually compliment each other for broadening prosperity to its ends ... but the GOP has been fighting infrastructure measures and any program that would actually facilitate a broader, freer and fairer market for the general American People. They need to keep Americans struggling, whether it is with student loan debt, health care debt, or credit card debt ... as long as Americans are struggling under debt ... they can scapegoat Biden and the Democratic Party so they can keep their status quo of increasing the wealth gap (or at least maintaining) it .... so that the donor class of which they attempt to monopolize can keep them in power.
We can count on the GOP to do its level best to keep the American middle class, the American Struggling class because any actual prosperity will work against them in maintaining power. As usual the GOP is the Arsonist (with "trickle down Hayekian modeling austerity) and blaming the Democrat first responders attempting to put out the blaze ... while they stand on the hoses and shout from a safe distance about "how others are doing it all wrong" ... even as the flames they caused are fought back.
love the metafor - democrats running around with firehoses and we're exausted! Always just one vote shy...WHY do people vote against their own interests?
I think most people in the USA think the economy is not doing well, because for most of them it is not. The bottom 90 or 99 per cent are struggling. They cannot afford to send there kids to college, housing, food, and rest. They do not trust their leaders to tell them the truth, They must borrow, beg or steal to survive. They are told it is their fault,
To the extent that’s true, it’s because of the structural inequities that have deliberately been built into the economic and social system by the rich, corporations and the politicians more than happy to be paid off to do their spade work.
I think you missed a major contributor to the sense of dread: the Extreme Court. Half the population of half the population, that is women of childbearing age, feel enormous fear about the likelihood of simply surviving what should be a joyous thing, pregnancy and creation of a new life.
And then there’s the chance you might be shot dead at a party or while grocery shopping.
I think the biggest problem in America today is right wing media. For some reason they seem determined to throw America over the cliff and will stop at nothing to accomplish that end. I don't know if it's racism, greed or the need for power.
It's tragic that our educational system over the decades has failed to provide so many, now under the spell of the evil intentions of this form of media, the critical thinking tools to recognise as nonsense right wing media's so called news.
I used to believe that Trump was the most dangerous person in America. I now realise that the most dangerous person in America is my next door neighbor who proudly supports Trump. Throw into this mix the cowards, fascists, and just plain stupid who now roam the halls of congress and the courts.
I agree with you. The biggest problem we have in politics and In our present society is lies. I made a point of spending a few days talking to people about our current society and out politics. I determined that I was told 1 lie every 3 minutes.
Are all these people liars? No, I checked where I could to find out where they got their info from. It turned out they were telling.me what someone else told them. In other words, what they were telling me, which was false, was coming from a rumour mill. They did not appear to be making it up.
Yes, you so often see the same false talking points, often very ridiculous & irrational ones, many times accompanied by an admonishment (which is actually a projection, whether they realize it or not) that you (we) are being indoctrinated.
Until we get rid of for-profit health care, nobody will be happy. I work and save money not for vacation, or to own a home, or to start a family, but to upgrade my hospital room when I inevitably will need one. AND I do this WITH a premium health insurance plan. THATS NOT A GOOD ECONOMY NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
You summed it up Mr. Reich,
“In other words, the economy is getting better overall — but overall has become a less and less useful gauge as the RICH ARE GETTING RICHER, the poor grow poorer, and the working middle is under worsening siege. “
Until the RICH start sharing their wealth we will continue down the same road!
The RICH will never share. They will hold on to their wealth unless they are TAXED! How’s that for a novel idea?
We have a collection problem. According to multiple sources, we leave about $7 trillion on the table over 10 years. When I posted this in NYT yesterday, I got 1222 hits.
If I were a billionaire, I'd spend big money to lobby to collect current taxes, rather than lobby to prevent new taxes, because there would be no need for new revenue.
Billionaires should not exist.
I don't begrudge rich people. I play the lottery about 2 times a week.
I resent those who do not pay their fair share, especially those who flaunt their wealth and disrespect the rest of us as if they are superior and entitled.
The fastest way to save the economy is 1. collect taxes that are due and penalize criminal conduct and 2. sue price fixers and price gougers.
I know that I sound like a broken record but I think foreign interests, especially Saudi and other oil interests like Russia have been undermining our economy since Nixon let the dollar float. In reality OPEC fixes US oil prices. We can thank them for inflation. I think that besides an economic issue, this is a national security issue. We don't control Congress in large part because Saudis and Russians have been supporting Republicans like the Bushes and Trump. .
@Daniel Solomon, the tax code comes up for revision in 2025. Congress could reverse the egregious provisions of the 2017 tax legislation. Congress could decide to tax capital gains and dividend income the same as individual income and kill the carried interest tax loophole,. Congress might also sprout wings and fly, I know. But the tax code debate has already begun.
Why stop at 2017? The widely yawning deficits began with the two Bush 43 tax cuts back in '03 or so, if memory serves. Remove all of them since Shrub took office and the nation is much closer to a balanced budget.
I’m middle class. Please don’t tax my meager investment gains. Only those who make over $2M then tax away. No one really *earns* more than that.
Billionaires are using the people to earn their money. Change my mind. They should NOT EXIST!
Ralph : I Agree! They are sucking our blood while they ruin the environment! They normalize butchery and fascism.
That is why extreme wealth Inequality should not exist! The Bought up 'Supreme' Court has blocked Intelligence surveillance of platforms on the internet where the next coup can be plotted. Seems that would interfere with sacred free speech of those who have already attacked the "People's House': our Capitol! Big Money bought these Judges who enable criminals and fascists!
I agree Daniel Solomon, that 'being rich' is not the problem. Obscene wealth is.
Daniel Solomon: A billion is too much money. Multiple billions create a Musk, who can own a major internet platform, allowing bad guys to plan insurrections and other Un Democratic events. (And get away with murder.).
The Saudis can influence our elections by strategically timed cuts or increases to oil production, thereby increasing or decreasing prices at the pump.
