Stories by Robert Reich

Robert B. Reich has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He also served on President Obama's transition advisory board. His latest book is Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future. His homepage is www.robertreich.org. subscribe to Robert Reich's feed

Detroit, and the Bankruptcy of America’s Social Contract

Posted on: Jul 22, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

40 years ago, most cities (including Detroit) had a mixture of wealthy, middle-class, and poor residents. Now, each income group tends to lives separately, in its own city.

Robert Reich: We Need to Stop Subsidizing Sky-High CEO Pay

Posted on: Jul 18, 2013, Source: RobertReich.org

That's right, the tax code makes it so ordinary Americans help pay Lloyd Blankfein's ridiculous salary.

Ayn Rand Could Have Learned from the Arizona Firefighters

Posted on: Jul 3, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Like countless first responders before them, they put themselves in harm's way because they wanted to serve.

Red States Get More Extreme -- How America Is Splitting Apart Without Bothering With Civil War

Posted on: Jun 10, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Not since the real Civil War have we witnessed such a clear divide between the states on central issues affecting Americans.

Corporations Are Stealing Billions in Tax Breaks, While the Confused, Screwed Citizenry Turn On Each Other

Posted on: May 20, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

International corporations have no national allegiance, they care only for profit. Meanwhile, people all over the world are becoming increasingly nationalistic and xenophobic.

Robert Reich: Everything You Need to Know About How Chained CPI Will Screw Over Seniors

Posted on: Apr 24, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The former secretary of labor explains why Social Security cuts could prove disastrous.

Republicans Have Drooled Over the Idea of Slashing Social Security for Years, and They've Found Their Ideal Partner in Obama

Posted on: Apr 13, 2013, Source: RobertReich.org

The public wants nothing to do with Obama's idea of bipartisanship.

Why Democrats Shouldn’t Put Social Security and Medicare on the Table

Posted on: Mar 22, 2013, Source: RobertReich.org

It’s not the first time Democrats have led with a compromise, but these particular pre-concessions are especially unwise.

Sequester: Obama Must Confront Republican Austerity Lies

Posted on: Feb 26, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The Republicans’ austerity economics and trickle-down economics are dangerous, bald-faced lies.

Obama Is Dismantling Reagan's Right-Wing Legacy

Posted on: Jan 25, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Obama is advancing the founding ideals of America in such way that the Republican Party is incapable of opposing yet also incapable of uniting behind it.

The Ongoing War: After the Battle Over the Cliff Comes the Battle Over the Debt Ceiling

Posted on: Jan 1, 2013, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The battle over the fiscal cliff is over but the trench warfare will continue.

Fiscal Cliff Hanger: Why Republicans Don't Care What the Nation Thinks

Posted on: Dec 28, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

A weakened national party and more intense competition in primaries is making the Republican Party impervious to national opinion.

Does America Hate Its Children?

Posted on: Dec 17, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

We do not protect them from poverty, disease, or guns.

America's Robber Barons Are at War With the Rest of the Country

Posted on: Dec 12, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

They may lose a battle here and there but their assault on the middle class and takeover of our politics is part of a much longer war.

America Faces Three Serious "Cliffs," None of Them Fiscal

Posted on: Dec 6, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Three crises America would tackle if we had a functioning government that served popular interests.

8 Things Democrats Must Do in Washington Showdown Over "Fiscal Cliff"

Posted on: Dec 4, 2012, Source: RobertReich.org

Some advice for Democrats.

5 Key Points Obama Needs to Make in the Debate

Posted on: Oct 15, 2012, Source: RobertReich.org

Obama needs to remind us why we liked him in the first place.

Mitt Says His Heart "Aches" For You -- Convinced?

Posted on: Sep 27, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The absurd effort to repackage Romney as a compassionate conservative.

Bold Prediction: Why Romney and Ryan Are Going Down

Posted on: Sep 18, 2012, Source: RobertReich.org

Republicans are failing the central test of electability ... targeting a non-majority part of the population.

Even Adam Smith Would be Appalled by Romney's Tax Evasions

Posted on: Aug 19, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Romney’s alleged 13 percent tax rate is lower than that of most middle class Americans who earn a tiny fraction of what he earns.

