As far as people being down on the "economy," I think it's important we acknowledge how much the media and political definitions of how "the economy" is doing differ from how "the people" are doing. Sure, we can look at some cold, outdated measures pertaining to employment or inflation, but the fact is, for those who actually have to watch their paychecks and spending from week to week, which is the vast majority of Americans, the country is demonstrably worse with few signs of returning. That is, every utility bill, every source of entertainment, every basic cost from transportation to lunch is now so much more expensive than it was just a few years ago and paychecks haven't kept up at all.
We have all been scammed by corporations...again...and the party that is supposed to care about the people (the Dems) is once again telling us to accept our smaller pile of crumbs and smile about it. We all know trillions went to corrupt corporations during COVID...we know a major degree of the run up and continuously high costs is just profiteering due to limited competition or by purchasing favorable regulatory environments. And yet all we see is Dems complaining about why we're not happier because the extent to which things are getting harder has lessened slightly according to a chart that serves me no good when the bills come in.
I am increasingly afraid this complete disconnect from how angry voters are about yet another great swindling of America that goes unchecked by Democrats is what will keep them at home and give Trump a real chance for a second win.
Ian, Thank you for amplifying legitimate causes for concern. I, too, am troubled that Democrats, overall, have declined to enact a united, laser-focused effort to expose how corporate gouging accounts for close to 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 profiteering as the biggest driver of a still inflationary economy would outweigh the costs.
As you indicate, 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 high pricing; they should make it clear to working families throughout this country, many of whom are prepared to 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.
1. Threaten to sue price fixers and price gougers. Name names. Show how much price gouging has cost us.
2. Post the areas where Republicans are responsible for the smaller pile of crumbs.
I liked the commercial that shows that the prices of turkey and trimmings was more under Trump. I like commercials showing how Republicans are trying to cut our hard earned benefits. I like the idea that Joe Biden channel Robert Reich. https://www.inequalitymedia.org/
I like all your ideas except the first one. "Threaten to sue price fixers..." The time for threats and vague displeasure is long past. Take them to court. Cost them as much in legal bills as they cost us in price-gouging. Only when we hurt them in the wallet will they pay any attention.
He needs to do a whole lot more. If Biden spoke out like Bernie Sanders does, I think he'd be a lot more popular. He's a centrist, and that's not playing well with a lot of us. I'd like people to vote for Joe because he's got guts, not just because Trump the Traitor is anathema.
Yes, but actually I think that Joe is being pushed in a more progressive direction, and he knows he has to go that route, which is where the majority of Americans are. I think he looks more centrist b/c he always was -- he seems a bit more of a hybrid -- and I agree, he needs to get his fighting spirit in a higher gear AND get more surrogates out there -- Gavin, Gretchen, & maybe curmudgeon Bernie is the guy to help stump more for Biden .
That seems a bit harsh. I know Republicans who admired Sanders. I think part of Democrats' problems is that the Party is timid, keeping the status quo. Dems need to be progressive...some are, but as progressive Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson is credited with saying, when someone suggested any intelligent person would vote for him: "Yes, but I need a majority."
Elizabeth Warren [whom I'd suggest you follow on Facebook] is working diligently with other Dems for all you might suggest. However it seems that its much easier for the Repubs to obstruct than for Dems to pass her many bills [I repeat - MANY!]. Put the blame where it actually lies, folks.
Lawrence, Even if Elizabeth Warren weren’t one of my state’s U.S. Senators, I would be well aware of her commitment to social and economic justice for large numbers of people today who feel oppressed and marginalized by a runaway, wild, deregulated capitalism. Still, I would note, while her bills regularly receive zero Republican support, they also repeatedly are voted down by Manchin and Sinema, who, despite some exceptions, generally won’t support legislation that does not receive bipartisan support. My point is that, excluding Manchin and Sinema, we have 49 Senate seats we must hold in 24, a major challenge given the unfriendly Senate map for Democratic Senators up for reelection. Additionally, to get to 50 with the VP (presuming we hold the White House) able to break a tie vote, we need to flip a Senate seat currently held by a Republican up for re-election. I would note I emphasize the Senate because I believe retaking the House will be easier than holding the Senate.
