Roosevelt Institute’s Post

A recent speech from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasized the critical link between democracy and a strong economy. In response, business leaders are emphasizing the necessity of strengthening democratic principles to maintain economic resilience. The Business & Democracy Initiative and its partners are working with business leaders to address these democracy-related issues, showing their unwavering commitment to the democratic values and institutions that enable our shared success. PPSI President Rhett Buttle shared, “In our democracy, businesses aren't just bystanders, they’re part of our precious system of government. The free exchange of ideas, goods, and services is the lifeblood of our economies, where every voice counts. Businesses play a vital role in shaping policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people they serve. At this crucial moment in history, businesses small and large have a responsibility to safeguard the very essence of democracy, ensuring there’s opportunities for everyone and guaranteeing that the voice of every citizen is heard.” Hear more from other business leaders at the link below, including: CEO of Black Economic Alliance, Samantha Tweedy Founder and CEO of Business for America, Sarah Bonk President and CEO of BSR, Aron Cramer Green Business Network Director at Green America, Steve Fletcher CEO of CECP, Daryl Brewster Co-Chair at Small Business for America's Future, Anne Zimmerman CEO of Leadership Now Project, Daniella Ballou-Aares Co-Founder and CEO of Team Democracy, Kenneth Powley Chairman at StartEngine, Ron Miller Director of Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce at The Erb Institute University of Michigan, Elizabeth Doty https://lnkd.in/e22UdMjk #Democracy #BusinessLeaders #EconomicResilience

how hidden networks and powerful interests can shape societal structures: "This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral-Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking!-in America's Gilded Capital" by Mark Leibovich (2013) - This book offers a cynical look at the intertwining of media, government, and money in Washington D.C., revealing how power and influence are brokered. "Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust" by Darrell M. West (2014) - West examines the political clout of billionaires, exploring how their wealth is used to influence policy decisions, sway public opinion, and shape political outcomes globally. "Captured: The Corporate Infiltration of American Democracy" by Sheldon Whitehouse (2017) - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse discusses how corporations have captured American politics through lobbying, funding, and networking, effectively bending government policies to their will. "Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else" by Chrystia Freeland (2012) - Freeland explores the lives and influence of the global super-rich, examining how their fortunes are made and maintained, and their impact on global economies and policies. "The Establishment: And How They Get Away with It" by Owen Jones (2014) - Jones provides a broad analysis of the network of institutions in Britain—from politicians and the media to businessmen and the police—that protect the interests of the powerful. "Giants: The Global Power Elite" by Peter Phillips (2018) - Phillips identifies the networks of the world’s most powerful managerial and financial elites, including corporate boards of multinational corporations and global financial institutions. "The Fifth Risk: Undoing Democracy" by Michael Lewis (2018) - Lewis exposes the underpinnings of a government that is under threat from within, detailing how the administration of Donald Trump appointed unqualified personnel to critical positions, undermining the effective operations of essential agencies. "Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America" by Nancy MacLean (2017) - MacLean explores the historical roots of the radical right's attempts to reshape the rules of democratic governance and its impact on the political landscape of the United States. These books offer a variety of perspectives on how elite groups can influence political and economic systems, and they provide contexts within which the influence of secret or closed groups like Freemasonry might be discussed, though the primary focus remains on broader social and political dynamics.

If tariffs are imposed on Chinese products, the management of big corporations will be tempted to raise prices, and most of them will do so. So tariffs are strong factors in price gouging inflation. Because of this, inflation will continue for even longer. Jay Powell is reluctant to lower interest rates. And if the US maintains high interest rates for a long time, Japanese businesses and Japanese speculators, and wealthy Americans and American firms, who have cozy relationship with Japanese speculators and Japanese businesses, will continue to make huge profits from yen carry trade for a long time. (Japan Lobby also manipulates IMF: https://lnkd.in/gKFNmNFq ; https://lnkd.in/gFJQVuWv ) The vast majority of think tanks overemphasize the military threat of China, but it is big corporations, the defense industry, and Japanese companies that make money. In fact, donations from the Japan Lobby are being distributed to many think tanks in the US. The most essential way to stand up to big corporations and the politicians in Washington seems to be US-China full reconciliation and complete purge of Japan Lobby from America's soil. If US-China relations are restored, inflation will disappear in an instant, and even if the Fed sets interest rates to zero, inflation will not reoccur. If that happens, those who hold Japanese stocks and those managing yen carry trades (such as JP Morgan) will suffer huge losses. That's why those who don't want US-China relations to be repaired are spreading groundless misinformation about Chinese military threat. So if Harris clearly states that she will make repairing US-China relations her top policy priority for the time being, it will demonstrate her intention to provide relief to the majority of Americans (including Trump supporters) who are suffering from high interest rates and inflation. US-China relations should have been repaired sooner. And, US-Japan Security Treaty should be downgraded or abolished ASAP, because Japan is incorrigibly sabotaging US-China relationship. Many pro-Japan pundits will strongly oppose it, but most of them have received Japan Lobby's money, or hold shares of Japanese businesses, or earn from yen carry trade. It's apparently conflicts of interests. Such pro-Japan pundits are dumping US interests on Japan Lobby, treacherous! And, Harris' economic policies should prioritize boosting funds for academic research in science and technology. Academic research should be America's core driving forth of prosperity: https://lnkd.in/g7ZFanMX And, Senate and Congress should update FRB's mission. FRB's main mission should be lowering probability of Black Swan emergence, control of unemployment and inflation should be secondary missions: https://lnkd.in/g7VxEynE

