Economy Archives - KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show

Think billionaires have no impact on your life? Think again. We never blame billionaires for our day to day problems even though they deserve it. For example billionaires buy up housing projects then up the rent. And as business owners The post People and the Planet: Burned By Billionaires appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

There is in fact great abundance in America. The problem is not just the greed of the top percent but also the 21st century version of real estate redlining. Many are shut out. There is a huge demand for affordable The post We Know What NIMBY means. But Here’s a New Twist: YIMBYism! appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

No question, it’s all about re-connecting with the working class: People without a college degree, lowering the cost of health care, championing the self-employed, addressing the transportation problems of the heartland. Our guest  today Paul Glastris Washington Monthly editor in The post Time for Democrats to Post a Clear Agenda for America appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The reason we have minimum wage laws is to ensure a basic standard of living. But in America, the federal minimum wage is still what it was in 2009: $7.25. And in developing nations to which big corporations outsource jobs, The post A Global Minimum Wage = a Stronger Worldwide Economy appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

It may not be as it looks. For decades, millions of Americans have urgently sought to bring sanity to the defense budget. They propose a new  nongovernmental “Dept of Government Efficiency.” And military waste is the low hanging fruit. On The post Could These Guys Actually Cut Military Waste? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The Right gets it; where are Democrats? In his new book What it Took to Win, author and history professor  Michael Kazin looks at the last hundred or so years and says it’s clear what has and still works.  Whether The post Trumpism is a Movement; Movements Are How Democrats Have Won appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

As we head into the elections, both parties have made “the border crisis” THE issue. But humans have always moved. Our guest, John Washington whose new book is The Case for Open Borders, argues stopping immigration exacerbates crime. The negative The post The Only Crisis is What the Refugees are Fleeing appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

They used to be prosperous Black neighborhoods: less than 2 percent unemployment. But through connected processes over the last 75 years, government and banks worked together to create gentrification. Black people were intentionally left out of the capitalist system, frozen The post What Is Racial Capitalism? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The Republicans in power are set against themselves: on one hand there’s the revved up old Cold Warriors targeting China. On the other hand there’s the strength of the big business powers who see their futures tied to China. On The post US Powers Split on China Policy appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Our infrastructure is overloaded. It already can’t handle extreme weather and climate change is making it more frequent. We can’t keep sweeping it under the rug. On this show Steve Ellis, president of the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, The post It’s Costing Taxpayers Billions. “Prespond” To Effects of Climate Change. appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

They decided the remedies of the 30s no longer fit the 90s. They talked about expanding opportunities not government. The economy was strong that decade and so they did not worry about inequality. In her new book: Left Behind, The The post The Price Democrats Pay for the Clinton/DLC Years appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Yes, it’s that time of year again. Taxes. Working people have been subsidizing the rich for far too long. All polls show that support for finally taxing the richest is hugely popular. Of course the Republicans openly serve that top The post Biden’s Billionaire Tax: The Image and the Reality appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

In his new book, The Privatization of Everything, author Donald Cohen directly takes on the myths which have led to intense concentration of power a an wealth and offers ways to reassert what America’s founders had in mind. Despite the The post Why Privatization is the Wrong Tool for the Common Good appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

They’re doing it again. Remember the Peace Dividend after Vietnam? Right, it never happened. Now with another war finally ended, here we are again. On this show, retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel William Astore says the amount of money shoveled to The post Even When It Loses, the Pentagon Wins appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

With the pandemic throwing everything up in the air, there are new opportunities for us to shape the way it all lands. Going back to the old “normal” is not the only option. On this show Joe Ryle a leader The post A Benefit From Covid? 4 Day Work Week appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Grades 1 through 12 education may have been adequate to the 20th century. But not anymore. With emerging technology and a global economy, at least a two year community college degree is essential for America’s common good. On this show The post Free College: We Are Getting There. Really. appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The dehumanized Amazon warehouse as pictured in the movie Nomadland is more benign than reality. There is an “existential bleakness” where every instant is being watched, humans serve robots, and one can be fired by algorithm. In his powerful new The post The Biggest, Least Human Power in America: Amazon appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The European nations don’t need enemies like the US does. Since geography is destiny, they see a bizarre American President and have their own economic interests beyond dependence on weapons systems. On this show international journalist Patrick Lawrence describes what The post Europe Going Its Own Way: Good for America Too? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

How did we get in this mess in the first place? Will little tweaks allow America to effectively address climate change, racism, and the deadly pandemic? Author Northeastern University professor Jennie C. Stephens argues that there is a “polluter elite” The post Anti-Racist Feminism Key To Covid, Environmental Solutions appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

