Heather and I take a deep dive into why so many Americans are supporting a neofascist for president. Trump is the consequence rather than the cause of several major problems that have worsened over four decades — problems that have undermined the American middle class, and caused a substantial number of people to become angry, anxious, and cynical.
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Robert Reich’s talk lasts nearly 25 minutes. I advise you to listen to the whole thing, but if you do not, I will try to summarize it for you, Because I am an admirer of President Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal I am in sympathy with Robert Reich, but I think he overlooks a few things.
His basic argument is that real after tax income for at least the lower two thirds of American earners has declined or stagnated since the Recession of 1964, and that Trump has been more successful in exploiting the anger this has generated than Democrats have been. At the same time, the rich have been getting richer.
This is true, but Reich does not discuss why the Democrats have not been able to exploit a problem that could be their strongest issue. Too casually he dismisses Trump’s scapegoating of immigrants and welfare mothers. In doing so he ignores the major mistake the Democrats have made since the Reagan administration, which began in 1981. The Democrats have continued to appeal to the kind of generosity that will only be popular during a time of growing and widespread prosperity.
After World War II, and for a long time afterwards, the average house cost twice the average yearly wages. That was a long time ago. Married couples, who cannot buy a house, who fear the next rent increase, and who despair of ever being able to afford college education for their children are unlikely to care about unmarried welfare mothers with illegitimate children.
Immigration is both a social issue and an economic issue. Working class and lower middle class whites rarely enjoy the sight and sound of foreign languages. They do not look forward to becoming a minority race in the United States.
Immigration is also an economic issue. By competing for jobs immigrants enable employers to hold the line on wages. By competing for places to live immigrants enable landlords to raise rents. Those who say, “Immigration is good for the economy,”
should be asked, “Whose economy?”
The New Deal appealed to the economic self interest of most Americans. Since the 1960’s the Democrats have appealed to disinterested compassion. That has been the mistake of the Democrats.
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Robert Reich’s talk lasts nearly 25 minutes. I advise you to listen to the whole thing, but if you do not, I will try to summarize it for you, Because I am an admirer of President Franklin Roosevelt and his New Deal I am in sympathy with Robert Reich, but I think he overlooks a few things.
His basic argument is that real after tax income for at least the lower two thirds of American earners has declined or stagnated since the Recession of 1964, and that Trump has been more successful in exploiting the anger this has generated than Democrats have been. At the same time, the rich have been getting richer.
This is true, but Reich does not discuss why the Democrats have not been able to exploit a problem that could be their strongest issue. Too casually he dismisses Trump’s scapegoating of immigrants and welfare mothers. In doing so he ignores the major mistake the Democrats have made since the Reagan administration, which began in 1981. The Democrats have continued to appeal to the kind of generosity that will only be popular during a time of growing and widespread prosperity.
After World War II, and for a long time afterwards, the average house cost twice the average yearly wages. That was a long time ago. Married couples, who cannot buy a house, who fear the next rent increase, and who despair of ever being able to afford college education for their children are unlikely to care about unmarried welfare mothers with illegitimate children.
Immigration is both a social issue and an economic issue. Working class and lower middle class whites rarely enjoy the sight and sound of foreign languages. They do not look forward to becoming a minority race in the United States.
Immigration is also an economic issue. By competing for jobs immigrants enable employers to hold the line on wages. By competing for places to live immigrants enable landlords to raise rents. Those who say, “Immigration is good for the economy,”
should be asked, “Whose economy?”
The New Deal appealed to the economic self interest of most Americans. Since the 1960’s the Democrats have appealed to disinterested compassion. That has been the mistake of the Democrats.