IMHO Trump has been illegally dealing with them. As president he was forbidden from outside work.
I strongly agree with Daniel Solomon. Refusal to fund the IRS is madness and costly to the treasury. I despise those who cheat paying taxes but the blame belongs on a system that fails to identify cheats and allows loopholes. Tax laws must be better written to discourage cheaters who will always find ways to cheat. Also, Biden needs to be more feisty when identifying opponents. The nice guy approach has established his credibility in the presence of name callers but he will need to take off the gloves in the upcoming nasty election to be heard by the MAGA crowd.
You think anyone in the "MAGA crowd" can hear??
Daniel, you are right about the foreign influences and with the PACs that don't even have to report who has given money to them, there is a lot of it. Ending PACs and forcing the name of every single individual and group and individuals within a donor group to be known for every dollar donated to any organization would be a good start. I don't see Republicans doing that, though because they benefit so much from the foreign money. I am sure Dems are doing it too, but I suspect not in as large numbers. Dems could be more easily shamed into stopping the behavior if people in the nation actually knew just how much foreign money is in our elections and legislative decisions. Republicans these days have no shame!
Saudis and Russians; some are multi billion dollar investors in some large American companies and investment funds.
That gives them influence over corporate campaign contributions.
- money has voice - Citizens United amendment 2010
It's not so much 'cloak and dagger' but rather in our face capitalism.
And it's the law - they have the right to particpate in our elections through this back door. It's the law.
It's the 3/5 antebellum rule of law.
They have more money than we have people who vote.
We, my dear citizens are out voted.
Hope you enjoyed the democracy while it lasted.
Federal law prohibits contributions, donations, expenditures(including independent expenditures) and disbursements solicited, directed, received or made directly or indirectly by or from foreign nationals in connection with any federal, state or local election. https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/foreign-nationals/#:~:text=Federal%20law%20prohibits%20contributions%2C%20donations,federal%2C%20state%20or%20local%20election.
The FEC is Allowing Foreign Money to Influence Our Elections https://campaignlegal.org/update/fec-allowing-foreign-money-influence-our-elections?gclid=CjwKCAjwzJmlBhBBEiwAEJyLu69DQwvs-3b7S0Ckpc-vEv1QUXKditZ9KGu1r5vmY-vm05tOUv0DIhoCx1sQAvD_BwE
And there you have it: Citizens United. We aren't outvoted, we're gerrymandered and rigged out of a voice.
That's up to Congress to correct. And it's up to us to elect people who will do it.
I enjoyed the illusion of democracy too. But I won't give up on the hope that we can restore it, maybe even approach something that isn't an illusion because now many, many more people know that what we've had IS an illusion.
PS. Besides Citizens, there's the pesky issue of systemic racism.
What good will it do to tax the wealthy, unless it is directly dedicated to helping the people.? As it stands now, the government will just p--- it away on further bloating the military and pet projects to favor its corporate masters.
Bandar Bush and the useful idiot!
Didn’t the House greatly REDUCE money for the IRS as part of the Debt Ceiling negotiation?
I don't begrudge rich people either. I do despise arrogant, entitled assholes who believe that they made their wealth on their own. Their accumulation of wealth only exists because the rest of society *suffers* it to exist.
If society were to burn down tomorrow (as the Steve Bannon aligned cabal appears to want it to) the tumbrels will roll for many of today's wealthy like they did during the French Revolution - except perhaps for those who will die slowly in their bunkers.
Bob & Beckie Mercer know this, as do people like Barre Seid and Peter Thiel. These old farts are dying off as fast as the Devil can take them, but I feat it isn't fast enough to save us.
I don't like those who flaunt their wealth on noisy cars and noise generating "mufflers".
Yes, especially when money is speech. And too much wealth allows people like Harlan Crow buy a 'Supreme Court ' 'Justice'. Or a Congressional seat, or two: or four.
Ralph, or at least, not for long. Billionaires are pretty useless these days because they may claim to care about this nation and our planet blah blah blah, but in reality, they just feed their addiction to money and power. We need a "tough love" intervention for billionaires, even super millionaires who just can't manage to stop using their bucks to hurt and buy others.
I agree. No one individual needs a billion dollars let alone even knows really what to do with it. Good examples: Elon Musk (Twitter for one thing) and Jeff Bezos and his treatment of the people that work for him. It's Robin Hood in
reverse. The world society in general has some kind of evil covenant to allow the rich to rob the poor. It simply has to stop!
I think Cuba sounds like a good place for you to live. Better bring the keys to a 57 Chevy because that’s what you’ll be driving. Enjoy your stucco house that hasn’t been painted since JFK was shot and you live with your extended family.
Campaign reform and abolish Citizens United. We The People must have equal measure of power.
70% of Americans think the country is on the wrong track. But 70% of Americans think there lives are going in the right direction.
A lot of the problem is the media and messaging. It’s not just Fox, it’s social media. Probably 20% of Americans read a newspaper.
It's basically ALL mainstream media. ABC and CBS are all about both-sideism; MSNBC only touches on MAGA on shows that call themselves "news opinions" and CNN has gone so far left, I think we've come full circle to the right! I'm old enough to remember when cable news first started. It was called "Fox News Entertainment TV." Probably took a week for lazy America to stop saying the entertainment part and people who watched Walter Cronkite tell the real truth started believing Fox News was truth. The almighty dollar runs MSM, not the truth as it once did.
Possibly less than 20% of newspapers are worth reading.
Daniel, yes, we need the IRS to be fully operational to collect appropriately. They used their limited resources to go after working and middle-class tax problems instead of the very rich where one victory would have brought in more than most of those pathetic small cheaters and mistake-makers. We need to address both, but the rich will get us all more and start to move us toward a more equitable society. Go IRS!
What was that I heard about one of the major issues the New R Crazy Caucus wanted on the chopping block?
Oh right -- it was money to fund the IRS and its collection efforts.