It is easy for us to see solutions we like and are good, but we forget that Dems barely have the Senate and lost the House. Half the country will not support anything the administration does and does all it can to end the ideas of the other half forever. Half is not enough to get bigger things done. I'm amazed at what has been done already, especially in the first 2 years of our giant problems. If we keep criticizing, we will end up with worse.
Hi Ian, well said. This is exactly why well off educated liberals are criticized for being “disconnected.”We can look at data and sit with our books and think things are improving, but the average voter is not looking at, nor do they care about the data. They care about the money in their bank account and feeding their families. Republicans know this and have really capitalized on the fear and uncertainty through their fear mongering message campaigns which are driving voters towards Trump. Not only do Dems need to take action against corporations but they need to better communicate with the people why their paychecks aren’t going far enough and what they are going to do about it.
I'm not kidding. 2/3 of all households have pets. Pet owners should identify with Biden, another pet owner. 99.9% of the time that I use that meme on places like Facebook in response to a picture of a dog, I get favorable "likes."
Thank you DZK for making me laugh until I cried--as a voracious consumer of news, The Onion hit another home run with the segment you shared. Wish I could share with my high school students...
Indeed, most people have no clue what "the economy" means for them, and dems have not been effective in communicating how a good economy helps them, when they are still struggling. It is troubling to me that democrats are equally guilty of pandering to corporate greed, and for that reason, I don't feel like any regulatory measures can pass congress. There simply needs to be a way to regulate how much $$ a corporation can make without letting some of that profit trickle down to employees. I'm sure the argument is that corporations also take the risk of going broke, however, if they go broke, so do the employees. This is probably trending toward a more socialistic system which would be good for people who are now struggling, but again, they don't understand socialism either, and would never vote for it. Answers are hard to find.
While you spend your time complaining about the Dems not doing enough, have you noticed that the reason why is that all the ultra-capitalist Repubs do is obstruct, obstruct, obstruct while giving more to the 1% after removing it from your pockets?
I don't think you'll find anyone who disagrees with that assessment of the GOP or the belief that the Dems have done a lot of good and are clearly the better party in many ways. My comment is simply one about political realities. That one is clearly better or a lesser evil, it does not follow that harsh facts that go unaddressed and impact voters every day will be ignored, and I worry that such facts about wages, costs, etc. are going to demoralize people who would other wise volunteer and donate and vote for Dems.
It might help if our media would convey that an end to high inflation does NOT mean that prices would return to what used to be 'normal'. As time goes by and things always change there are ALWAYS new normals being established almost daily. We simply need to be realistically adaptable to them.
You sound blaming in this comment. Why blame the Dems because all the things they've done to improve the economy wasn't complete and perfect? Be happy they are on your side and want to do everything they can to make things better for the common man. They didn't cause this and the problem is global - a tough tough problem to solve. Be happy someone is trying and some lives have improved against all odds.
To be honest, I believe it's my job as a citizen and a supporter of the Dems to both highlight what they do well and pressure them when they drop the ball. If all we did was talk and write to each other about everything they did well, then we are simply propagandists who are not doing our job to make the party better.
They have done many things right. But the things they are doing wrong now are the EXACT same things they did wrong during the Obama administration that led to Occupy protests, the rise of the Tea Party, and ultimately, the rise of Trump: they caved to wealthy donors and corporations and ignored the seething anger of the public toward that capitulation.
Ian, I agree with what you have said and this forum is one of the best places to write it. The extreme right-wing has been growing in power at least since Reagan. Obama being black and incredibly smart and articulate was just the final scare. It was an opportunity for increasing fear of loss used by the white right to pull in more potential extreme types. In 2010 (with Citizens United) we allowed more money in politics which gave more power to the rich right. I think the country needs to be moved to the center left willingly and with a clear majority. It will take better education from schools and media, a determined consistent call out of lies replaced politely, and maybe graphically, by truth. It will take a constant reminder of the advantages of caring equally for all (many religious bodies are failing in this effort). Lies, insults, division, and propaganda work but I believe this can be turned around, if we realize that democracy needs the participation of us all in whatever way we can - charity, peaceful protests, calling our reps, even getting to know and talking respectfully with people who aren't the same as us, etc.
