by Sam Pizzigati | Nov 6, 2011 | Blog
The defenders of privilege just don’t seem to get it. In truly decent societies we measure success by how many people are leading rich, fulfilling lives, not by counting how many people are becoming rich beyond measure. Mobility, apologists for America's grand...
by Sam Pizzigati | Nov 6, 2011 | Blog
All sorts of federal agencies publish income inequality data. But only the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office directly takes on America's income inequality deniers. Back in 1979, America’s most affluent 1 percent took home — after federal taxes — about the same...
by Dave Johnson | Nov 5, 2011 | Blog
Congress' "supercommittee" of the 1% is preparing an austerity plan for the 99%. Will We, the People be allowed to vote on this plan, or, like Greece, will the elites just tell us how it is going to be? Our deficits were caused by tax cuts for the rich and huge...
by Richard Eskow | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
This week was a sharp reminder that the ancient ideal of democracy is just as threatened - and to some, just as threatening - as it's ever been. In government offices in Athens, G20 meeting rooms in Cannes, and "Super Committee" chambers in Washington, we learned that...
by Terrance Heath | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
The spread of the Occupy movement, and its increasing popularity, shows that not only do Americans want Wall Street held accountable for its role in the economic crisis and ensuing recession, but it's painfully clear to that there has been no accountability — and more...
by Dave Johnson | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
This situation of crony government protecting the connected rich while people are in the streets demanding change is more and more reminiscent of Egypt under Mubarak. In the real world tens of thousands are in the streets around the country demanding taxes on the rich...
by | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog, Economy
With apologies to Richard Farina, today’s Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report for October shows small gains that for most of U.S. history would have been considered meager but must now be seen as better than expected. (See these tables and graphics on this month's...
by Dave Johnson | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
It was an amazing thing to be part of, an entire city downtown occupied, then a huge march that shut down a major port. Oakland was #occupied! This was a game changer, a turning point. What happened in Oakland was a very big deal. On the same Wednesday there were big,...
by | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
Democracy Corps has been doing some focus groups on the economy. You have to take them as they're presented, since the test messages in themselves reveal a certain agenda, but it's informative nonetheless: Voters are receptive to Republicans when they make statements...
by Dave Johnson | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
At a meeting with bloggers before last week's Building The New Economy conference, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka talked about how we have developed two economies, one real and one financial. As he said, originally the financial sector was designed to support the real...
by Terrance Heath | Nov 4, 2011 | Uncategorized
Each morning, Bill Scher and Terrance Heath serve up what progressives need to effect change on the kitchen-table issues families face: jobs, health care, green energy, financial reform, affordable education and retirement security. Morning Message: Jobs Report:...
by Mary Bottari | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog
The G-20 meeting in Cannes got underway yesterday. The sunny beach resort, playground to movie stars and media moguls was an odd choice for a somber G-20 meeting. As President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner touched down in Air Force One, the Greek...
by Isaiah J. Poole | Nov 4, 2011 | Blog, Economy
On the morning after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of an infrastructure jobs bill, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting that the economy created only 80,000 net jobs during the month of September. The unemployment rate is now 9 percent. The continued...
by Isaiah J. Poole | Nov 3, 2011 | Blog, Economy
A conservative minority in the Senate earlier today voted against allowing an infrastructure jobs bill to come to a floor vote, continuing a pattern of obstruction that has blocked every significant effort to get people working on the jobs that need to be done. The...
by Sam Pizzigati | Nov 3, 2011 | Blog
The power suits who run America's biggest corporations, a new Citizens for Tax Justice report shows, are sidestepping about half the taxes our basic tax code says they ought to be paying. Over a quarter century ago, in 1984, the Washington, D.C.-based Citizens for Tax...
by Roger Hickey | Nov 3, 2011 | Blog
Last night, The Thom Hartmann Show hosted Roger Hickey, who delivered a warning to the Democrats of the "Super Committee" who are threatening to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits, that they are risking their electoral chances in 2012. Watch it below.
by | Nov 3, 2011 | Blog
Oh spare me: To underscore the fact that GOP’s intransigence on taxes is the source of the gridlock, the committee’s Democratic co-chair confirmed that Democrats are willing to make the sort of deep cuts to entitlement programs Republicans are demanding — but only if...
by Steven Capozzola | Nov 3, 2011 | Blog, Making it in America
If you want to field a good baseball team, you don't just show up on opening day and say "Let's play." No, you carefully plan your team. You make sure to get the best pitchers ("pitching, pitching, pitching," as they say). And you make sure your...
by Bill Scher | Nov 3, 2011 | Blog
Last month, CBS conducted a poll asking "what do you think is the most important problem facing this country today?" In first place was, "economy and jobs," with 57%. in second place was, the "budget deficit" and "national debt," with ... 5%. Every other issue was 3%...
by Bill Scher | Nov 3, 2011 | Uncategorized
Each morning, Bill Scher and Terrance Heath serve up what progressives need to effect change on the kitchen-table issues families face: jobs, health care, green energy, financial reform, affordable education and retirement security. MORNING MESSAGE: Occupy The Kochs...
