Here at Politics Plus, I believe all of us think quite highly of Robert Reich. He is just so darned good at being right, when the "Reich" on the right consistently gets everything wrong.
http://robertreich.org/post/132819483625
His newest book, "SAVING CAPITALISM: For the Many, Not the Few" came out on September 29. This gave him the opportunity to to do a book tour, which he used as an opportunity to get to know voters in red and bright red and dark red states.
I intended to put into practice what I tell my students – that the best way to learn is to talk with people who disagree you. I wanted to learn from red America, and hoped they’d also learn a bit from me (and perhaps also buy my book).
One of the things he learned talking with conservative Republicans and Tea Partiers was that they agreed with much he had to say. Really. Scout's honor. For instance, though most probably would say they believe in capitalism, they emphatically do NOT believe in "crony capitalism" – big money in politics – just as we don't. Further:
I met with group of small farmers in Missouri who were livid about growth of “factory farms” owned and run by big corporations, that abused land and cattle, damaged the environment, and ultimately harmed consumers.
Banks?
Whenever I suggested that big Wall Street banks be busted up – “any bank that’s too big to fail is too big, period” – I got loud applause.
Trade?
Most are also dead-set against the Trans Pacific Partnership. In fact, they’re opposed to trade agreements, including NAFTA, that they believe have made it easier for corporations to outsource American jobs abroad.
Reich goes on to expand on these points and a couple of others, and to sum it up that "They call themselves Republicans but many of the inhabitants of America’s heartland are populists in the tradition of William Jennings Bryan."
He asked enough pointed questions to get some feel for why so many have rallied to Donald Trump. Hint: It's not immigration.
Please click through to his full article. It's not very long and it is very important.
Admittedly, we and the Tea Party remain far, FAR apart on social and cultural issues. But economically – not so much. We economic populists in both parties need to do some coming together on things we really do agree about.
Before it's too late.
14 Responses to “The Reich on the Left”
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When people actually listen to Robert Reich they agree with him whole-heartedly. Too bad everyone doesn't really listen to and heed his words. It's common sense economics.
Good article that brings up the facts. All should listen to what he's saying.
Thanks Joanne–it gives one some hope again, especially this quote: "But I do hope the economic populists in both parties come together.
"That’s the only way we’re going to reform a system that’s now rigged against most of us."
And if it was this easy for him to bring it out in order to have the conversations, I would say the onus is on us to initiate the conversations.
Thanks Joanne, I'm a great fan of Robert "the right" Reich "on the left" too and it's always a relief to read something by him after reading so many articles about "the wrong on the right". This article had a little surprise for me in store: my adverse reaction to "populist". My European background has taught me to see it as negative, a word connected to uninformed, ill-educated masses that have racist, bigoted and xenophobic tendencies and are easily led by right-wing politicians who appeal on these tendencies. But Reich uses this word in a much more favorable way, at least where populist economics are concerned.
Perhaps it's time for new labels to replace the old ones like populist and socialist. I'm sure new labels will come forward when these Republican populists and Democratic socialists join hands because they realize they stand for have the same economic ideals.
He specifically says "populists in the tradition of William Jennings Bryan," and without even going to Wikipedia I can appreciate the comparison. He was a religious fundamentalist, and he is often mpcked for his testimony during the Snopes trial, and his subsequent breakdown. But he was more than that. He was a fundamentalist who had apparently actually READ the Bible and knew the obligation of people in power to stand up for the little guy. Hi very famoud quote on the gold standard is typical – "You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold" – and alas, he lost that one, and little people did get hurt, even before the Great Depression.
This is where Bernie Sanders is also pulling over some of the Republicans. Bernie Sanders has been voted in with his State by Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Why? Because he speaks common sense policies that work for the towns, the cities, the people, the communities. That people, the environment, economics are all put on a fair playing field and that all are respected.
When he wanted to help the environmentalist get laws into place that is normally a left wing issue he also got the business people to understand that these policies were good for them as well. That those whose living was dependant on people coming to fish or rent kayaks needed the streams and rivers to remain clean. No one was going to kayak down rivers that smelled and dead trees on the banks and if we killed the fish there would be no fishing industry for those coming to vacation in Vermont.
Bernie "gets it" and this is what he has done and knows how to do, work with all the people to come up with the solutions that allow people to stay in business, but protects the interests of the workers and the environment. I think if Bernie got into office someone like Robert Reich would be consulted a lot.
You are so right that Bernie can communicate it, but we as his supporters also need to be singing that song. There is such a great flood of negative, contradictory information that we have much to oversome.
I have to add that those businesses also do not regret billboards being illegal in VT and manage to get the word out in other ways.
While the Baggers may say they agree with Reich, they keep voting for Republicans.
That's because the "mob mentality" of the south, or RepukkklicanTs, is so strong they can't bring themselves to go against the grain!
Glad to see you posting on an article, TC! How ya doin? Don't be so scarce, buddy!
It's because they pay too much attention to the social and cultural issues we don't agree on, and too little to the economic issues we do agree on. Yes, I know that the social and cultural issues are in the lizard brain whereas the economic issues are in the mammalian brain. But that just makes it more challenging.
Robert Reich is so good to read! He is the bridge that we need to reach across the chasm of the right and the left!
Until we can get the "reds" to stop believing faux news and candidates like Huckabee, Christie, Fiorino, and Rubio, and start thinking for themselves, we will never get a consensus. Reich makes so much sense! I shared this post on Facebook, flying in the face of danger again.
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