The divide between a healthy economy and quality of life has concerned me for much of my life. Where that leads angry voters is concerning. Your comments are insightful.
Unfortunately, the average American is bombarded by social media to the extent that their brain’s frontal lobes are incapable of discerning the truth in the majority of the media’s messaging (poor attention) and this then translates in a failure of their executive function network. Strong black and white messages register as truth! When the truth is kaleidoscopic, they are unable to process this information.
Thanks for that Marc. I will definitely look into it. I had a massive vowel movement. I could not for the life of me spell definitely. Too early in the morning.
Me, too, Laurie. It's the topic that needs to be explored - right now. Yesterday's posting by Prof. Reich was absolutely fantastic - powerful - and enormous in scope.
Bob and Heather, I have nothing but gratitude for YOU! I have breakfast with you every Saturday and you always get the day off to at least a thoughtful start. You are far and away the smartest people in my dining room, so it is a surprise to me that I know something that you don't (or something that, in the heat of broadcasting, you couldn't pull from your memory banks). Indigenous Peoples' Day is now an official holiday, in many states, replacing Columbus Day (for oh so many obvious reasons).
Bob, your remarks from 1994 about the burgeoning two-tiered society were more than brilliant; they were chilling, and HERE WE ARE! As an aside, I truly love how you snuck those comments past the "censors" who reprimanded you after the fact. You wonderful rebel, you!
Thank you both for what you do, for your very intelligent (if not always upbeat) commentary on today's nutty world, and for having breakfast with me each week. Onward!
I am most grateful for you, Robert Reich. On the days when I feel that I can no longer survive the absurd stupidity that has infested our once pretty great (although always flawed) American society, I read your letter and I read the comments of your Audience. That is when I realize that I am not alone, and that there is always hope!
Grateful for Robert Reich and Heather Lofthouse. I enjoy having my coffee on Saturday mornings with both of you. I am grateful for silver linings. For example, when covid 19 forced us into quarantine, I got to join Professor Reich, on line, at Berkeley, and Substack. In an insane world, Coffee Klatch is a drop of sanity - at least for my sanity. :)
Good morning! Loved this morning's coffee klatch. I thoroughly enjoyed it after a quiet T'day as family was with others. However, my husband is Cherokee so we do not 'celebrate' it; we are thankful & remember those we are without. Mr. Reich - I am grateful for you and all of your teachings. I throughly enjoy Inequality Media on FreeSpeech TV. I feel smarter after each segment. Also - Yay you! for your speech Heather referred to and the honesty of it all. I'd love to read it or see on this platform. I was busy raising my daughter and working so I wasn't as present, as I am now, during the Clinton Admin. I voted that I am grateful for Joe Biden as my personal economic life has not been this good since before Barack's administration. My husband and I lost so very much due to the Great Recession and we are finally out of the ditch due to Biden's policies.
I am so grateful for both of you! And today I think Heather had it exactly correct, people of all ages continue to spend more than they have. It is too easy to do so, take out the credit card and think about it later. Robert you mentioned that Baby Boomers saved. The reason for that is that we had interest to earn if we did save. Quit focusing SOLELY on interest for debt and remember we NEED INCENTIVE to save! We are still at historically low interest rates.
Regarding AI- as always, we see it coming but don’t regulate it or update laws to keep it in check!
Thank you for filling us in on the REAL reason the workers revolted over Sam Altman removal. That makes all the difference in the world. Never heard that on the news-no surprise!
Finally, Robert, I love that during the Clinton admin, you held up the truth over “team player” mode.