Considering the Pentagon has not passed an audit in how many years? We need to know where the enormous budget appropriations for defense ie the military industrial complex have and continue to go. We really don’t have a clue. Ask any IRS agent; want to see apoplexy up close? 💵💵💵 is OUT THERE but please elaborate. The tax payers, you know, the little people are getting feisty, annoyed, upset......they need to know. Too few agents to process a massive audit? STOP THE MONEY PIPELINE UNTIL IT IS COMPLETE. Get their attention off their “too small paychecks” the excuse given by everyone post pandemic
Actually, they audit everything. But they lost maybe a $ trillion and most Afghanistan and Iraq was off budget during the GWB administration.
https://www.dodig.mil/reports.html/
Oh my...
Thank you. I’ll look into that. Have I been reading fake news again? Do my best but it’s getting more challenging!
WOW; great stuff there!
Daniel—PLEASE cc all your comments to your now-wasted Notes from Baghdad by the Sea so we can read you without having to wade through so much dross.PLEASE!
What sources?
Can you imagine!?
You mean taxed by their pawns in Congress? Unlikely.
Maybe one country in the history of the world that attacks themselves into prosperity
That’s true. They are somehow believing that they “can take it with them,” and it’s just that they haven’t figured out how to do so.
The rich will never “share” their wealth and shouldn’t be asked to. They should be taxed to contribute their fair share to our economy and if they cheat, then the IRS should audit them and make them pay. There are far too many loopholes for the wealthy to get out of paying their taxes. And the IRS continues to be underfunded, thanks to the recent irrational demands of the right-wing crackers in the House of Representatives.
Our community lost another plant and jobs to Mexico. We will probably see more pickup trucks without mufflers racing around our neighborhood with the US flag and the don't tread on me flag. We still don't have single-payer universal health care. I see more Berkshire-Hathaway signs in front of homes. The price of eggs is lower, though.
Keith, you are right, so how do we start siphoning off some of that wealth from the far too rich and move it to those who need it? With the filibuster and a racist old white guy wielding it, and a child-man "leading" the House, it is not likely anything positive will happen in that direction until people start to notice who is really causing their pain and struggle and turn their venom on Republican bad economic behavior and knee-jerk opposition to anything that will actually help the American people. Anger is powerful but often spewed in the wrong direction, toward the wrong people, especially when directed by a biased media who either are owned by or dependent on those rich folks for their existence, or believe they are.
When you spend less than you earn, and save the excess in a tax deferred retirement account, you can become richer than most people in the world.
Gerald, that only works if you earn living wages. A huge chunk of Americans do not earn enough to make basic ends meet. They are not being irresponsible with their meager earnings, yet they are the ones who are made to pay penalties on not earning enough to pay for their basic living necessities.
For example, if they use up all their earned income paying rent (barely), utilities, health insurance, food & basic needs groceries, transportation to & from work, etc. and they come up short, they get punished by being charged a penalty fee for not paying the full amount of whatever bill came short. Or they overdraft their bank account by $10 dollars trying to pay everything on their plate. The bank will tack on at least $50 in overdraft fees, and will continue to tack on fees until the account is made whole again.
But wait, so now, in addition to the rent, utilities, food & other groceries, health insurance, they now have to pay the bank a hefty penalty for not having enough money to cover their bills. Once they fall into that rabbit hole, it becomes nearly impossible to get out.
By design, this capitalist country financially penalizes low wage workers for not earning enough to cover their basic living costs.
Hi Rebeca. I agree with your description of those who cannot make ends meet, but the fault is not due to a "capitalist" country. When one borrows money (e.g. from a bank or a credit card company), the borrower agrees to accept the liability for non-payment. The problem is the borrower is borrowing. The solutions are for the borrower to (1) spend less by living with others, plant a garden, ride a bike for transportation, apply for SNAP, apply for low income housing support, live with parents, etc. and/or (2) develop a skill for which others will pay more money. The alternatives to a capitalist economy are socialism and communism. The U.S. is partially socialistic- examples are social security, SNAP, low income tax credits, low income housing, Medicaid, public schools, progressive income tax, etc. All these programs transfer wealth from those who produce to those who do not but need support. Not socialistic is the sales tax which is regressive. (Not reasonable is the capital gain tax reduction, which gains should be taxed as ordinary income.) Communism is where the state owns the means of production. In France, for example, the State owns part of Total a large oil and gas company (TTE). China is not a communist country because its people individually can own their means of production. Communism is a failure, as best shown by Cuba and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Ownership of the means of production and a fair tax rate on profits has proven to be the strongest economic motivator in history, which is one of the reasons we are so rich in the U.S.
The controversial question for us is how much socialism should we have. But the engine that allows us to be rich as a country is capitalism. Within that framework, many can succeed including most of my ancestors who immigrated here without any knowledge of English.
Another strong economic motivator in history is colonialism and conquering other to steal their "stuff", such as when Memhet II conquered Constantinople, or when the Polish aristocrats controlled the land in Ukraine. This is the reason cities built walls. Now, sadly, we must build drones and rockets.
I like (and agree with) the Texas approach to sales taxes. Food and medicine are not taxed. The rest to shared by all with the understanding that the rich simply buy a whole lot more. Even when purchasing a car- the poor do not buy expensive cars and the rich (usually) do not buy the cheaper ones and the tax is based in the price of the car. I am in agreement that how much you earn is none of the states business. Fair is fair.
If you believe the rich should start sharing their wealth, why don’t you go in their garage and take 50% of what’s in there and see how that works out for you.
Again, as you said, simply and clearly: "In other words, the economy is getting better overall — but overall has become a less and less useful gauge as the rich get richer, the poor grow poorer, and the working middle is under worsening siege."
It doesn't FEEL like "the economy" is getting better if you're living hand-to-mouth while food prices are rising, if you're burdened with college debt, if you can't even think of buying a house because everything is overpriced and people who are wildly wealthy are paying cash, etc. "The economy" means what? The various measures tell us how well the financiers and the Silicon Valley Libertarians are doing, contributing little or nothing in taxes.
