Robert Reich fully understands what has happened to the Americans who have lost their jobs through computerization of office jobs, automation in manufacturing, outsourcing of manufacturing to countries with low labor costs, the decimation of small retail businesses by hypermarkets like Walmart, and immigrants competing with Americans.
Robert Reich has the capacity to be a great communicator and great simplifier. He is not an inarticulate technical economist. He has convincing solutions to the low wages that afflict so many Americans who have been harmed by computerization, automation, and foreign trade. He can talk about solutions to excessive inequality in income distribution far better than any elected politician I can think of.
Robert Reich is quick on his feet. He is capable of trading barbs and insults with grace and wit.
Robert Reich can get up on a platform and run rings around Donald Trump’s exhalations on the subject of foreign trade. He can get up on a platform and talk economics in a coherent manner that no lawyer can do. That no governor or senator can do.
Robert Reich is not a captive of the special interests.
“It’s the economy, stupid” is a phrase that should be resuscitated for the coming election.
I don’t know him and I haven’t asked him for permission, but I would dearly love to see a progressive economist with his heart and with his caliber, campaigning along with the presidential nominee, advocating progressive policies Bernie would be happy to see. And hopefully capturing large numbers of Bernie’s supporters.