I'm a 27 year flight attendant and I still eat ramen noodles on the plane or in my hotel room to get through my 3-day trip. I also have $20,000 in Parent plus loans and have 2 more years of tuition to come up with for my child's college tuition. I'm 56 and had to take out another 30 year mortgage to buy my ex out of the house I live in 5 years ago. So I'll be 82 when I finally pay off my mortgage. Ugh.
These are all things that should be dealt with immediately by two things. Insure the ultra wealthy pay their share of taxes and reduce the absurd military budget.
Getting educated has become a slave driving event. I lived quite poorly during my student years (and a number of years after) but there were grants for low income individuals and scholarships too. I worked part time as well. But the cost of education wasn’t 2 mortgages!
Today everyone needs an expensive mobile phone that lasts 3 years, computers become antiquated after less than 5 years. We have to have streaming or cable or something with monthly costs. It is endless!
I am truly optimistic that we will prevail in a big way this next election. Don’t believe what the trolls and right wingers are putting out there! We will SUCCEED! There are far more of us! Remember that!
Baby boomers could save because there was a little extra to save. Now there's not even enough to pay for basic housing, food, clothing, etc. without going into debt.
I’m a Boomer and believe me, there was no extra to save. Not all Boomers are from upper middle class families. Many of us grew up with very little and for whatever reason, didn’t get the high-paying jobs so we struggled to pay the bills. My mom did give me the down payment for my house from what she was able to save, but I’m still working at 69 to pay my mortgage and I’ll be somewhere between 75 and 80 before it’s paid off, if I live that long and there are no more unexpected calamities such as having to replace my roof or the transmission in my car, as happened this year.
I just can’t figure out why Boomers are all lumped into one group and expected to be rich and conservative. I’m neither.
Also, my parents didn’t give me money while in college to buy a bicycle when I asked. My mother said find a used one or save up. It sounds cruel today, but most baby boomer parents didn’t have a lot of extra money. This was normal. After we turned 18 we were on our own.
Jody, thank you for this. The right wingers made up the whole Baby Boomer-Millennial fight. There are at least 72million of us and we’re all in one box! BS!
I lived without a lot of money until my career finally took off. But even then, the repetitive costs I talk about above makes it very difficult to get ahead. When I made $17k/year…I still put $50/month in savings! After 5 years with a bit of interest, it starts to really add up. With better jobs I bumped it to $100/mo and so on. Not a lot. But I only owned 3 pair of jeans and 5 tops, 2 pair of shoes. What do people have in their closets today!?
I always look forward to the “Coffee Klatch”. It’s a pleasure to listen to Heather as she enunciates so well. You are a great team! Very enjoyable as well as informative. Robert, you have quite a sense of humor and very witty!
( Thank you looking at the “audience” more. Suggest Robert sitting on a raised chair).
Marlo, I too noticed this. I’m sure it’s a bit difficult to look directly at the screen the whole time while conversing with someone next to you. However, it felt like we were just looking in on the conversation. A few glances to the audience just feels more inclusive somehow.
I love when Robert or Heather look right at me…or at least it looks like they are! 😄
As far as people being down on the "economy," I think it's important we acknowledge how much the media and political definitions of how "the economy" is doing differ from how "the people" are doing. Sure, we can look at some cold, outdated measures pertaining to employment or inflation, but the fact is, for those who actually have to watch their paychecks and spending from week to week, which is the vast majority of Americans, the country is demonstrably worse with few signs of returning. That is, every utility bill, every source of entertainment, every basic cost from transportation to lunch is now so much more expensive than it was just a few years ago and paychecks haven't kept up at all.
We have all been scammed by corporations...again...and the party that is supposed to care about the people (the Dems) is once again telling us to accept our smaller pile of crumbs and smile about it. We all know trillions went to corrupt corporations during COVID...we know a major degree of the run up and continuously high costs is just profiteering due to limited competition or by purchasing favorable regulatory environments. And yet all we see is Dems complaining about why we're not happier because the extent to which things are getting harder has lessened slightly according to a chart that serves me no good when the bills come in.
I am increasingly afraid this complete disconnect from how angry voters are about yet another great swindling of America that goes unchecked by Democrats is what will keep them at home and give Trump a real chance for a second win.
