President Barack Obama enters his coming budget battle with the Republican-led Congress in a climate of American public opinion that is surprisingly positive. … The president’s policies addressing income inequality generally meet with strong conceptual approval: The public heartily endorses efforts to improve the lot of poor people. At the […] Read more »
Why Republicans Are Suddenly Talking About Economic Inequality
For decades, Democrats have been the party that emphasizes concerns about inequality. So why are many top Republicans — including a number of the party’s presidential hopefuls — talking about the issue? Though Republicans’ shift in emphasis has drawn some derisive commentary, it’s worth examining why one party might choose […] Read more »
The Republican Discovery of the Poor
… The Republican appropriation of leftist populist rhetoric (and even policies) poses a significant threat to liberal prospects in 2016. They plan to bring the fight to the Democrats on their own turf. … Democrats counter this emerging Republican populism with the argument that Republicans have failed to follow up […] Read more »
Anxiety and Interest Rates: How Uncertainty Is Weighing on Us
Anxiety and uncertainty are weighing on individuals even where the overall economy is growing. Some of this angst is the fallout from advances in information technology. … Along with this enormous problem is the psychic cost of growing income inequality. Poor people, who see themselves slipping further and further behind, […] Read more »
The Problem With Middle Class Populism
… When the middle-class populist message is turned into actual legislative proposals, the costs, in the form of higher taxes, will be imposed on the affluent. Such a shift in the allocation of government resources threatens the loyalty of a crucial Democratic constituency: well-off socially liberal voters. Over the past […] Read more »
60% Satisfied With Ability to Get Ahead
Six in 10 Americans are satisfied with the opportunity for a person in the U.S. to get ahead by working hard. This is up from 54% last year, which was similar to satisfaction levels measured in the prior three years. However, from 2001 through 2008, Americans’ satisfaction with the ability […] Read more »