Category: Economy
Trump Tinkers With Formula That Sets Poverty Threshold
by Steven Pressman | Jun 2, 2019 | Economy, PoliticsIf President Trump has his way, things are about to go from bad to worse for America’s poor. On May 7, the Office of Management and Budget proposed changing the way that poverty gets measured in the U.S. The public has 45 days to respond to this proposal (June 21); then the government will decide […]
Trump Budget Cuts Funding for Assistance Programs and Pushes for Strict Work Requirements
by Dennis Parker | May 13, 2019 | Economy, PoliticsThe president’s fiscal 2020 budget proposal is yet another attack on poor families. The administration has proposed slashing funding for critical programs that help low- and moderate-income individuals access healthy and nutritious food, receive critical health care services, and live in safe and affordable homes. Specifically, the president proposed to cut $230 billion from the […]
The Paris Peace Conference After 100 Years: Some Critical Lessons Not Learned
by Steven Pressman | Mar 12, 2019 | Economy, PoliticsWorld War I, the so-called “war to end all wars,” concluded in November 1918. The crucial question of the day changed abruptly—from how to wage war to how to make peace. Could the Allied powers prevent another war on the European continent? How would individual nations rebuild their economies? And who was going to pay […]
Flat Wages, the Middle Class in Retreat—Is It Time for Basic Income?
by Steven Pressman | Nov 12, 2018 | Economy, PoliticsPresident Trump and Republicans in general have been touting the low U.S. unemployment rate, which now sits at 3.7 percent. This is close to what economists regard as full employment, or the best the U.S. economy can reasonably be expected to do. What this number doesn’t tell us, however, is what kind of jobs people […]
Trump’s Trade War: An Unwinnable Folly
by Steven Pressman | Sep 3, 2018 | Economy, Foreign Policy, PoliticsDuring his volatile presidential campaign, Donald Trump griped about the U.S. trade deficit and criticized U.S. trade agreements. He called the North American Free Trade Agreement “the worst trade deal the U.S. has ever made.” NAFTA reduced trade barriers (especially tariffs) between Canada, Mexico, and the United States. He opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an attempt […]