At the heart of President Bush’s war on terrorism lies a deepening contradiction that, unless resolved, will undermine the legitimacy of the entire war effort. The contradiction is embedded in the narrative of why we are at war and what it will take to win. On the one hand, the White House describes the war […]
Robert Reich
Robert B. Reich, a co-founder of The American Prospect, is a professor of public policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He is the author of Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few, one of the books featured in the Prospect’s High School Essay Contest.
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Trouncing the Taliban
As I write this, the Taliban are on the run. By the time you read it, theymay be back in their caves. What’s the lesson here? Already some in Washingtonare pronouncing the Bush strategy for dealing with terrorism a resoundingsuccess. A few are even suggesting that what we’ve accomplished in Afghanistanshould encourage us to topple […]
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In Kosovo, Power of Tribe Outweighs Power of Technology
USA Today This week, as Congress reconvenes, President Clinton will be coming under increasing criticism for the inadequacies of NATO’s bombing campaign. But the favored alternative – a ground war – is something for which we are wholly unprepared. It’s not just a matter of military tactics; it’s a question of national will. There are […]
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Working, But Not ‘Employed’
The New York Times CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Linda Chavez, George W. Bush’s pick for labor secretary, withdrew as the nominee Tuesday after facing a blizzard of questions concerning Marta Mercado, a Guatemalan woman who, as an undocumented alien, lived in Chavez’s home during the early 1990s and did some work for the family. Chavez didn’t […]
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The New Post-Industrial Struggle
Broadcast August 10, 2001 The old industrial struggle was between companies and workers. The new struggle is between … companies and workers. But the issue isn’t exactly the same as it used to be. The new battle is over who’s going to keep spending, and thereby keep the American economy going. You see, since last […]
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Clinton’s Leap in the Dark
from the New York Times Literary Supplement Review of Robert M. Solow’s “Work and Welfare” by Robert B. Reich When during his 1992 presidential campaign, Bill Clinton vowed to “end welfare as we know it” by moving people “from welfare to work”, he presumably did not have in mind the legislation which he signed […]
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Scrooge is Alive and Well and Living in America
Broadcast December 21, 2000 You may remember old Scrooge wasn’t happy he had to give his clerk in the counting house time off for Christmas. “A poor excuse for picking a man s pocket every twenty-fifth of December! But I suppose you must have the whole day,” he said. “Be here all the earlier next […]
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Three-legged trick to square vicious circle of job losses
The Guardian The central reality of our age is that globalisation and technological change have increased the demand for people with the right education, skills, and connections – and reduced the demand for those without them. The bottom third of our citizens are either paid less or have fewer job opportunities than before. The top […]
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Smoking, Guns
If I had my way, there’d be laws restricting cigarettes and handguns. But this Congress won’t even pass halfway measures. Cigarette companies have admitted they produce death sticks, yet Congress won’t lift a finger to stub them out. Teenage boys continue to shoot up high schools, yet Congress won’t pass stricter gun controls. The politically […]
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A Proper Global Agenda
These days, any official organization with the word”International,” “World,” or “Global” in its title has to worry about where itmeets, check in with the riot police, and pray for rain. Washington is alreadygirding itself for the International Monetary Fund’s next gathering. Global protesters haven’t communicated clearly to the rest of the worldexactly what they’re against. […]
