Stories by Robert B. Reich

Robert Reich is professor of public policy at the Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley. He was secretary of labor in the Clinton administration.subscribe to Robert B. Reich's rss feed

Why No Responsible Democrat Would Want Newt Gingrich to Win the GOP Presidential Nomination

Posted on Jan 29, 2012, Source: RobertReich.org

Even if the odds that Gingrich as GOP presidential candidate would win the general election are 10 percent, that’s too much of a risk to the nation.

Republican Candidates Hypocritically Attack Romney's Predatory Capitalism

Posted on Jan 10, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Gingrich and Perry rail against Mitt's corporate behavior, but they have no plans to change Wall Street's rules.

The Grotesque Corporate Monstrosity Unleashed By Citizens United

Posted on Jan 5, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Citizens United invites the worst corruption our democracy has witnessed since the Gilded Age. Mitt Romney is one of its biggest beneficiaries.

10 Bold Moves That Should Be In Obama's Promised Jobs Bill

Posted on Aug 18, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

President Obama is promising to fight for a jobs bill this September. Here are ten suggestions for that bill from the former Labor Secretary.

'Spending Cap' Is New Lipstick on Same Old Pig: Massive Cuts to Social Spending

Posted on May 5, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The McCaskill/Corker spending cap would also make it impossible for government to boost the economy in recessions, meaning even higher unemployment that lasts longer.

8 Ways to Fight the Right-Wingers and Corporations Buying Off Our Government

Posted on Oct 11, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

What the public wants means nothing if our democracy is secretly corrupted by big money.

The Super-Rich Get Richer, and Everyone Else Is Going Down the Drain

Posted on Sep 24, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Only twice before in American history has so much been held by so few, yet they're going to keep their fat tax cuts.

Federal Reserve: It's a Disaster, It's All Our Fault and We're Going to do Nothing About it

Posted on Sep 24, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

After three decades of flat wages the middle class has exhausted all coping mechanisms. It can’t send more spouses into paid work or work more hours or borrow any more.

Our Only Existing Jobs Program Is the Military -- an Insane Way to Keep Americans Employed

Posted on Aug 12, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

"National security is a cover for job security. This is nuts."

Obama's Next Major Task: Jobs

Posted on Mar 31, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

We need $300 billion for jobs, and we need it now.

An Open Letter to Harry Reid: Here's How to Cut Health Care Costs

Posted on Nov 17, 2009, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Nobody said this would be easy. But passing the health reform that America deserves involves a little political muscle.

Why the Dow is Hitting 10,000 Even When Consumers Can't Buy And Business Cries "Socialism"

Posted on Sep 24, 2009, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

How can the Dow be so far up when every business and Wall Street executive is screaming about government crushing the economy?

When Will the Recovery Begin? Never

Posted on Jul 10, 2009, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Are green shoots emerging? Not until people feel more secure economically.

Baby Boomer Alert: The Truth Behind Social Security Propaganda

Posted on May 13, 2009, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Reports of Social Security's demise are greatly exaggerated.

AIG Bonuses Scandal: CEOs Take Our Billions and Are Accountable to No One

Posted on Mar 15, 2009, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Even with a new administration dedicated to doing it all differently, Americans still have little say over what is happening with our money.

The Heart of the Economic Mess

Posted on Aug 4, 2008, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Most Americans can no longer maintain their standard of living. And the core problem isn't the housing crisis or rising oil and food prices.

Will Hillary Clinton Spoil the Party?

Posted on Mar 7, 2008, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Hillary has said that McCain would be a better president than Obama -- this kind of cynical approach turns people away from politics.

The Conflicted Consumer

Posted on Sep 26, 2007, Source: Alfred A. Knopf

The awkward truth is that most of us are two minds: As consumers and investors we want the great deals. As citizens we don't like many of the social consequences that flow from them.

American Corporations Getting Rich Abroad

Posted on May 18, 2007, Source: TomPaine.com

America's largest corporations' overseas subsidiaries are booming even as their American operations stagnate. General Electric expects more than half its revenue this year to come from outside the U.S. for the first time.