Ian, Thank you for amplifying legitimate causes for concern. I, too, am troubled that Democrats, overall, have declined to enact a united, laser-focused effort to expose how corporate gouging accounts for close to 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 profiteering as the biggest driver of a still inflationary economy would outweigh the costs.
As you indicate, 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 high pricing; they should make it clear to working families throughout this country, many of whom are prepared to 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.
The antidote is to:
1. Threaten to sue price fixers and price gougers. Name names. Show how much price gouging has cost us.
2. Post the areas where Republicans are responsible for the smaller pile of crumbs.
I liked the commercial that shows that the prices of turkey and trimmings was more under Trump. I like commercials showing how Republicans are trying to cut our hard earned benefits. I like the idea that Joe Biden channel Robert Reich. https://www.inequalitymedia.org/
Thanks, Daniel, for your sound, concrete actions. None of us should allow them simply to linger as a Substack posting.
I like all your ideas except the first one. "Threaten to sue price fixers..." The time for threats and vague displeasure is long past. Take them to court. Cost them as much in legal bills as they cost us in price-gouging. Only when we hurt them in the wallet will they pay any attention.
Republicans refused to authorize it. Need authority.
Thanks, good concrete suggestions.
The Biden support for unions is important.
He needs to do a whole lot more. If Biden spoke out like Bernie Sanders does, I think he'd be a lot more popular. He's a centrist, and that's not playing well with a lot of us. I'd like people to vote for Joe because he's got guts, not just because Trump the Traitor is anathema.
Yes, but actually I think that Joe is being pushed in a more progressive direction, and he knows he has to go that route, which is where the majority of Americans are. I think he looks more centrist b/c he always was -- he seems a bit more of a hybrid -- and I agree, he needs to get his fighting spirit in a higher gear AND get more surrogates out there -- Gavin, Gretchen, & maybe curmudgeon Bernie is the guy to help stump more for Biden .
If Biden sounded like Sanders, he wouldn't be president in the first place.
That seems a bit harsh. I know Republicans who admired Sanders. I think part of Democrats' problems is that the Party is timid, keeping the status quo. Dems need to be progressive...some are, but as progressive Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson is credited with saying, when someone suggested any intelligent person would vote for him: "Yes, but I need a majority."
Agreed!
Absolutely.
Elizabeth Warren [whom I'd suggest you follow on Facebook] is working diligently with other Dems for all you might suggest. However it seems that its much easier for the Repubs to obstruct than for Dems to pass her many bills [I repeat - MANY!]. Put the blame where it actually lies, folks.
Lawrence, Even if Elizabeth Warren weren’t one of my state’s U.S. Senators, I would be well aware of her commitment to social and economic justice for large numbers of people today who feel oppressed and marginalized by a runaway, wild, deregulated capitalism. Still, I would note, while her bills regularly receive zero Republican support, they also repeatedly are voted down by Manchin and Sinema, who, despite some exceptions, generally won’t support legislation that does not receive bipartisan support. My point is that, excluding Manchin and Sinema, we have 49 Senate seats we must hold in 24, a major challenge given the unfriendly Senate map for Democratic Senators up for reelection. Additionally, to get to 50 with the VP (presuming we hold the White House) able to break a tie vote, we need to flip a Senate seat currently held by a Republican up for re-election. I would note I emphasize the Senate because I believe retaking the House will be easier than holding the Senate.
It is easy for us to see solutions we like and are good, but we forget that Dems barely have the Senate and lost the House. Half the country will not support anything the administration does and does all it can to end the ideas of the other half forever. Half is not enough to get bigger things done. I'm amazed at what has been done already, especially in the first 2 years of our giant problems. If we keep criticizing, we will end up with worse.
