Fred Block

The New Right-Wing Permissiveness

 

Is the American Dream Dying?

In this election season, politicians of both parties celebrate the American Dream of unlimited opportunity for the poor who are willing to work hard and play by the rules. However, there are signs that indicate the Dream is on the decline.

No Mandate for Market Fundamentalism

The President insists that his election victory paves the way for major new initiatives such as Social Security privatization. However, there is little evidence that the public embraces the right wing's long term hostility to our most successful and effective social program.

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Pessimistic Conservatives Cannot Fix Social Security

The Administration’s push for radical reform of Social Security rests on the idea that it is impossible to solve the system’s long term financing problems. In reality, this pessimism is simply a consequence of their deep hostility to public spending.

Retirement Security: A Moral Economy Proposal

Fred Block applies the <a href="/projects/moral">Moral Economy</a> perspective to the debate about Social Security and other retirement programs. He proposes an alternative revenue source that would allow us to protect both present and future generations of retirees from economic hardship and insecurity.

Bush's Defunct Economist

The case for privatizing Social Security depends on an error of logic. If in the future, there are too few wage earners to support too many retirees, private accounts will not solve the problem.

Protesting For All the Wrong Reasons

Religious conservatives have been attacking giant retail firms for dropping Christmas from their holiday greetings. But Santa might have other reasons to put Sears on his list of those who get a lump of coal in their stockings this year.

Poverty Rediscovered and so Quickly Forgotten

 

A Corporation With a Conscience

In New Labor Forum, Fred Block makes the idea of a Moral Economy more concrete by describing how ethical corporations would differ from today's ethically challenged firms. He also outlines a long-term strategy that could transform existing firms into businesses that are both ethical and efficient.

Fred Block: Why is the U.S. Fighting in Iraq?

Was the Bush administration solving international problems—or domestic ones?

Taking the Long View: Thoughts on Post-Election Strategy

Fred Block puts the election results in perspective and suggests a strategy that will help progressives to make further advances in shifting the nation’s agenda.