But that is not on the US President, prices, wages, profit margins are all controlled by the big moneyed corporations, not the US President.
Americans continue to be confused over who the villain of this story is.
Rebeca, In my view, because politics largely is perception, if everyday people are living precariously from paycheck to paycheck, wherein family income is only sustained by more people working longer hours, while weighted down by mortgage debt, credit card debt, and the like, the blame for the seemingly limited opportunities afforded them by a social and economic system largely beyond their individual control, fair or not, tends to be pinned on political leadership.
Postscript: As I wrote to Daniel, who is part of this thread, if we fail to recognize and engage with people’s misguided perceptions, we fail to do so at our own peril.
Like the price of eggs. Few people mention the worst avian flu on record decimating chicken populations as the reason for their high priced eggs. Also, high food prices are attributable to lengthy transportation routes from the locations which we source our food. The country’s perception of fresh food is distorted as we tend to cater to our grocery store desires to consume what we want anytime we want.
Misguided perceptions are only fixable through dialogue(verb). People speak to hear themselves instead of communicating to understand and or arrive at the best conclusion/option/strategy
@Korbtronics, Focusing specifically on your second paragraph, which I largely appreciate, I merely would add, that when people who hold different views genuinely feel they are being listened to, they typically, though not always, are more receptive to, themselves, listening.
I agree. Listening is skill we all could use daily practice in. “Two ears, one mouth, use them in that proportion” is what my father has always said to me(believe this is derived from a quote from the Greek philosopher Epictetus).
Back in the days, the US Government did have control over pricing of basic food necessities such as eggs, milk, bread, etc. There were caps set to make sure Americans were able to afford basic necessities. Then Congress eliminated all price controls, handing over the keys to the price box to the big moneyed corporations. Nobody noticed, nobody said peep.
Yes, the avian flu and gas costs contributed to the egg price hike, but when those issues are resolved, such as lower gas prices & nearly eliminating avian flu cases, the prices didn’t go back down. No, prices continue to rise.
It’s corporate greed and a woefully misinformed & under educated consumer base who continue to buy eggs at $8 a carton. The greedy corporations tested the exorbitant price hikes during COVID, and the consumer market bowed down & paid. When things began to get better, lower gas prices, the allowance of raw materials into out ports ( except the anti vaxxer truckers caused more supply issues by striking), the prices never were rolled back, instead, they’ve continued to rise.
"Hence is it that we make trifles of terrors, ensconcing ourselves into seeming knowledge, when we should submit ourselves to an unknown fear.." All's Well That Ends Well, Act 2, scene 3.
All's Well is one of a series of "bed trick" plays. In Shakespeare, the nobles are the people who are most easily fooled. Now the audience is easily tricked. Fools rush in....
Daniel, To be clear, my comment derives not from my beliefs but from my observations. As another example, while those of us who pay attention understand that the human infrastructure piece of the Biden agenda failed to pass because of 2 purported then-Democratic Senators, the same everyday people I referenced in my comment, for whom said legislation would vastly have improved their lives, typically don’t make that same distinction.
Postscript: If we fail to recognize and engage with people’s misguided perceptions, we fail so at our peril.
I realize that, however, this is a capitalist on steroids country, meaning the ones controlling the economic system are not the politicians, although they’d like you to believe they do, its again, the big moneyed corporations, who not only control our economy, but the politicians as well.
Media doesn’t help as they perpetuate the common misconceptions on who controls what in this country.
Rebeca, Thank you for your reply. I would add, barring an occasional word from President Biden calling out corporate gouging or the occasional congressional hearing unearthing data confirming that the biggest driver of inflation is corporate pricing, I am troubled that Democrats, overall, have declined to enact a united, laser-focused effort to expose how corporate profits account for over half of the increased prices people are paying.
While some might defend a party’s reluctance to bite the hand that feeds it, I believe the benefits of pinning corporate pricing as the biggest driver of inflation would outweigh the costs. I further contend, with 60% of the people in this country living paycheck to paycheck and millions working for starvation wages, not only should Democrats not ignore this biggest driver of inflation; they should make it clear to working families throughout this country, many of whom are prepared to vote Republican, that if they vote Republican, the Party that has been silent on this issue, their vote will run counter to their interests and concerns. In a word, we need Democratic leadership to be focused and disciplined and not to allow Republican deceptions and distortions related to the state of the economy to go unanswered.
Yes, until the real villain of the story is screamed out continuously by the democrats and the media unfortunately Biden will be the villain in the eyes of the poor and middle class. This is sad because President Biden is the one looking out for their best interests! Wake-up Americans!
Actually they have quite abit:
Economic Stabaization Act - Richard Nixon.
Whip Inflation Now - Gerald Ford.
Economic Stimulation Act - Jimmy Carter.
Executive Order 10340 - Harry Truman.
Gerry, do you have any data that proves these “Acts” actually made a positive difference in Main Street’s economy? I am guessing probably not, as nobody bothers to measure the economy of Main Street.
My data is from wikipedia - my source for this one president Nixon.
Economic Stabilization Act of 1970
- authorized the President to stabilize prices, rents, wages, salaries, interest rates, dividends and similar transfers[3] as part of a general program of price controls within the American domestic goods and labor markets. It established standards to serve as a guide for determining levels of wages, prices, etc., which would allow for adjustments, exceptions and variations to prevent inequities, taking into account changes in productivity, cost of living and other pertinent factors.[4]
Under "Public Benefits"
- Equal Employment Opportunity Act,
- Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973
- Supplemental Security Income was established.
- Decoupled the dollar from the gold standard, the dollar price of imports increased. The cost of imports allowed Americans to focus on American-made products to keep the money circulating throughout the American economy, resulting in a higher income for American workers.[12]
- Emergency Employment Act in 1971, created about 150,000 jobs.
