Archive
What's Still Worth Fighting For On Wall Street Reform?
Last week, Congress decided it would not confront Too Big To Fail, the single gravest threat to our collective financial security. But there are still several key Wall Street reforms worth fighting for—reforms that must be enacted before the next crisis hits. And...
They're Violating 30 Centuries of Moral Law -- and Lobbying Like Crazy
There are basically two dimensions to the financial crisis. One is the way finance has evolved into a gambling operation that's fundamentally risky and fails to contribute to the real economy. The other is plain, old-fashioned greed - the kind that exploits the weak...
The Odd Logic Of Deficit-Cutting Arguments
Have you noticed that there is a very odd logic around the DC Beltway deficit-cutting frenzy? Here is the basic argument: A) Things worked great back when taxes on the rich were high. We built up the infrastructure that made us prosperous, and we built up a middle...
Social Security Works for Children
Although best known as a retirement program, Social Security can provide substantial income to children and their families. Children receive Social Security benefits either directly or indirectly when a working parent dies, becomes disabled, or reaches retirement age....
Progressive Breakfast - 5/10/2010
Each morning, Bill Scher and Terrance Heath serve up what progressives need to affect change on the kitchen-table issues families face: jobs, health care, green energy, financial reform, affordable education and retirement security. Kagan Nomination Announcement...
Third Way ConservaDems Get it Wrong: Progressives Are The Champions Of Growth and Wealth
Anne Kim and Jonathan Cowan of Third Way took to the Politico Arena op ed page (and url) on Thursday with the hoary slander that progressives care only about "expanding the entitlement state" and have no interest in economic growth or expanding wealth. Apparently...
China Trade: Currency, Barriers AND Industrial Policy
Is China's industrial policy a "bigger" concern than their currency manipulation? That depends on what you think the meaning of "is" is. But China's currency manipulation and trade barriers are against trade rules, while having an industrial policy is just smart. A...
Did Democrats Just Set a Brilliant Trap ... For Themselves?
The country needs meaningful financial reform a lot more than it needs more political analysis. Yesterday, however, the two became even more intertwined than usual. By compromising on good policy on Thursday, it looks like Democrats have outsmarted themselves...
New Unemployment Data: Good, Just Not Good Enough
The April unemployment figures are out, and America added 290,000 new jobs. It’s good news, but still unemployment edged up to 9.9 percent. The problem has many layers. First, the American population continues to grow. It takes 127,000 new jobs every month just to...
Congress Backs Wall Street, Rejects Big Bank Break-Up
Late last night, the U.S. Senate rejected the single most important element of Wall Street reform by a vote of 33 to 61. The SAFE Banking Act would have forced the break-up of the nation's six largestbanks, and dramatically reduced the political clout of America's...