Why You Should Get a 3 Week Paid Vacation

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

Workers who take time off are more productive after their batteries are recharged. They have higher morale, and are less likely to mentally check out on the job.

What Was Really Behind Roberts' Switch?

Posted on: Jun 28, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Regardless of the Roberts' decision, over the next four months the Act will be a political football.

Republicans Now Worry They'll Make Corporations Cry

Posted on: Jun 19, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Considering the absurd logic that if corporations are people, they must be capable of feeling harassed and intimidated.

Ponderings on the New Politics of Extremism

Posted on: Jun 18, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The energies of the new right and the money of big corporations and Wall Street is formidable.

Joblessness Rises: Are We on the Verge of Another Recession?

Posted on: Jun 1, 2012, Source: RobertReich.org

Friday’s jobs report is a stunning reminder of how anemic the recovery has been – and how perilously close the nation is to falling into another recession.

What Jamie Dimon's $2 Billion Dollar Fail Reveals About Our Banking System

Posted on: May 11, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

What just happened at J.P. Morgan – along with its leader’s cavalier dismissal – reveals how fragile, opaque and dangerous the banking system continues to be

GOP Suicide: Why Can't Republicans Stop Alienating Women, Young People and Hispanics?

Posted on: Apr 27, 2012, Source: RobertReich.org

Republicans can't stop pissing off the three demographic groups whose electoral impact is growing fastest.

How We're Turning America Into a Giant Casino

Posted on: Apr 3, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Organized gambling is a scam. And given who plays, this is one of the most regressive taxes in the nation.

Lopsided Recovery: The Economy Is Rebounding ... Only Just for the Rich

Posted on: Mar 30, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Almost all the economic gains made recently went to the top 10 percent, and the lion's share to the top 1 percent.

The Widening Wealth Divide, and Why We Need a Surcharge on the Super Wealthy

Posted on: Mar 13, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Ordinary Americans watch home values drop as the superwealthy receive stock price windfalls, adding to the already obscene concentration of wealth at the top.

The Sad Race for Bottom on the Loony Right

Posted on: Feb 27, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

As Santorum and Romney battle for the extremist vote, progressives should be worried, not gloating.

Jobs Won't Come Back to America Until the Government Pushes Greedy Corporate Executives to Invest at Home

Posted on: Jan 23, 2012, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Without bold government action on behalf of our workforce, good American jobs will continue to disappear.

The Great Republican Crackup: How Angry, White, Southern Men Took Over the GOP and Made Our Government Into a War Zone

Posted on: Dec 21, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The GOP's radicalism is dangerous for America. We need two political parties solidly grounded in the realities of governing.

Wall St's Latest Shameless Ploy to Fleece You

Posted on: Dec 10, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The industry's effort to overturn new regulations could push public anger past the point of no return.

The Sick Social Darwinism Driving Modern Republicans

Posted on: Dec 6, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

As a country, we've rejected the notion that each of us is on his or her own in a competitive contest for survival. Republicans want to bring Social Darwinism back.

Washington vs the Rest of America: When Will Politicians Realize the 99% Demand a Just System, Not Cynical Tinkering at the Edges?

Posted on: Nov 4, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Deficit hawks, Republicans, diffident Democrats, well-coiffed lobbyists, and their Wall St. patrons haven't a clue or couldn't care less.

The Austerity Death-Trap: How Ron Paul and Other Republicans' Spending Cuts Will Permanently Tank the Economy

Posted on: Oct 19, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Republican candidates are all calling for major spending cuts starting as soon as possible. What are they smoking?

Will Wall Street Break with the GOP Over Government Spending to Fix the Economy?

Posted on: Sep 22, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The double-dip recession is here--and even Wall Street may soon realize the need for the government to spend to save the economy.

Make the Rich Pay More Taxes! How Obama's Pledge to Fight for a Fairer Tax Policy Sets Off the Real Battle of 2012

Posted on: Sep 19, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The really big fight -- perhaps the defining battle of 2012 -- won't be over Medicare or Obama's jobs program. It will be over whether the rich should pay more taxes.

August Job Growth Was Zero -- Our Only Hope Now Is For Obama to Be Bold With His Jobs Plan

Posted on: Sep 2, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

And if, as expected, Republicans refuse to go along, take it to the people. Mobilize the public. Use the bully pulpit. That's what you have it for.

Pages