- in education, environmental protection, law enforcement, and other 'public
works'"
- Mass transportation systems.
- The Housing and Urban Development department was established.
This Act provided people with low income with subsidized rent for affordable housing in privately owned buildings, the "predecessor to the Section 8 rental subsidies".[17]
All from Wikipedia.
Those are just a few examples of what was in the Economic Stabzation Act.
President Nixon was the best democratic president we've had !
Why ?
Because the party has had no FDRs of late so we've adopted Nixon's policies
as our own. Ha!
Bite my tongue you say?
So I am sacrilegious.
Apparently there's not much time for doing the peoples work while
doing that bipartisan dance and chasing all that re-elect me! money !
For all his faults Nixon had some great ideas.
- Ya don't gotta luv me. -
Now y'all can unfriend me.
Many things that you laud for Nixon was because he was forced to do by the Democratic Congress. Please research is lack of funding for EPA and Clean Air Act
They just want to make Biden look bad! After all, the 'right' has NOTHING to offer most of US : middle or working class/poor !
Exactly. The House hasn’t accomplished anything & is terribly divided. MTG has just been kicked out of her committee for profanity.
Judy Bertelsen; it's legalized robbery; this obscene wealth Inequality! Citizens United. Along with the gaming of an Electoral College are designed to keep everyone down and those on top in full control! They even own 'our' Supreme Court and the DOJ! : It seems. Look at the biased rookie judge assigned ('fairly') to tRump's case! Magically! It's'Murphy's Law' if a thing can go wrong: it will!
I think about this phenomenom a lot - seeing as how I see the economy so differently than so many other Americans. To me, Joe Biden is the PERFECT president to come along during these times and his "bottom up middle out" is the best thing I've seen in our economy, from my vantage point, since LBJ's attempt to eliminate poverty in America with the "Great Society." I consider myself one of the reasons to blame for this - I have two "buckets" on my "bucket list" and one of them is seeing Trump CONVICTED of (at least one of) his CRIMES - actually, I want to live long enough to see him in JAIL. I fully recognize this goes against my (liberal) Christian views, but I just can't seem to help myself. I believe there are so many other Americans "yearning" for the same outcome (of course, for a plethora of reasons) that our so-called "liberal media" continues to be focused on Trump - Cable outlets, morning, noon, and night. Combine that with the seeming incompetence of democrats in MESSAGING, and you end up with media coverage which has been focused on Trump for, well, now I suppose it's been about 7 - 8 YEARS. Obviously, "liberal leaning" outlets like MSNBC are making a boatload of MONEY by focusing on Trump's CRIMINAL conduct while virtually IGNORING the generational accomplishments of Biden's first two and a half years that people have heard mainly about the failures (Biden was set up to fail) in the withdrawal from Afghanistan AND the issue of inflation - resulting from a jumpstarted economy (apparently many Americans prefered the failures of Trump's last year in office) and the resulting inflation (affected by supply chain issues, the Russian illegal invasion of Ukraine, ALONG WITH typical American corporate GREED.) Maybe "we the people" aren't sophisticated enough to process all this (I do my best) but, again, I think people like me who are obsessed with seeing Trump held accountable for at least SOME of his CRIMINAL conduct are what keeps the focus off of Biden's successes (to me, there are MANY) and on that pathetic FPOTUS. Just a few thoughts......
We also forget that even “liberal” media outlets are owned by giant corporations who don’t want people to know that Biden is succeeding. My 27 year old son says all media, indeed, all companies of any type, are ultimately owned by one of only 3 mega-corporations. They need to be broken up before any real and lasting change will be possible.
Right on! Let's hope America's young people, like your son, vote in record numbers. The reality is the FUTURE is theirs - and, their voices MUST be heard if "we the people" are going to preserve our republic.
Thank you for deeply focusing on negative aspects of Trump. You are absolutely correct. I am a huge fan of Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and his Grand Jury(s). His necessarily slow work appears to be nearing the point where the real charges will be brought. That will be a great day.
Incidentally, I also mostly agree with you about Biden. But he does have two big fumbles. 1. The Afghanistan pullout. This cost him a full ten points of support and he has never recovered those points. 2. Too much sugar pill economic stimulation. In about October of a year and a half ago an additional sugar pill hit made the news and I sat back and immediately, the word inflation arose. Unfortunately, the Federal Reserve wouldn't realize this for another six months or so. But once they did they started a long slow process of edging into the problem with their only weapon, interest rates, and chewing it back down towards a soft landing.
Having said all of that, it is Biden who put Trump out of office. I know of no one who is more deserving of a chance to repeat that feat. In fact, other "possibles" would probably lose. So health to Mr. Biden. He's the right man at the right time.
Amen! My only response would be, I'm glad we're out of Afghanistan and, clumsy as it was (Remember Trump was the one who enabled the Taliban in his last year in office) it was MUCH better than the pull out from Viet Nam. Apparently, pulling out of losing military "adventures" is clumsy. (However, I totally agree with you that, regardless of any details, it cost Biden the 10 points you mentioned) As far as inflation, to me, it was inevitable - and, there were other factors causing it besides what you refer to as "sugar pill economic stimulation." I know of several families who were saved economically by the Pandemic relief bill (the child tax credit was critical for them at the time) and wages have gone up (thankfully - even though I'm no longer in the "wages" section of society) and more jobs have been created than anytime, I believe, since the "New Deal." The reality is, despite the WAR being waged in Ukraine, which is "out of sight out of mind" for MANY Americans, it's part of the cause of the supply chain issues, which to me - along with the typical American corporate GREED, is more a cause of inflation than the interest rates. I witnessed the interest rate hike as the way to stop inflation before - as if the working class Americans are the cause - The Fed has openly stated their concern for the number of jobs being created (which is continuing - thanks to the "sugar pills" (The infrastructure INVESTMENT is just hitting "high gear.") All that said, I believe your take is right on - maybe I'm subconsciously complaining about the democrats lack of "skill"? in messaging. Regardless, thanks to responding to my post.