by Sean McMartin | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog
Finally, there is a sign that those in Washington are hearing the cries from protestors around the country about making Wall Street pay for the damage they have done to the economy. Legislation imposing a financial transaction tax was introduced today in the Senate by...
by Jeff Bryant | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog, Education
Imagine you’re a parent of a seven-year-old who has just come home from school with her end-of-year report card. And the report card provides marks for only two subjects, and for children who are in grade-levels different from hers. Furthermore, there's nothing on the...
by | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog
The right leaning, safety net slashing Simpson-Bowles consensus of two is being revised. Rightwards: “As I have thought about it…under the Affordable Health Care Act we provide subsidies for people who have really chronic illnesses and people who have limited incomes...
by | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog
Last month, Dorothy Cooper, a 96-year-old African-American woman from Chattanooga, Tennessee, went to the ballot box to vote. Dorothy was born before women had the right to vote and when Jim Crow laws kept most African-Americans disenfranchised. Despite this, Dorothy...
by Terrance Heath | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog
Elizabeth Warren really hit a nerve among conservatives with her winning message about the the social contract and America's economy. What I didn't know is that she did it with an assist from the right's favorite philosopher on economic policy. Just to review, here's...
by Terrance Heath | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog, Economy
Much has already been written and said about violence police used against unarmed OWS protesters in New York, Chicago, Boston, and now Oakland. From using pepper spray against peaceful protesters to lobbing flash bombs at unarmed protesters rushing to help an injured...
by Mary Bottari | Nov 2, 2011 | Blog
After two tours of duty in Iraq, 24-year-old Wisconsin native Scott Olsen managed to escape unscathed and with seven medals for valor. But Olsen was critically injured in an Occupy Oakland march last week by a police projectile. See video here. According to...
by Bill Scher | Nov 2, 2011 | Uncategorized
Each morning, Bill Scher and Terrance Heath serve up what progressives need to effect change on the kitchen-table issues families face: jobs, health care, green energy, financial reform, affordable education and retirement security. MORNING MESSAGE: Policing The 99%...
by Isaiah J. Poole | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog, Financial Reform
Sometimes, even an institution that is "too big to fail" is not too big to be influenced by energized citizens on a quest for basic fairness. With a national "move your money" day coming up on November 5 and facing the prospect of losing tens of thousands of...
by Robert Borosage | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
Institute for America's Future co-director Robert Borosage appeared on the Tavis Smiley Show on October 31 to discuss the tax and economic policies advanced by Republican presidential candidates and their impact on middle- and low-income people. He calls the flat-tax...
by Dave Johnson | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog, Making it in America
After a decade of Republican policies that dearly cost the country's manufacturing sector, Republican Presidential candidates today offered ideas for reviving our country's jobs engine. Unfortunately those ideas are the same ideas that got us into this mess in the...
by Robert Borosage | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
Rick Perry’s Plan for the 1% Today, Rick Perry released his “Cut, Balance and Grow” economic plan. From his initial press release, this is clearly a plan designed for the wealthiest Americans. Perry would eliminate the estate tax that applies only to the wealthiest...
by Dave Johnson | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
Conservatives are always pushing for a "flat tax." It sounds so simple: One easy rate, so we all pay the same, easy to calculate... Get rid of deductions and lower the tax rates. So simple, but it turns out it is a simple trick, a scam to enrich the 1%, like so much...
by Richard Eskow | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
Back when they were teaching gun safety to my generation, there was a term for people who ran or jogged while carrying a loaded weapon. The term was "idiot." And back when we were learning basic geometry they had a book called Flatland that told a story set in a...
by Robert Borosage | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
On Wednesday, Robert Borosage joined the Thom Hartmann Show to discuss Rick Perry's new tax plan. Watch it below.
by Leo Gerard | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
Americans have been worshiping a bull. Too many citizens, and particularly politicians, prostrate themselves to Wall Street’s bronze idol. They revere financial titans who pay themselves and their minions millions to manipulate money and gamble recklessly. Politicians...
by Bill Scher | Nov 1, 2011 | Uncategorized
Each morning, Bill Scher and Terrance Heath serve up what progressives need to effect change on the kitchen-table issues families face: jobs, health care, green energy, financial reform, affordable education and retirement security. MORNING MESSAGE: Six Pictures From...
by Richard Eskow | Nov 1, 2011 | Blog
Make no mistake about it: The struggle between Wall Street and "the 99 percent" is a culture war. It's a war over our values, our beliefs, and rights. That's why Occupy Wall Street has been so wise not to proclaim specific policy demands. The movement is trying to...
by Dave Johnson | Oct 31, 2011 | Blog
Please forward this to friends, relatives, "centrists" and conservatives you know. You may have heard about the "Occupy" protests that are occurring in cities around the country. They aren't what you are hearing. Please come to one and see for yourself. If you are...
by Isaiah J. Poole | Oct 31, 2011 | Blog
This week the Senate will take up another proposal by the Obama administration to create jobs and move the country closer to economic recovery, this one a $60 billion plan for immediate spending on the nation's roads, bridges, public transportation systems and other...