If the word conservative means anything, it means conserving and not wasting money. Especially public money. How long can politicians claim to be conservative when they studiously avoid looking at obvious waste? Billions, hundreds of billions, trillions. On the first The post Worshiping Waste As Long as It’s Military Waste appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The public is way ahead of politicians on this. Frightened of looking “soft on defense,” elected members of both parties duck and cover when polls show wide support for giving a serious haircut to the wild and woolly lands of The post “How Ya Gonna Pay for Medicare for All?” Here’s How appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Many, including Trump, reject science and embrace myth instead. But just as technological advance depends on knowledge gained through science, so the future of America relies on knowledge of our history. Until recently it has been tough times for History The post The Rise of History Education:Vital for America’s Future appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Creeping centralization. Tax dollars are being used to prop up bigness. Well there may be an answer. While I’m on vacation, enjoy this 2009 show with author Paul Starobin whose article “Divided We Stand” appeared  in the Wall Street Journal. The post Is Smaller Better? Devolution Considered. appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The New Deal aspect of the Green New Deal often gets forgotten. The goal now as in the 1930s is to make the state the instrument of the popular will. Democratizing the economy, making it work for the common good, The post A New Deal That’s Also Green appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

If America’s founders saw where we are today,thy might have thought King George won the war. Instead of democratic control over the common good, a government of by and for the people, today it’s an 18th century style oligarchy. In The post Recreating a Democratic Economy: Our Founders Vision appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Well into the 21st century, everything has changed except our way of thinking, which remains rooted in 19th century values which unnecessarily hold us back. Millions of people hate their jobs and are relegated to living as passive consumers when The post An Optimistic/Realistic 21st Century Vision appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The middle fiddled and the right has risen. With the European Union elections fast approaching (May 23-26) the ascendancy of the racist right and the demise of the traditional mainstream left will be tested. On this show, Foreign Policy In The post Europe at Cliff’s Edge appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

One of the things Trump has finally accomplished for the economy is shedding needless regulations which hold back business. Or at least that what many believe. Of course it’s not true. Health and Safety regulations build economic strength, according to The post Workplaces: More Danger Than Terrorist Attacks appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Liberal-initiated efforts to eliminate poverty have been top down for about 50 years. But to be successful, development can’t be done to them from on high; it has to be done by the people most affected. We shouldn’t have low The post Sparking Prosperity for Everyone appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

When myths inform legislation, harm often results. So much of today’s welfare reform, based on myth, works to keep people in poverty. It’s been created from a top-down, men-dominant model and it brings not dignity but despair. In her new The post Ensuring Poverty: Welfare Reform in Feminist Perspective appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Economic despair in the face of unimaginable wealth? Scarcity in a reality of plenty? Is there now a  case for giving every American a share of a public wealth fund? In what ways might a universal basic income work to The post Universal Basic Income: An Old Idea Whose Time is Near appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

“Critics see Trump as an abomination, but he is also one of us.” So says Andrew Bacevich scholar and author of the forthcoming book “Twilight of the American Century.” He explains in this podcast that Trump is one of a The post Bacevich: Our Fixation with Trump is Actually a Distraction appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

What kind of economics leaves out essential factors? One that is not sustainable. So says Rickey Gard Diamond, author of the new book Screwnomics: How The Economy Works Against Women and Real Ways to Make Lasting Change. She points out The post Screwnomics: The Economy Minus Earth and Women appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

The mainstream left of Europe has largely collapsed. Their national economies are trapped by the European Union. The eloquent English speaking Emmanuel Macron, president of France for just a year, on his April trip to Washington, displayed a public “bromance” The post Who Is Trump’s Buddy Emmanuel Macron? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

How radical can you get? Well, Nixon was on board with the idea in 1971. Entrepreneur and author Andrew Yang’s new book is titled The War on Normal People: The Truth About America’s Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income The post Millions of Jobs Are Disappearing. The Answer? $12,000 for Everyone?! appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

On the first part, we try to talk with author Dilip Hiro in London about his new article “Donald Trump Offers a Helping Hand to Russia and China,” but the connection most regrettable. If you can bear with the poor The post America First Means China First//Trump’s “Infrastructure Plan” a Gift to Polluters appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Their mission is to help the developing world but Bruce Rich, author of the new book Foreclosing the Future reveals they may still be profiting but the World Bank is continuing to worsen poverty and the environment. And on part The post What is the World Bank Doing?/Self-Blame In Economic Difficulty appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

All the focus seems to be on the Trump presidency, meanwhile the vast majority of  governors in the 50 states are Republican. States have been called the laboratories of democracy. Here’s where we can make a big difference, not just The post The Place for Change: New Governors appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

While the left has had very few actual electoral victories, author Michael Kazin argues it has very effectively changed the nation. The author of “A Godly Hero: William Jennings Bryan,” talks about his book “American Dreamers.” What’s gone right and The post What America’s Left/Populists Have Won appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Millions of jobs will be eliminated because artificial intelligence is smarter than we are in many ways. We humans therefore face a serious and historic new challenge. What must we do to endure? According to our guest, author Edward Hess, The post Redefining “Smart” in the Smart Machine Age appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

As we are bombarded by endless news about Russian hacking, interfering with our democracy, a more subtle yet equally serious concern is how much we have become like our former enemy. What we value most of all about The United The post More Than Just Hacking; We’ve Become Like The Soviets appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.

Tax breaks for capital gains are a form of class privilege. So says history of US capitalism professor Julia Ott. It’s better public relations for Southern senators than outright Jim Crow, but taxing capital gains less than ordinary income was The post Tax Policy: the 1% and Racism//Trump a War Criminal Already? appeared first on KDA Keeping Democracy Alive Podcast & Radio Show.