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

Why Are US Lawmakers Determined to Make the Jobs Crisis Worse?

Posted on: Jul 26, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Our vicious political cycle is making the vicious economic cycle worse.

The President's Jobs Plan (Not)

Posted on: Jul 12, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

He said the economy continues to be in a deep hole, and he urged Congress to extend the temporary reduction in the employee part of the payroll tax.

Wall Street CEO's Bizarre Idea About Why the Recovery Has Stalled: Banks Are Too Regulated?

Posted on: Jun 8, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says regulating the banks whose antics caused the recession is stalling the economy's recovery.

Why Americans Have to Work Longer Hours and Borrow to the Hilt Just to Keep Afloat

Posted on: May 31, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

The fundamental economic challenge ahead is to restore the vast American middle class.

The Republican Death Wish: The 2012 Election Is Going to Be All About Medicare

Posted on: May 26, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Polls show an overwhelming majority of Americans -- even a majority of Republican voters -- want to preserve Medicare.

Paul Ryan Still Doesn't Get It: The GOP Loss in NY-26 Was About His Medicare-Destroying Budget

Posted on: May 25, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Ryan blames Tuesday's upset in New York on Democratic "scare tactics." But senior citizens really should be scared of Ryan's plan to eviscerate Medicare.

Military Contractors' Secret Sway Over Our Politics -- Does Obama Have the Guts to Make Them Disclose Their Political Spending?

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

Obama is mulling an executive order to force contractors to disclose details of their political spending. The president should issue it immediately.

The Great Switch by the Super Rich: How Wealthy Americans Started Paying So Little in Taxes

Posted on: May 20, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Over the last four decades, tax rates on the very rich have plummeted while loopholes have gotten bigger.

Obama's Real Budget Plan (and Why It's a Huge Gamble)

Posted on: Apr 18, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Obama has a smart idea for outflanking the GOP but by focusing the public’s attention on the budget deficit, the President is still playing on their field.

Mr. President, Medicare Isn't the Problem -- It's the Solution

Posted on: Apr 14, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

The real problem is the soaring costs of health care that lie beneath Medicare.

The Right-Wing Bullies Have Been Emboldened -- They'll Hold the Nation Hostage Unless Obama Takes a Stand

Posted on: Apr 9, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

In a few weeks the debt ceiling has to be raised. After that, next year’s budget has to be passed. The President has to take a stand, and the sooner the better.

What's Really at Stake With the GOP's Awful Budget Plan and the Coming Government Shutdown

Posted on: Apr 6, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Although the budget plan has no chance of passage, it could be a blueprint for America's future when and if right-wing Republicans take charge.

Why We Must Raise Taxes on the Rich, ASAP!

Posted on: Apr 4, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

America's wealthiest are paying a pittance in taxes, while the country is chipping away at its central foundations to meet budget shortfalls.

The Truth About the Economy That Nobody in Washington or on Wall Street Will Admit: We're Heading Toward a Double Dip

Posted on: Apr 1, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

The economy is slowing ominously, and the booster rockets are disappearing.

GOP Governor Orders Removal of Pro-Labor Mural -- Are We Still in America?

Posted on: Mar 24, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Maine Governor Paul LePage thinks the mural depicting the state's labor history is "not in keeping with the [Labor Department's] pro-business goals."

4 Biggest GOP Lies About Jobs (And Why Obama Must Repudiate Them)

Posted on: Mar 23, 2011, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Republicans figure if their big lies are repeated often enough, people will start to believe them.

How Democrats Can Become Relevant Again (And Rescue the Nation While They're At It)

Posted on: Mar 3, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

We can't let the Republicans try to set the working middle class against itself.

Exposing the Republicans' 3-Part Strategy to Tear the Middle Class Apart -- Let's Stop Them in Wisconsin

Posted on: Feb 19, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

GOP forces are trying to deflect attention from the growing wealth transfer to the richest 1 percent while the jobs and wages of everyone else languish.

Why Obama's Budget Sell-Out to Republicans Threatens Our Economy

Posted on: Feb 14, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

Obama's budget proposal hinges on major cuts that ensure that Republicans get to control the conversation on spending.

