KQED's Forum Robert Reich Retired from Teaching but Continues to Educate on Inequality, Corporate Power and Democracy in America
Sep 9, 2025
Robert Reich, a political economist and former labor secretary, shares his insights on economic inequality and democracy after retiring from teaching at UC Berkeley. He discusses the historical roots of wealth concentration and the impact of corporate power on workers and unions. The conversation highlights the escalating income gap during Trump's presidency and calls for political reforms like universal healthcare. Reich emphasizes the importance of activism in combating socio-economic disparities, as well as the potential role of universal basic income amidst a changing economy.
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Inequality Created Political Power
- Growing inequality since the late 1970s enabled concentrated political power and corporate influence.
- That power shift helped produce leaders like Donald Trump as symptoms, not origins, of the problem.
Students More Committed Today
- Robert Reich observed that his more recent students are more committed to improving the world than prior cohorts.
- He credits their dedication to tackling the mess older generations left behind.
Powell Memo Launched Corporate Political Power
- The late-20th-century shift in politics began with organized corporate campaigns to pour money into politics.
- Lewis Powell's 1971 memo catalyzed corporate investment in politics, eroding countervailing civic forces.
