Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

#1670 A Refresher on the Sham of Conservative Economic Populism and the Left Alternatives (Remix)

Nov 15, 2024

Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor, joins experts like Lindsay Owens and Ben Burgis to dissect the illusion of conservative economic populism. They explore the need for progressives to unite around a message of economic justice and the importance of automatic stabilizers during downturns. Jeff Madrick emphasizes the dire consequences of child poverty, while Virginie Perrotin discusses the potential of worker cooperatives in combating inequality. The conversation critiques current economic models, advocating for a shift towards community-centric, sustainable practices.

01:19:12

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Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes the need for progressives to connect with disillusioned voters by compassionately addressing their economic concerns and motivations.

It highlights how right-wing racism undermines economic prosperity for all, urging progressives to reveal these contradictions to strengthen their message.

The discussion advocates for a structured economic resilience program that proactively ties social policies to economic conditions, ensuring equitable recovery for affected citizens.

Deep dives

Understanding Economic Populism

The episode highlights the stark contrast between right-wing and left-wing economic populism, especially in the context of Donald Trump's re-election. Many voters, while motivated by despair over the economy, support Trump for reasons beyond his known bigotry, seeking change in a seemingly rigged political system. This underscores the need for progressives to approach these voters with compassion and understanding rather than dismissiveness. By recognizing the complexities of their motivations, the left can formulate strategies that appeal to disillusioned voters looking for genuine economic reform.

Intro

6min

Navigating Economic Turbulence

16min

Revisiting Labor Laws: The PRO Act's Impact

8min

Rethinking Economic Models: From Linear to Circular

8min

Addressing Economic Inequality

15min

Exploring Worker Cooperatives vs. Traditional Corporations

7min

Labor Rights and Sustainable Practices

16min

Critiques of Economic Growth Limits and Advocacy for Alternative Frameworks

3min

Air Date 11/15/2024

Today’s episode is a remix of multiple past episodes but was inspired by one in particular from just back in July of this year, #1645, when we were making a point of demonstrating what a sham the idea of conservative economic populism is. Well, now that Trump has been reelected - seemingly because regular folks were hoping he’d fix the economy for them - we thought we’d take this moment to highlight the difference between right wing and left wing economic populism.

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Full Show Notes

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CHAPTERS

1: How progressives need to frame their economic message - @theLFshow w: @GRITlaura Flanders - Air Date 12-29-14

2: It’s time to stop relying on crisis legislation (with Lindsay Owens) - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 8-4-20

3: “He’s a Fake” Robert Kuttner on How J.D. Vance Disguises His Anti-Worker Views as Economic Populism - Democracy Now! - Air Date 7-16-24

4: JD Vance, Phony Populism on the Right, the Republican National Convention, and Democratic Party Messaging w Ben Burgis - Parallax Views - Air Date 7-22-24

5: Europe's Circular Economy Action Plan - euronews - Air Date 11-24-20

6: What is Economic Democracy? - The Next System Project - Air Date: 3-1-16

7: Responding to Tim Scott & J.D. Vance on Poverty - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 7-16-24