Hungry and Homeless in Central Florida

This weekend, I watched a ’60 Minutes’ show that took me inside the lives of homeless kids in Central Florida. The Congressional Budget Office projects that the child-poverty rate will soon hit 25 percent. By the end of the segment, I felt sad and...

Egypt in America

The courage of the Egyptian people has not only inspired others in the Middle East to demand a transition to democracy, it has also inspired Americans to insist on democracy – here in America. In an electoral system controlled by business, trade associations and...

Where is the Bang for Our Buck?

Repercussions of the New Tax Law Would Leave 51 Million Americans Worse Off Most liberals and progressive Democrats were angered by the recent extension of the Bush tax cuts for America’s most wealthy. The excuse, offered by the White House and a good number of...

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

Fighting Democracy and Destroying America’s Economic Future This has been quite a year for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a year of blunders as well as successes. On balance, it appears the chamber is winning more often than it’s losing. My concern is who’s benefiting...

Five Predictions for 2011

This is the time of year when all the pundits, journalists, forecasters and owners of crystal globes issues their predictions. Mine are not very rosy! We’ll spend most of our time playing defense. The Republican majority in the House together with Obama and the...

Of the people, by the people, for the people

I believe in an America committed to the democratic ideal of government of the people, by the people and for the people. That’s why, on Friday, January 21, 2011, I was proud to be among the business leaders who announced the launch of Business for Democracy, a...

The 30 Year War on Middle Class America

In the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, the American economy experienced long periods of prosperity, in which GDP growth performed quite well. At the same time, inequality rose rapidly. Yet rather than seeking to correct the inequality through redistributive policies,...