6 thoughts on “Robert Reich: Democrats need to start talking about the public good and the common welfare”
Democratic Party leaders — increasingly enthralled as they are by big bidness support, can be so myopic. Reich is spot on. Republicans like Paul Ryan and even Ted (!) Cruz already are aiming to flank Democrats on populist themes involving wealth inequity, and it won’t matter that the Repubs are totally insincere on the point. Clue train departing, Democrats! Take ownership of the issue, be honest and candid, propose fair solutions and run with it all, as you did for many decades. Or: Lose.
Relying on the Gross Domestic Product figure as a measure of a society’s economic health is crazy. GDP responds to any economic activity, even catastrophes. Hurricane Sandy was good for the GDP, for example. Likewise, the Dow Jones Average is not a proper measure of America’s economic health. The Dow is up because of several years of quantitative easing by the Fed. We will all pay the piper when the resultant inflation kicks in. Proportionately rising income for all classes is the best measure. That is why income equality is so important.
Spot on…………………….inequality is the issue of our day. The Republican answer is more austerity as it has always been. When the answer is more government spending to get money into people’s hands who will spend it and create jobs. It was Paul Ryan who after the stimulus program had stabilized the economy, yet hadn’t got it growing, said it was time to cut back and focus on debt, the exact opposite of what was needed. The result is a sluggish no jobs recovery. The top 1 % with investment income have done well, while us 99%ers have gone backwards. The working and middle class are the drivers of the economy and that is where the focus has to be.
Of course, income disparity is the issue of the day as well as it should at the next election.
Pope Francis, early in his pontificate, warned in his “The Joy of the Gospel” against the greed and unfairness by Capital to the economic disadvantage of the worker or to use his exact words, “a new tyranny” caused by “unfettered Capitalism.”
And for those conservatives and/or pro-lifers consumed with only the social issue of abortion, Francis instructs, “Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.” (Chapter 2,I,53,56). Indeed, a stirring call by Pope Francis to redress an injustice and immorality!
In my words, the disproportionate division of corporate income to owners or stockholders and management at the expense of the workers is killing the human spirit and the economic life of the worker.
Thanks Duane, bullseye.
“…The Bible contains more than 300 verses on the poor, social justice, and God’s deep concern for both. This page contains a wide sample of them, and some reflections. It’s aimed at anyone who takes the Bible seriously….”
One of the big issues for Wisconsin Dems and unions is Wisconsin exports. The strong dollar isn’t helping. That makes it more expensive for foreigners to buy our stuff. When we buy imports, most foreigners hoard the dollar. That’s why it’s the world’s reserve currency. When those dollars don’t come back, it’s demand leakage. Aggregate demand for goods and services in the U.S. deflates. That’s true for vehicle prices, homes, wages…..
Democratic Party leaders — increasingly enthralled as they are by big bidness support, can be so myopic. Reich is spot on. Republicans like Paul Ryan and even Ted (!) Cruz already are aiming to flank Democrats on populist themes involving wealth inequity, and it won’t matter that the Repubs are totally insincere on the point. Clue train departing, Democrats! Take ownership of the issue, be honest and candid, propose fair solutions and run with it all, as you did for many decades. Or: Lose.
Relying on the Gross Domestic Product figure as a measure of a society’s economic health is crazy. GDP responds to any economic activity, even catastrophes. Hurricane Sandy was good for the GDP, for example. Likewise, the Dow Jones Average is not a proper measure of America’s economic health. The Dow is up because of several years of quantitative easing by the Fed. We will all pay the piper when the resultant inflation kicks in. Proportionately rising income for all classes is the best measure. That is why income equality is so important.
Spot on…………………….inequality is the issue of our day. The Republican answer is more austerity as it has always been. When the answer is more government spending to get money into people’s hands who will spend it and create jobs. It was Paul Ryan who after the stimulus program had stabilized the economy, yet hadn’t got it growing, said it was time to cut back and focus on debt, the exact opposite of what was needed. The result is a sluggish no jobs recovery. The top 1 % with investment income have done well, while us 99%ers have gone backwards. The working and middle class are the drivers of the economy and that is where the focus has to be.
Of course, income disparity is the issue of the day as well as it should at the next election.
Pope Francis, early in his pontificate, warned in his “The Joy of the Gospel” against the greed and unfairness by Capital to the economic disadvantage of the worker or to use his exact words, “a new tyranny” caused by “unfettered Capitalism.”
And for those conservatives and/or pro-lifers consumed with only the social issue of abortion, Francis instructs, “Just as the commandment ‘Thou shalt not kill’ sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say ‘thou shalt not’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills.” (Chapter 2,I,53,56). Indeed, a stirring call by Pope Francis to redress an injustice and immorality!
In my words, the disproportionate division of corporate income to owners or stockholders and management at the expense of the workers is killing the human spirit and the economic life of the worker.
Thanks Duane, bullseye.
“…The Bible contains more than 300 verses on the poor, social justice, and God’s deep concern for both. This page contains a wide sample of them, and some reflections. It’s aimed at anyone who takes the Bible seriously….”
http://www.zompist.com/meetthepoor.html
One of the big issues for Wisconsin Dems and unions is Wisconsin exports. The strong dollar isn’t helping. That makes it more expensive for foreigners to buy our stuff. When we buy imports, most foreigners hoard the dollar. That’s why it’s the world’s reserve currency. When those dollars don’t come back, it’s demand leakage. Aggregate demand for goods and services in the U.S. deflates. That’s true for vehicle prices, homes, wages…..