David Piper - EVERY SiNGLE TIME I click on a T*** bit of news, I hate myself, because I KNOW I am doing what you say, prolonging the obsession with that man. I figure I SHOULD now what he’s up to, the better to be ready for it, or counter it, or whatever, but I know the country is in the throes of what we called “rubbernecking” when people stopped to gawk at my ambulance crew at an accident.
But I am at a loss as to WHY he has risen to such a perch of “power” - I know he’s a tool, and not someone who actually gets anything done, but how did he become the tool of so many powerful behind-the-scenes characters? He’s a carnival barker, and that explains some of it. And a celebrity, which taps into our national cult or celebrity worship.
But, egad, he’s such a skeevy individual!!!!! And he sucks up all the attention ...
What can we DO about that?I too dream of and long for the day the man is convicted -- oh, wouldn’t it be a red-letter day if he went to jail!!! But mostly, wouldn’t it be nice to never hears from or see him ever again. ...
Right on! I read a book called "Rising out of Hatred, The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist" by Eli Saslow which chronicled the life of Derek Black whose father, Don Black, had been a "Grand Wizard" of the KKK. His God father is David Duke. Derek was destined to take the "reins" of the White Nationalist movement - until he spent a couple years at the "New College" in central Florida. (Maybe why DeSantis sent in a new "Board") I read, afterward, as much as I could find on the White Nationalist movement and, at the time, I remember them - at one of their sicko gatherings - saying Trump was their "vehicle" (my characterization) into the mainstream of American politics. Duke had run before in Louisiana for the Senate and lost, but he claimed Trump had the same views as himself. I think I've learned that I totally underestimated the backlash to Obama and, using the word of one of the liberal Supreme Court Justices (I believe it was Sotomayor), it's going to be difficult to remove the "stench" of what Trump has brought to the surface. I believe you're absolutely correct, it was here all along, Trump was just the "mechanism" to get it to the "surface." And, I believe, they will "fight like hell" to keep it there - using whatever "tools" are required to do so. To me, that is why Trump is so valuable to them - he's willing to LIE with impunity and CHEAT in order to "win." To his "base" that is a positive "quality." (sorry for all the quotation marks) I'm 75 (and, apparently, in failing health) but, I believe those of us who've been watching all this transpire MUST remain vigilent in encouraging anyone and everyone who wants to see our republic continue the slow transformation toward "her better angels" to continue VOTING and realize this "fight" will last for a generation (thanks to Trump's packing of the SCOTUS.) The sad reality is that racism has been a significant part of American history and the republican party seemingly believes they can blot that out via book bans and intimidating public school teachers. (I'm a retired 6th grade teacher.) I wish I could stop my obsession with wanting Trump behnd bars because, to me, that's just the first step in stopping the problem. It's taking too long. But, the next steps will be harder and take longer, in my view. Thanks for responding to my post - I think you hit a lot of "nails" right on the "head."
So did you. Hit the nails on the head. [Yes, I’ve heard about Derek Back and heard him interviewed -- the kind of human interaction and redemption that gives me hope.] I’m a 76-year-old retired community journalist and writer [not retired writing!]. I see so much of the way things are now as you see them, and remember so much as you remember it. Maybe because I considered it SUCH a huge mistake to let Richard Nixon off the hook, I simply cannot abide the thought that T*** will eventually prevail and never be convicted. I think the UNIVERSE needs for T*** to be convicted and held to account to redress a grave wrong that is rippling through reality.
OK, I’m being a writer here, but In very plain language, I totally agree with you.
Sorry for typos...
I will miss your commentaries and classes immensely!!’ I rely on them for truth. Thank you from the bottom if my heart for your dedication and perseverance. Much luck in your future pursuits! Thank you! Pamela Ashnault.
Just returned from BC and Calgary, AB. It seemed pretty apparent that these Canucks were "on the whole" better-off financially and shared better government-provided facilities and infrastructure than we have in the States. Taxes aren't all bad.
USA might boast of Gates', Musk's, Bezos', etc. wealth but all it does is skew the average wealth with outliers that don't contribute tax to the bulk of us.
Sad returning to the States and immediately seeing singlewides and shacks surrounded by trash and junk proudly flying Trump flags.
Your last statement is what pains me the most - trump's fans are largely from the bottom level of the population, mostly the white males, who appear to have ZERO recognition that trump is the very last person who cares about them - his history is of making nasty comments about such people, and not wanting to 'dirty' his hands by contact with them - yet they have no clue, appear to think he is telling them the truth ! THE most ridiculous situation ever - and we can't get thru to them ! When asked why they support trump their answers are as if he were a benevolent billionaire come to rescue them from poverty - the very opposite of what such a man has done his whole life ! The illogic of this is beyond belief !
Are you sure you went to Canada? I have family all over Canada and they do not share the same sentiment! Have you ever heard of Medical Tourism? That's when you can't get the help you need in time to save your life in Canada, so they come the the US for treatment and it happens a lot! My aunt had a cancer and couldn't get help in Canada in time to save her life so she came to NY for treatment. Plus most good Drs from Canada come to the US to practice because they make more money. So the Uber rich don't contribute to the economy either? Wow, this whole comment section gets more and more delusional. The top 1 percent of taxpayers paid $723 billion in income taxes while the bottom 90 percent paid $450 billion. The share of income taxes paid by the top 1 percent increased from 33.2 percent in 2001 to 42.3 percent in 2020.
The dread that many Americans feel is real. However, I'm not sure if that has really changed since 2008 crash. I think this feeling of awful economy has more to do with how we get the news and the quality of the news we get. The news programs on TV have been getting more selective in what they show and how they show the "news" that they choose to show. Take, for instance, the recent Supreme Court ruling on the bigoted web designer. The New Republic reported several days ago that the supposed web designer didn't have a web design business and that the gay couple that requested a wedding webpage didn't really exist. Shouldn't this be a BIG news that, in a normal society, should lead to the Supreme Court ruling being vacated, since the decision was based on lies. I'm just flabbergasted.