#politics #unitedstates #NobelPrize Kamala Harris in 2024, literally and financially cannot afford to be Barack Obama in 2008. 1. The government is broke. 2. Cannot afford continued American involvement in foreign wars and future wars. 3. Taxes can go neither higher nor lower but need reform by radical tax code simplification, fairness, and automation. 4. The size of the administrative state must be reduced by attrition augmented by technology by the time the last boomer retires in 2034 to balance the budget as a norm every year. 5. Prepare for the world where US dollar is no longer the dominant currency in world trade including for Europe, an ally, pushed back to pre-Nixon Shock Bretton Woods at the International Monetary Fund by BRICS. 6. Corporate governance which Bill Clinton put in place that skewed wealth and income distribution around the world World Economic Forum heavily in favor of the top 10% needs to be brought back into balance not by unionization but by giving workers a fair wage and a fair share of the corporation, under the primary #federalreserve objective of near zero unemployment at all times. The #elite have aggrandized wealth with like friends around the world since Bill Clinton while the people and government are financially severely overextended. Despite Democrat talk to the contrary, climate, crime, pollution, high cost of living, high taxes, homelessness, drugs, mental health and loneliness crises, and illegal immigration define the Democrat Blue states and major urban centers, California, New York, Washington, and Illinois being the worst. President Joe Biden The White House, the best Democrat President since LBJ and Jimmy Carter, has been compromised by war - brought upon FDR to begin the end of his dream of Four Freedoms as did the wars of Harry Truman when Korea and Vietnam began, which Eisenhower, Nixon, and Reagan ended - despite the success of FDR’s and LBJ’s socio-economic programs. Obama’s woke disinformation does not cut mustard or pass the sniff test when the real problem is not race relations or woman or gender inclusion which are a distraction but economic inclusion, made worse by Clintonomics which created a state of cozy and corrupt co-existence of the government with the markets, as in developing countries, dooming both to failure, which nobody wants to talk about except Biden. The rank elitism, authoritarianism, and social discrimination has always been in the economics profession, not in politics and the law. Only the enormous private money hoardings can save America, not its government, by investing in America taking advantage of BIL, IRA, and CHIPS in #bidenomics to restore America’s middle class, disruptively using technology to lower the cost of education, and health to repeal and replace Obamacare. It is not society that needs fixing but economics to ensure the economic and national security of the United States. It is indeed still the economy stupid. The left in America has ended.

Excerpt: "Americans are not facing a choice this November between two competing visions, but about the pace of our decline. Harris would turbo-charge the Biden administration’s push to make government the be-all and end-all of our lives, perhaps even completing our transformation from a dynamic engine of growth into a tired welfare state like those in Western Europe. This will not end the good life in America; there are plenty of happy Belgians. Well-educated professionals – the What me, Worry? liberals – are thriving, insulated in their gated communities and high-rise buildings from the consequences of the leftwing policies they support that are hollowing out the working class. But year by year, Harris will continue to deliver death blows to American exceptionalism. "Trump would slow these changes, reducing regulatory strangleholds here and there without fundamentally changing the course we are on. He won’t and can’t do that because, as necessary as a correction may be, the voters don’t want it. "This sad state of affairs recalls the journalist H.L. Mencken’s observation more than a century ago that “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard.” #economy #hypocrisy #moralnarcissism #fiscalresponsibility #future #selfreliance #individualfreedom #entitlements #weakleaders #future #commonsense #criticalthinking #societyandculture #election2024 #votepolicy #trump #harris

