by Robert Reich:

[elleng]

'Assuming she's the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton must be bolder. She needs some big ideas proportionate to the scale of the problems we're facing -- widening inequality, crumbling infrastructure, unaffordable housing.

Her entire tax plan would raise only $1.1 trillion over the next decade, according to the Tax Policy Center -- just half of one percent of the GDP -- barely enough even to pay for the infrastructure investments we need to create jobs and help remedy our crumbling infrastructure. What about a carbon tax whose proceeds could dramatically expand the Earned Income Tax Credit? A progressive wealth tax to pay for early childhood education?

I don't expect her to be as bold as Bernie. But if she doesn't aim high she can't possibly summon the public will to do what's needed. And her campaign becomes merely "I'm not Trump, I'm experienced, and I'm a female," which may not be enough to defeat Trump.

What do you think?'

https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/?fref=nf

[pnwmom]

1. I know he's the one that pushed NAFTA during Bill's Presidency, so I'd rather

hear what Elizabeth Warren has to say now than Robert Reich.

[elleng]

2. If you ignore him,

you're missing a lot.

Locked in the Cabinet

President Clinton's first Secretary of Labor reports gracefully on four years of frustration.

'Mr. Reich's own cause is to close the growing gap between rich and poor. During his 1992 campaign, Bill Clinton, borrowing liberally from Mr. Reich's writings, promised to invest in job training and education. But once in office he fell under the sway of the deficit hawks -- especially Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, described by Mr. Reich as the ''most powerful man in the world.'' Too much Federal spending, the deficit hawks argued, could cause the bond brokers on Wall Street to lose confidence, which would drive up interest rates, which could choke off the economy -- which could cost Mr. Clinton his re-election. Since cutting middle-class entitlement programs would be political suicide, the poor (who don't vote) must take the hit. Hence, no money for Mr. Reich's programs to retrain out-of-work Americans.

Unable to break this closed circuit, Mr. Reich was reduced to hanging around the parking lot between the West Wing and the Old Executive Office Building, seeing if he could pick up any gossip about the important decisions being made inside. Finally, he found a back channel in his old friend Hillary Clinton, who told him to write down his ideas on unmarked stationery. But then the wicked Morris came along to steal the President's brain. (The President's conscience, for most of Mr. Reich's tale, is not much in evidence.) The Democratic-controlled Congress was no help. ''We're owned by them. Business,'' Representative Marty Sabo, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, matter-of-factly explains. ''That's where the campaign money comes from now. In the 1980's we gave up on the little guys.''

https://www.nytimes.com/books/97/04/27/reviews/970427.27thomast.html

[seabeckind]

3. Maybe Liz and Bob are saying the same thing

but with a slightly different focus?

[elleng]

5. They most definitely are!

[Bucky]

7. for a second there I thought you meant the Doles

[seabeckind]

4. This part flies in the face of incrementalism, doesn't it?

"big ideas proportionate to the scale of the problems we're facing"

If my memory isn't failing me, I believe that one of the reasons Hoover failed in dealing with the great depression was that he wasn't bold enough. That he could cross the chasm with little steps.

FDR took the bold approach and had a success.... until he gave credence to the "going too fast" people in the later 30s and we slipped back.

It's time again to do the big FDR stuff. Start tearing down the sacred cows and put the power back in the hands of the people.

Pretty scary stuff.

[elleng]

6. Yes it is,

and we had this opportunity but appear to have blown it due to the POWER of tptb. The future???

[Bucky]

8. She needs a bold full employment plan with a catchy name... like... hmmm, like...

America Works!