It won't get vacated because that is what the six justices on the supreme Court want. Even though they're acting like a bunch of dogs they think they're gods.The supreme Court we used to know has now become the property of the Catholic bishops of America and evangelicals. They are now pushing Church law.
As Justice Kagan said they are making up the law. Biden had the authority with the Hero’s Act. Here millions of dollars in loans given to businesses during the pandemic were forgiven. It’s unjust!
'Flabbergasted' says it all. I join you there. But listen closely to the disinformationists' banging their drumbeat of doom; do you hear echoes of the same tune playing 24/7 in pre-Fascist Europe before WW2? As the noise gets louder and more persistent, obscuring its source, we are finding it nearly impossible to think straight. We are being pulled into a perfect storm of confusion, terror and helplessness, ripe for promises of 'fixing everything' made by authoritarian strongmen whose fat little fingers are crossed behind their backs. Put in your earplugs and vote blue as if your life depends on it because it does.
There is a general sense of insecurity. That whatever good there is, it is fragile. That the Fed is determined to cause a recession. That major corporations continue to resist unionization. That housing remains out of reach as existing homeowners won’t move up, in order to keep good interest rates, and the few houses available can be bought only at exorbitant interest rates. That many see they have less of a voice in public affairs as courts usurp legislative authority and gerrymandered districts send to Washington legislators who are not representative of the vast majority of the people.
Agreed, but no voting for Buden isn't going to fix anything!
We know that Republicans have done nothing to improve the lives of the American people!
Their plans include making Trump tax cuts permanent, cutting Social Security and privatizing Medicare (and SS). In addition of dismantling the Federal government, as well as State government, when the get control.
Instead of focusing on what's wrong in America, I think we need to focus on what will happen if the MAGA Republicans gain anymore power; it's not going to make anyone feel better but the wealthy!
As one who views the USA from a foreign perspective I can see that the US press is spouting a lot of gloom which average citizens totally understand. Unfortunately Americans think that the president can fix everything with the snap of his fingers and if heShe doesn’t then heShe isn’t listening. Well in Australia we have all of the same issues including housing shortages, inflation, soaring interest rates, supply chain issues, drug gangs etc. (but we do have universal healthcare and more gun control and few mass shooters!) We know that it is complex and not all caused by our PM. Americans have become desperate for a Messiah in the White House and good old narcissistic Trump says “I alone can save you!” - but he can’t and doesn’t really care. Those who feel disenfranchised are unlikely to view the complex system and follow a Messiah, and that mentality is spurred on by Russian trolls and Q Anon. The money controllers who own the GOP are using this to promote Trump. He won’t fix much if elected (except balloon out his income) but his followers won’t see to it that the rich will get more and more tax deals, subsidies, concessions and reductions in their taxes while the struggling average citizens will have to pay for it. The GOP has a lot to answer for! (Btw I’m American born raised and educated )
I've just read the 74+ comments on another fabulous column by Robert Reich and have come to the same conclusion I always do: Campaign Finance Reform would fix (almost) everything that ails our country. From guns to voter apathy to income inequality to the scourge of Maga to the cost of health care to needless wars...it could all be fixed if we financed campaigns with public dollars. If the DEMS can get back control of both houses and retain the presidency, Joe Biden must pass big, brave legislation getting money out of our politics once and for all.
I like the public financing idea but think we need to go further and make lobbying illegal. Money > Access > Influence. It's ruined our system of governance. I also believe that ranked choice voting will help minimize the effect of the far right and left voices commanding so much attention.
I should have added ranked choice voting to my comment above! It might reduce the binary nature of our political dialog. I think I am a fan, or at least I would like to try it.
Worked great in Alaska!
I may be wrong, but I think lobbying is protected by the Constitution's Bill of Rights.
It’s not lobbying that’s the problem per se. It’s the cost of funding lobbyists which gives the rich the powerful advantage. A tax law that essentially levels the playing field by establishing both a floor and a ceiling for both income and wealth would be ideal. If we can enforce a minimum wage why not a maximum as well?
But certainly we need to get Citizens United overturned and stop fleecing the poor and middle classes to fight the greedy Uber Rich’s and corporate (as people?) schemes to own the government of, by and for the rich.
How so? Lobbying is in fact political bribery with a nicer name.
We need to get rid of citizens united first thing. This inferior out ruling allows the rich and the religious to send millions if not billions to the Christo- fascist party.
I echo your sentiments. If we fail to separate public service from private gain we will get more of the same. Here are some ideas. A. Ethics reform is key. Our public service ethics laws all the way to SCOTUS should be strict, transparent and enforceable. B. Campaign finance laws should be revamped to at a minimum prohibit dark money--if donors cannot take a seat at the table of public debate they should not be able to anonymously influence policy. C. Publicly fund elections. The 2020 election cost a record setting $14.4 billion, yet I cannot identify a public good that came from that. Running for office requires so much money that it becomes inaccessible to most people Also, elected representatives spend over 50% of their time fundraising, not serving--bologna to that! Finally, media is dining off of a perpetual election season with meaningless polls and stories focused only on the clicks. D. My most controversial idea, subject any legislation drafted by a lobbying organization to public disclosure and analysis. Too often we find out after the fact that special interest organizations such as ALEC and the new Christian Nationalist lobbying groups drafted the legislation before our elected officials. Just like campaign disclosure laws, Americans have a right to know the monied interests influencing legislation. E. We The People must become more active participants in our democracy. Voting alone is not sufficient. We need oversight, participation, and good, honest candidates. We have over 89,000 local governments in this country and that's a great place to start. Thank you to all of the thoughtful and earnest participants in these stacks. I learn so much from you.
Wow! I want you to run for office! But, will you honestly try to accomplish what you proposed. Can you get enough support for these projects and how do you propose to handle the fascist party trying to make you look bad. Again, I love your ideas but politics right now is like swimming with sharks and blood sucking leaches. Would you, or your proposals, make it in this environment?