Agree 🙏💙
Hi Ian, well said. This is exactly why well off educated liberals are criticized for being “disconnected.”We can look at data and sit with our books and think things are improving, but the average voter is not looking at, nor do they care about the data. They care about the money in their bank account and feeding their families. Republicans know this and have really capitalized on the fear and uncertainty through their fear mongering message campaigns which are driving voters towards Trump. Not only do Dems need to take action against corporations but they need to better communicate with the people why their paychecks aren’t going far enough and what they are going to do about it.
Sadly, this election could come down to a choice between anger and fear,
with optimism not in the running (as much as Biden would like it to be).
Amygdala. Fight or flight. The lizard brain.
I'm grateful that Trump hates dogs.
I'm not kidding. 2/3 of all households have pets. Pet owners should identify with Biden, another pet owner. 99.9% of the time that I use that meme on places like Facebook in response to a picture of a dog, I get favorable "likes."
Most of all, I'm grateful for humor: https://youtu.be/9U4Ha9HQvMo?si=HeslJgDEHLNhAQRJ
Without humor we are all lost!
👍
Thank you DZK for making me laugh until I cried--as a voracious consumer of news, The Onion hit another home run with the segment you shared. Wish I could share with my high school students...
👍
Yes. Dems need to shout that the small progress that is happening is small because of millionaires like the orange menace that want the wealth divide.
Indeed, most people have no clue what "the economy" means for them, and dems have not been effective in communicating how a good economy helps them, when they are still struggling. It is troubling to me that democrats are equally guilty of pandering to corporate greed, and for that reason, I don't feel like any regulatory measures can pass congress. There simply needs to be a way to regulate how much $$ a corporation can make without letting some of that profit trickle down to employees. I'm sure the argument is that corporations also take the risk of going broke, however, if they go broke, so do the employees. This is probably trending toward a more socialistic system which would be good for people who are now struggling, but again, they don't understand socialism either, and would never vote for it. Answers are hard to find.
While you spend your time complaining about the Dems not doing enough, have you noticed that the reason why is that all the ultra-capitalist Repubs do is obstruct, obstruct, obstruct while giving more to the 1% after removing it from your pockets?
I don't think you'll find anyone who disagrees with that assessment of the GOP or the belief that the Dems have done a lot of good and are clearly the better party in many ways. My comment is simply one about political realities. That one is clearly better or a lesser evil, it does not follow that harsh facts that go unaddressed and impact voters every day will be ignored, and I worry that such facts about wages, costs, etc. are going to demoralize people who would other wise volunteer and donate and vote for Dems.
It might help if our media would convey that an end to high inflation does NOT mean that prices would return to what used to be 'normal'. As time goes by and things always change there are ALWAYS new normals being established almost daily. We simply need to be realistically adaptable to them.
You sound blaming in this comment. Why blame the Dems because all the things they've done to improve the economy wasn't complete and perfect? Be happy they are on your side and want to do everything they can to make things better for the common man. They didn't cause this and the problem is global - a tough tough problem to solve. Be happy someone is trying and some lives have improved against all odds.
To be honest, I believe it's my job as a citizen and a supporter of the Dems to both highlight what they do well and pressure them when they drop the ball. If all we did was talk and write to each other about everything they did well, then we are simply propagandists who are not doing our job to make the party better.
They have done many things right. But the things they are doing wrong now are the EXACT same things they did wrong during the Obama administration that led to Occupy protests, the rise of the Tea Party, and ultimately, the rise of Trump: they caved to wealthy donors and corporations and ignored the seething anger of the public toward that capitulation.
Ian, I agree with what you have said and this forum is one of the best places to write it. The extreme right-wing has been growing in power at least since Reagan. Obama being black and incredibly smart and articulate was just the final scare. It was an opportunity for increasing fear of loss used by the white right to pull in more potential extreme types. In 2010 (with Citizens United) we allowed more money in politics which gave more power to the rich right. I think the country needs to be moved to the center left willingly and with a clear majority. It will take better education from schools and media, a determined consistent call out of lies replaced politely, and maybe graphically, by truth. It will take a constant reminder of the advantages of caring equally for all (many religious bodies are failing in this effort). Lies, insults, division, and propaganda work but I believe this can be turned around, if we realize that democracy needs the participation of us all in whatever way we can - charity, peaceful protests, calling our reps, even getting to know and talking respectfully with people who aren't the same as us, etc.