Stocks Are Going Up, But the Value of Your House Is Dropping -- The American Economy Is Not Making a Comeback

Posted on: Feb 2, 2011, Source: RobertReich.org

The American economy isn’t back. While Wall Street’s bull market is making America’s rich even richer, most Americans continue to be mired in the housing crisis.

The Problem Is That America's Richest 1% Are Raking It in -- Not Public Employee Pensions

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

We can't let the conservatives pit private-sector workers against public servants -- it's a distraction from the ongoing huge wealth transfer to the richest Americans.

The GOP Is Spreading a Big Fat Lie About the Economy -- We Need Obama to Put an End to It

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

Only the President has the bully pulpit. But will he use it to tell the Big Truth that government is the only way we're going to get out of this mess?

Why America’s Two Economies Continue to Drift Apart, and Washington Isn’t Doing Anything About It

Posted on: Dec 15, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The Big Money corporations are raking it in, and top pay is soaring as well. But the money isn't going into anyone else's pockets.

The GOP Recipe for Keeping the Economy Down Until Election 2012

Posted on: Nov 4, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Could it be that Republicans want to keep the economy struggling through Election Day, 2012?

The Perfect Storm That Threatens American Democracy

Posted on: Oct 19, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The top one-tenth of one percent of Americans now earn as much as the bottom 120 million of us.

Do Republicans Want to Bring Back Social Darwinism?

Posted on: Sep 27, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The economic policies Republicans promote could come from the mouths of heartless 19th century industrialists.

Are Republicans Dumb Enough to Try and Shut Down Government Again?

Posted on: Sep 15, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

I am continuously amazed at the GOP's ability to snatch defeat out of the jaws of potential victory. It is the gift that keeps giving.

The Wealthy Have Enough Money -- It's Time to Put Some Cash in Your Pocket

Posted on: Sep 5, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Policies that generate more widely shared prosperity lead to stronger and more sustainable economic growth -- and that's good for everyone.

The Economy Is the Number on Your Paycheck, Not the Stockmarket's Ups and Downs

Posted on: Sep 2, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

The stock market has as much to do with the real economy as the weather has to do with geology.

Why a Civil Society -- Like Ours Is Supposedly -- Extends Unemployment Benefits

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

A record number of Americans is unemployed for a record length of time. This is a national tragedy.

The Profoundly Screwed-Up Beliefs That Compose Mitt Romney's Economic Ideology

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

Mitt Romney is the most credible of all the likely Republican presidential candidates. He’s right to focus on the economy, but his specifics are loony.

Fund the Damn Jobs: Deficit Fear-mongering Only Helps the Rich

Posted on: Aug 15, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

We aren't in this mess because of budget deficits. In fact, the only way to jump-start our economy is for the government to create jobs.

How Democrats Helped Fire Up the Crazy Right While Demoralizing the Left

Posted on: Aug 4, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Many of the President's successes have been large enough to fuel opposition, but not big enough to strengthen his support.

Corporate Profits Return, But There's Nearly Zero Hiring

Posted on: Jul 27, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Big American companies may never rehire large numbers of workers, even as their bottom lines keep growing.

It's All About the Wages -- Our Economy Would Be Fine If Everyone Made Their Fair Share

Posted on: Jul 13, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

When virtually all the gains from growth go to a small minority at the top, the result is deep-seated anxiety and frustration.

We're in a Recession Because the Rich Are Raking in an Absurd Portion of the Wealth

Posted on: Jul 7, 2010, Source: The Nation

Our economy can't thrive when the richest 1% get an ever larger share of the nation's income and wealth, and everyone else's share shrinks.

Why the U.S. Still Can't Get BP to Do What's Necessary

Posted on: Jun 14, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Right now BP's first responsibility is to its creditors and shareholders, not to the American public: Here's a better idea.

We Won't Climb Out of the Great Recession Until the Middle Class Has Money Again

Posted on: Jun 4, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

We need a new New Deal that will bolster America’s floundering middle class.

5 Reasons Obama Must Take Over BP

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

BP continues to be responsible primarily to its shareholders, not to the American public. It's time for Obama to put them under temporary receivership.

Will Congress Finally Tax The Billionaires?

Posted on: May 26, 2010, Source: Robert Reich's Blog

Wall Street tycoons get taxed at lower rates the the people who clean their buildings. Congress might be about to change that.

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