by Dean Baker | May 9, 2016 | Blog, Conservatism, Economy
As the media erupt in fury over Donald Trump's comments on the debt, it is worth taking the opportunity to remind people that the interest burden on the national debt is near a post-World War II low. While the debt-to-GDP ratio rose sharply in the Great Recession,...
by Dave Johnson | May 9, 2016 | Blog
Going into the West Virginia primary, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has come out in opposition to a "lame duck" vote on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This takes her beyond her previous statements mildly opposing TPP. Clinton also made a strong...
by Terrance Heath | May 6, 2016 | Blog, Conservatism, This Is The GOP
This week saw the end of both Ted Cruz’s and John Kasich’s presidential campaigns, as well as the death of modern conservatism — killed off by a guy who bears more than a passing resemblance to an Oompa Loompa. Well, he did it. Whatever else can be said about Donald...
by Bill Scher | May 6, 2016 | Blog, Jobs and Growth
[fve]https://youtu.be/HSEi0RXGVq8?t=10m8s[/fve] Donald Trump, being a politician, likes to say different things to different audiences. When he was running in the Republican primary, he rejected raising the minimum wage: "...wages [are] too high, we’re not going to be...
by Robert Borosage | May 6, 2016 | Blog, Jobs and Growth
The Bureau of Labor Statistics April jobs report – 160,000 jobs, unemployment stable at 5.0 percent – is cause for concern. Job growth lags the yearlong average of 232,000 per month, and is accompanied by downward revisions in the February and March totals. Both labor...
by Jeff Bryant | May 6, 2016 | Blog, Education
Conservative lawmakers are well known for wanting to cut funding to public education. But just remember, every time they take a swing at public school budgets, they hit poor kids. The newest blow aimed at public schools will hit low-income students in the stomach –...