The divide between a healthy economy and quality of life has concerned me for much of my life. Where that leads angry voters is concerning. Your comments are insightful.
Bravo! Well said.
Unfortunately, the average American is bombarded by social media to the extent that their brain’s frontal lobes are incapable of discerning the truth in the majority of the media’s messaging (poor attention) and this then translates in a failure of their executive function network. Strong black and white messages register as truth! When the truth is kaleidoscopic, they are unable to process this information.
I am most grateful for the beautiful, fragile planet. Oh, how I love it, and fear for it. The greatest joy in the world is in restoring the earth.
I am grateful for the Saturday morning Coffee Klatch. I think this morning’s Klatch is one of the best ever. It started my day off with a smile.:)
Here is a link to Robert’s famous/infamous speech that pissed off some of the White House staff. Yes, it is prescient. https://www.tiktok.com/@rbreich/video/7303964529682173226?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7297997918450583086
Thanks for that Marc. I will definitely look into it. I had a massive vowel movement. I could not for the life of me spell definitely. Too early in the morning.
I am excited about the new, Friday class! How Democracy can work with Capitalism. Or not.
Me, too, Laurie. It's the topic that needs to be explored - right now. Yesterday's posting by Prof. Reich was absolutely fantastic - powerful - and enormous in scope.
Lark Leonard : There was certainly a lot to take in and important to remember.
Laurie, I too am glad to hear someone finally taking a much closer look at Capitalism itself. It isn’t discussed nearly enough for all its failings!
Joe Biden, for being a decent person and not taking the bait.
Bob and Heather, I have nothing but gratitude for YOU! I have breakfast with you every Saturday and you always get the day off to at least a thoughtful start. You are far and away the smartest people in my dining room, so it is a surprise to me that I know something that you don't (or something that, in the heat of broadcasting, you couldn't pull from your memory banks). Indigenous Peoples' Day is now an official holiday, in many states, replacing Columbus Day (for oh so many obvious reasons).
Bob, your remarks from 1994 about the burgeoning two-tiered society were more than brilliant; they were chilling, and HERE WE ARE! As an aside, I truly love how you snuck those comments past the "censors" who reprimanded you after the fact. You wonderful rebel, you!
Thank you both for what you do, for your very intelligent (if not always upbeat) commentary on today's nutty world, and for having breakfast with me each week. Onward!
I am most grateful for you, Robert Reich. On the days when I feel that I can no longer survive the absurd stupidity that has infested our once pretty great (although always flawed) American society, I read your letter and I read the comments of your Audience. That is when I realize that I am not alone, and that there is always hope!
Grateful for Robert Reich and Heather Lofthouse. I enjoy having my coffee on Saturday mornings with both of you. I am grateful for silver linings. For example, when covid 19 forced us into quarantine, I got to join Professor Reich, on line, at Berkeley, and Substack. In an insane world, Coffee Klatch is a drop of sanity - at least for my sanity. :)
Grateful for Heather!!
Good morning! Loved this morning's coffee klatch. I thoroughly enjoyed it after a quiet T'day as family was with others. However, my husband is Cherokee so we do not 'celebrate' it; we are thankful & remember those we are without. Mr. Reich - I am grateful for you and all of your teachings. I throughly enjoy Inequality Media on FreeSpeech TV. I feel smarter after each segment. Also - Yay you! for your speech Heather referred to and the honesty of it all. I'd love to read it or see on this platform. I was busy raising my daughter and working so I wasn't as present, as I am now, during the Clinton Admin. I voted that I am grateful for Joe Biden as my personal economic life has not been this good since before Barack's administration. My husband and I lost so very much due to the Great Recession and we are finally out of the ditch due to Biden's policies.