Will Humanity go the Way of the Dinosaur?

Posted on Mar 31, 2007, Source: The American Prospect

A new NASA report on killer asteroids ought to spook people into action.

Stop ATT From Taking Your Web

Posted on May 12, 2006, Source: TomPaine.com

The House is preparing to vote on an Orwellian act of government that would severely limit democracy on the internet as we know it.

Two Cheers for Massachusetts

Posted on Apr 17, 2006, Source: The American Prospect

The Bay State's new universal healthcare plan marks an improvement -- but a single payer system would have been even better.

Class Warfare With Taxes

Posted on Dec 9, 2005, Source: TomPaine.com

When the tax cut battle is between the wealthy and super wealthy, it looks like both groups win. So, guess who's going to foot the bill.

The Dollar $uffer$

Posted on Nov 24, 2004, Source: TomPaine.com

With the dollar dropping to an all-new low against the euro, the nicest and safest gift you can give a friend or loved one this holiday season is ... gold.

A Society of Owers

Posted on Sep 7, 2004, Source: TomPaine.com

The Republicans are selling their vision of an "Ownership Society" to a nation of debtors.

Will Terrorism Stall Globalization?

Posted on Nov 7, 2001, Source: AlterNet

America and other advanced nations have stepped back from globalization. Why? Because of the added risks of a world threatened by terrorism.

How to Be Tough on Terrorism

Posted on Oct 29, 2001, Source: The American Prospect

The political debate about terrorism is stuck. The patriot's blind insistence on American right no matter what, clashes with the left's insistence on blaming the U.S.'s bad historical judgement. Robert Reich says both positions are inadequate and offers another way.

REICH: A No-Panic Recession

Posted on Oct 22, 2001, Source: AlterNet

The American economy is certainly in recession now, but the good news is that the underlying structures of the economy are very strong.

REICH: Sacrifice or Spend?

Posted on Oct 19, 2001, Source: AlterNet

Despite being asked in the name of patriotism to spend, consumers are holding back. Perhaps Americans are realizing the economy exists to support us and the standard of living we choose, not the other way around.

The Fed's Response Is Too Tepid

Posted on Oct 5, 2001, Source: AlterNet

Alan Greenspan is pushing on a wet noodle. Instead of interest rate cuts or corporate tax cuts, he should cut payroll taxes by $100 billion over the next 12 months.

A Stimulus Right Now, Aimed at Lower-wage Workers

Posted on Oct 1, 2001, Source: AlterNet

With the country spiraling toward recession, those hurt the most are lower-wage workers sure to be the first to lose their jobs.

Fiscal Irresponsibility

Posted on Aug 14, 2001, Source: deleted

In the name of fiscal responsibility, the Democrats won't commit to repealing the tax cut, perhaps leading the way to more cuts.

REICH: The Rebirth of the Democratic Party

Posted on Jul 25, 2001, Source: The American Prospect

If Democrats hope to regain the White House in 2004, they'll need to mobilize grassroots groups and thus rebuild the party from the bottom up.

REICH: The Phony Political Center

Posted on Jun 26, 2001, Source: AlterNet

Centrism is bogus, and the rush by politicians to it is a meager substitute for sharp, open debate about what a nation needs to do, and why.

Why Bush is Winning

Posted on Jun 12, 2001, Source: The American Prospect

Tax cuts. Missile-defense shields. Expansion of oil, gas, coal and nuclear energies. Bush is winning on these issues because he manufactures crises around them.

A "C" to Success

Posted on Jun 5, 2001, Source: AlterNet

George W. Bush is right. A "C" student can indeed become President -- if that student's parents happen to be wealthy and know the right people.

The Case (once again) for Universal Health Insurance

Posted on May 15, 2001, Source: The American Prospect

The dirtiest little secret about the Roaring Nineties is that average working families gained almost no income, while their health care costs soared.
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