I know Biden is having one hell of a time. He needs to pull a Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Hahah! Thank you. I am an unlikely candidate for office. I sure would like to teach and train new public servants though. And if had the ability to enact these measures I would do it in a hot second. In my humble opinion, we have had too much role blur between private sector and government. Industry is not admirable when its money comes not from hard work and innovation, but from buying legislators, policies, and deregulation such that money can be made by exploiting labor or public resources. It's not cool. Likewise, government should be protecting public health, safety, and welfare and serving public interests--not picking winners or increasing net worth. I truly believe we need to reestablish role clarity. I think these policies (or something similar) could get bipartisan support from the public, but I admit not likely from some current office holders who have been benefitting for a long time.
But he can't do it with a 50-50% split or even 49-51. The filibuster or expanding the court are the bold steps he could take. He is still about uniting us - which is admirable if somewhat naive. and sometimes I wonder if Biden's catholicism is keeping us on the fence without him announcing it. (#TaxTheChurch being another one of Professor Reich's principles.) I feel like the last 3 elections have been do or die, but I can't imagine that if we lose this election we are only going to have elections like Putin holds! AGAIN we are saying we have to vote like our lives depend on it.
McCain & Feingold really tried to achieve campaign finance reform, but there was too much intransigence in Congress due to corporate influence. And not long afterwards the reliably corporatist Supreme Court made that horrible Citizens United decision, making things that much worse & more hopeless.
Your right but I think the hope is gone too wha we need is to see that trump and his people that were involved in the aJan 6th attack on our capitol are being held accountable ABD that has not happened! Trump is still spouting hate and lies and Jim Jordon, MTG, Boebert, Hawley, Gaetz and the rest are making a mockery of our House! All were involved in Jan 6th how are they still in our government??? People are angry!! They want justice!
The GOP is working on hampering the economy through every means possible. The intent is to keep the middle class in check from being able to become any sort of donor class or have any ability to have any from their ranks to have a hopeful chance at running for office. The wealth disparity works fine for them and they want to keep it that way.
We well know there is a sweet spot where inflation and wages actually compliment each other for broadening prosperity to its ends ... but the GOP has been fighting infrastructure measures and any program that would actually facilitate a broader, freer and fairer market for the general American People. They need to keep Americans struggling, whether it is with student loan debt, health care debt, or credit card debt ... as long as Americans are struggling under debt ... they can scapegoat Biden and the Democratic Party so they can keep their status quo of increasing the wealth gap (or at least maintaining) it .... so that the donor class of which they attempt to monopolize can keep them in power.
We can count on the GOP to do its level best to keep the American middle class, the American Struggling class because any actual prosperity will work against them in maintaining power. As usual the GOP is the Arsonist (with "trickle down Hayekian modeling austerity) and blaming the Democrat first responders attempting to put out the blaze ... while they stand on the hoses and shout from a safe distance about "how others are doing it all wrong" ... even as the flames they caused are fought back.
love the metafor - democrats running around with firehoses and we're exausted! Always just one vote shy...WHY do people vote against their own interests?
Thank you professor.
I think most people in the USA think the economy is not doing well, because for most of them it is not. The bottom 90 or 99 per cent are struggling. They cannot afford to send there kids to college, housing, food, and rest. They do not trust their leaders to tell them the truth, They must borrow, beg or steal to survive. They are told it is their fault,
I suppose it is my fault, that my life is awful.
I should go back to sleep.
To the extent that’s true, it’s because of the structural inequities that have deliberately been built into the economic and social system by the rich, corporations and the politicians more than happy to be paid off to do their spade work.
yep.
yep
yep
William, that’s a lot of right-wing propaganda. Shame on you.
I think you missed a major contributor to the sense of dread: the Extreme Court. Half the population of half the population, that is women of childbearing age, feel enormous fear about the likelihood of simply surviving what should be a joyous thing, pregnancy and creation of a new life.
And then there’s the chance you might be shot dead at a party or while grocery shopping.
It’s not the economy, it’s the culture. Toxic.
I think the biggest problem in America today is right wing media. For some reason they seem determined to throw America over the cliff and will stop at nothing to accomplish that end. I don't know if it's racism, greed or the need for power.
It's tragic that our educational system over the decades has failed to provide so many, now under the spell of the evil intentions of this form of media, the critical thinking tools to recognise as nonsense right wing media's so called news.
I used to believe that Trump was the most dangerous person in America. I now realise that the most dangerous person in America is my next door neighbor who proudly supports Trump. Throw into this mix the cowards, fascists, and just plain stupid who now roam the halls of congress and the courts.
We need to look at who is driving this right-wing media and why. It just another branch of the tree of oligarchy, imo.
It's simple, Midwest: They are culture war entrepreneurs going where they can generate the most fear...because that's where the money is.
Look to the racist South as well. The people have never gotten over losing the Civil War. They’re still quite butthurt.
Mostly billionaire corporate executives, fascist zealots & foreign provocateurs (especially of the Russian kind).
I agree with you. The biggest problem we have in politics and In our present society is lies. I made a point of spending a few days talking to people about our current society and out politics. I determined that I was told 1 lie every 3 minutes.
Are all these people liars? No, I checked where I could to find out where they got their info from. It turned out they were telling.me what someone else told them. In other words, what they were telling me, which was false, was coming from a rumour mill. They did not appear to be making it up.
Is there a clue there?
Yes, you so often see the same false talking points, often very ridiculous & irrational ones, many times accompanied by an admonishment (which is actually a projection, whether they realize it or not) that you (we) are being indoctrinated.
Until we get rid of for-profit health care, nobody will be happy. I work and save money not for vacation, or to own a home, or to start a family, but to upgrade my hospital room when I inevitably will need one. AND I do this WITH a premium health insurance plan. THATS NOT A GOOD ECONOMY NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.