I am so grateful for both of you! And today I think Heather had it exactly correct, people of all ages continue to spend more than they have. It is too easy to do so, take out the credit card and think about it later. Robert you mentioned that Baby Boomers saved. The reason for that is that we had interest to earn if we did save. Quit focusing SOLELY on interest for debt and remember we NEED INCENTIVE to save! We are still at historically low interest rates.
Regarding AI- as always, we see it coming but don’t regulate it or update laws to keep it in check!
Thank you for filling us in on the REAL reason the workers revolted over Sam Altman removal. That makes all the difference in the world. Never heard that on the news-no surprise!
Finally, Robert, I love that during the Clinton admin, you held up the truth over “team player” mode.
I'm a 27 year flight attendant and I still eat ramen noodles on the plane or in my hotel room to get through my 3-day trip. I also have $20,000 in Parent plus loans and have 2 more years of tuition to come up with for my child's college tuition. I'm 56 and had to take out another 30 year mortgage to buy my ex out of the house I live in 5 years ago. So I'll be 82 when I finally pay off my mortgage. Ugh.
These are all things that should be dealt with immediately by two things. Insure the ultra wealthy pay their share of taxes and reduce the absurd military budget.
Getting educated has become a slave driving event. I lived quite poorly during my student years (and a number of years after) but there were grants for low income individuals and scholarships too. I worked part time as well. But the cost of education wasn’t 2 mortgages!
Today everyone needs an expensive mobile phone that lasts 3 years, computers become antiquated after less than 5 years. We have to have streaming or cable or something with monthly costs. It is endless!
I am truly optimistic that we will prevail in a big way this next election. Don’t believe what the trolls and right wingers are putting out there! We will SUCCEED! There are far more of us! Remember that!
Baby boomers could save because there was a little extra to save. Now there's not even enough to pay for basic housing, food, clothing, etc. without going into debt.
I’m a Boomer and believe me, there was no extra to save. Not all Boomers are from upper middle class families. Many of us grew up with very little and for whatever reason, didn’t get the high-paying jobs so we struggled to pay the bills. My mom did give me the down payment for my house from what she was able to save, but I’m still working at 69 to pay my mortgage and I’ll be somewhere between 75 and 80 before it’s paid off, if I live that long and there are no more unexpected calamities such as having to replace my roof or the transmission in my car, as happened this year.
I just can’t figure out why Boomers are all lumped into one group and expected to be rich and conservative. I’m neither.
Also, my parents didn’t give me money while in college to buy a bicycle when I asked. My mother said find a used one or save up. It sounds cruel today, but most baby boomer parents didn’t have a lot of extra money. This was normal. After we turned 18 we were on our own.
Jody, thank you for this. The right wingers made up the whole Baby Boomer-Millennial fight. There are at least 72million of us and we’re all in one box! BS!
I lived without a lot of money until my career finally took off. But even then, the repetitive costs I talk about above makes it very difficult to get ahead. When I made $17k/year…I still put $50/month in savings! After 5 years with a bit of interest, it starts to really add up. With better jobs I bumped it to $100/mo and so on. Not a lot. But I only owned 3 pair of jeans and 5 tops, 2 pair of shoes. What do people have in their closets today!?
I am most grateful for everything! ... and Heather Lofthouse! And her mother, Penny. And, yes, Robert! ❤️
The fighting spirt working against inequality, vested interests, austerity, and fascism.
Also, Oxford commas.
Heather should have gotten a bigger slice of the pie..
Seriously..
I definitely am grateful for Heather Lofthouse. Saturday mornings are my best time of the week. Maybe partly because of my morning Affogato.
I always look forward to the “Coffee Klatch”. It’s a pleasure to listen to Heather as she enunciates so well. You are a great team! Very enjoyable as well as informative. Robert, you have quite a sense of humor and very witty!
( Thank you looking at the “audience” more. Suggest Robert sitting on a raised chair).
Marlo, I too noticed this. I’m sure it’s a bit difficult to look directly at the screen the whole time while conversing with someone next to you. However, it felt like we were just looking in on the conversation. A few glances to the audience just feels more inclusive somehow.
I love when Robert or Heather look right at me…or at least it looks like they are! 😄