Matt Bruenig – Page 71 – Matt Bruenig Dot Com

Policy Shop Weekly Digest: The Week of Polanyi

I had 2 posts over at Demos’ Policy Shop this week. Here is a rundown with links: Libertarianism’s Battle With History. Excerpt: But as much as market fanatics tried, they never could succeed in casting the economy as something separate from or above social order. Instead, what we saw (and what we see in developing… Continue reading Policy Shop Weekly Digest: The Week of Polanyi

There is a difference between conventional and chemical weapons

One of the popular memes coming out of this Syria debacle is an assertion that there is no difference between conventional and chemical weapons. I’ve yet to see someone explain what the Just War Theory response on this is (granted I don’t follow this stuff anymore). So I figure I will just take a stab… Continue reading There is a difference between conventional and chemical weapons

Middle-Out Economics Already Producing Serious Policy Confusion

This summer, President Obama gave a speech where he talked about middle-out economics, which is apparently the Democrats response to trickle-down economics. As far as I can tell, Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer coined the phrase. Personally, I don’t like the phrase and when I think hard about what it might mean for policy, my mind actually… Continue reading Middle-Out Economics Already Producing Serious Policy Confusion

Policy Shop Weekly Digest: Income Inequality, Student Debt, Racial Inequality

I had 3 posts over at Demos’ Policy Shop this week. Here is a rundown with links: What Would It Look Like If Income Gains Had Been Shared?. Excerpt: Every income group except the top 20 percent would be better off. Instead of receiving an income $16,900 in 2007, the poorest fifth of families would… Continue reading Policy Shop Weekly Digest: Income Inequality, Student Debt, Racial Inequality

Policy Shop Weekly Digest: Food Stamps, Poverty, Libertarianism, Homelessness

I had 4 posts over at Demos’ Policy Shop this week. Here is a rundown with links: Let’s Stop Worrying About Food Stamp “Fraud”. Excerpt: But check this out: giving people food stamps is basically the same thing as giving them more cash. Suppose I am spending $300/month feeding my family. Then I get on… Continue reading Policy Shop Weekly Digest: Food Stamps, Poverty, Libertarianism, Homelessness