The New York Federal Reserve Bank released an impressive amount of research earlier this month on the present state of student debt. Total student debt levels are around $870 billion. Average student debt stands at $23,300, but the median debt — a more telling figure — stands at $12,800. At the same time, those with… Continue reading On the politics of student debt
Author: Matt Bruenig
The totally confused contraception debate
I have been following the contraception mandate debate in the United States, and am somewhat amazed by how unrelated the discussion is to what the new contraception rule actually requires. The rule does not require religious employers to provide contraception coverage for their employees. Despite this, the usual suspects on the right-wing and even Pew… Continue reading The totally confused contraception debate
Economic injustice continues to plague women
I have another post on Oklahomans for Reproductive Justice. Check it out. Here is an excerpt: By themselves, poverty and the wage gap create significant barriers for women trying to obtain reproductive healthcare services. These barriers are made even stronger by the fact that women’s healthcare needs cost more than men’s healthcare needs, especially in… Continue reading Economic injustice continues to plague women
On Wendy Kopp, poverty pimp
Imagine watching a man try unsuccessfully to unlock a door for 20 minutes. He keeps putting the same key into the keyhole and turning, but to no avail. Then imagine standing behind him are a number of people who keep telling him that his key obviously does not work, and that he should try another… Continue reading On Wendy Kopp, poverty pimp
Co-ops can decrease inequality
Sara Horowitz wrote in favor of co-ops and mutualist enterprises at the Atlantic today. The thrust of her post is that co-ops can replace and improve upon current models of promoting the social good. In a sort of rebuttal, Matt Yglesias argues that increasing co-ops would reduce growth and increase inequality, something that he admits… Continue reading Co-ops can decrease inequality