Blog posts are coming up shortly on #PoliticalPulse & #SalzilloReport @ Substack Medium LinkedIn. For those who want to see the highlights of the DNC so far or watch the next few nights in its entirety, check out C-SPAN, the best place to get party convention coverage anywhere. No commentary, no hype, no gaslighting. Just the actual event itself. Let's boost #CSPAN's ratings together. And shame on the media for failing to factcheck Gina Raimondo's speech or her recent comments elsewhere on her time as RI Governor. But since they won't do it, I will do it here. And the factcheck will be back & updated on my next article. https://lnkd.in/ekwBbF4u 1. She did not turn around the economy in RI from previous governors (including an Independent Governor who supported Obama in 2008 and 2012). In fact, the state still ranks 45th overall in business climate, 44th in infrastructure & transportation conditions, and D grades still this year for access to capital, cost of doing business, workforce, and cost of living. Her biggest programs are being rolled back and overturned one by one, like RhodeWorks' truck tolls. She only knows opportunity on the basis of her own wealth and connections. 2. Her economy in Rhode Island did not support businesses or workers. In fact, her pension cuts in 2011 has driven out people who want to work in education, law enforcement, or in state government, even as her own venture capital firm made off handsomely off of our taxpayer money. That's why the unions and retirees hate her so much, as do progressive and conservatives alike. Inequality between the wealthiest Rhode Islanders and poorest Rhode Islanders is hurting our state. 3. Raimondo did not repudiate the status quo. She doubled down on it, giving tax cuts to the wealthiest Rhode Islanders, giving taxpayer subsidies to large multinational corporations and her own campaign contributors, cutting social services, privatizing state agencies, and expanding fossil fuel infrastructure in the state. She does the bidding of Wall Street & Corporate America instead. 4. Raimondo talked about her working class roots. She doesn't say how she bailed out of RI to go to Harvard and then went into venture capital and private equity, eventually coming back to run a mediocre venture capital firm that lost jobs and mishandled its own finances (as the local media has reported over the years). 5. We cannot forget that Raimondo's allies in the donor class and the press, with help from Bloomberg, were indeed behind the push to get Biden out of the race and sideline Harris in her own ambitions for higher office (not to mention trying to have her off the presidential ticket to be Biden's 2024 running mate earlier this cycle). Raimondo tried pushing Biden & Harris out for her own interest. Mark Farnell Daniel Denvir Democratic National Committee Obama Foundation Biden-Harris Transition Team The White House #DemocraticNationalConvention2024 #HarrisWalz2024

Can Kamala Harris' Economic Plans Outshine Donald Trump's Promises? As the 2024 U.S. presidential race heats up, economic policies are taking center stage. With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump presenting contrasting visions for America's future, the outcome could significantly shape the nation's economy and global standing. Vice President Kamala Harris is making big moves in her campaign for president. This weekend, she’s organizing thousands of events to attract voters, especially Republicans who may not support former President Donald Trump. Many of these events will happen in important states that could decide the election. Harris is focusing on policies that she believes will help middle-class Americans, like supporting small businesses and making life more affordable. Harris' campaign has received support from some prominent Republicans, such as Liz Cheney and Jimmy McCain, the son of former Republican candidate John McCain. Her team is working hard to show that her ideas are the best way forward for America. They argue that Donald Trump’s plans could hurt the middle class and lead to more problems, even though Trump promises to fix the economy. Meanwhile, Trump is making his own promises. He says he can bring gas prices down to below $2 per gallon by drilling more oil and cutting government rules. He also plans to reduce taxes for businesses and cut back on government spending. Trump often points to his previous time in office, when gas prices were lower, but experts warn that achieving these goals might not be as easy as it sounds. Both Harris and Trump are preparing for a big debate, which will be one of the highlights of the campaign season. The debate will give both candidates a chance to talk directly to voters and explain how they plan to lead the country. With big promises on both sides, the race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is heating up, and both are eager to win over voters with their ideas for the future of America. please visit us for more stories: https://lnkd.in/gEKzqGDX #USPolitics #EconomicPolicy #Election2024 #KamalaHarris #DonaldTrump #SmallBusiness #GlobalEconomy #Leadership #PoliticalDebate #FutureOfAmerica #EconomicGrowth #BusinessLeadership #MiddleClass #PresidentialElection #LinkedInCommunity

Good morning. This opinion piece is written by a Democratic Party stalwart. Careful, Democrats: Lessons from Jimmy Carter, the Powell Memo, Deregulation, and “Walmartization" of the US Economy. As the Nation reflects on President Jimmy Carter’s legacy, it’s easy to focus on his virtues: service, humility, integrity, and post-presidency humanitarianism. Yet, to truly honor his memory, we must critically examine his presidency—especially policies influenced by the conservative Powell Memorandum. Written in 1971 by future Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell Jr., the Powell Memorandum was a corporate call to counter perceived threats to capitalism, shaping politics, media, and academia. By the late 1970s, its vision influenced policymaking across party lines, including Carter’s. One major outcome was the 1979–1980 deregulation wave. Carter’s administration deregulated trucking, airlines, and railroads to curb inflation, enhance competition, and modernize the economy. However, this dismantled protections for small businesses, enabling corporate consolidation. Wages stagnated, job stability eroded, and power shifted to industry giants. Transport deregulation accelerated the “Walmartization” of America. Collusive contracts like the Quantum Agreement between BNSF Railway and J.B. Hunt for the benefit of Walmart revolutionized intermodal shipping, allowing Walmart to dominate supply chains. While prices dropped, small competitors and local businesses suffered, further consolidating corporate power. Walmart's exponential growth gutted many rural "downtowns." Jason Miller For workers and small businesses, deregulation brought displacement, not opportunity. The transportation sector became dominated by a few giants serving retail behemoths. This shift prioritized scale and efficiency over community-centered economic practices, reshaping the economy. Carter’s deregulation policies, influenced by the Powell Memorandum, reflected a conservative agenda prioritizing corporate interests over long-term economic equity. Though likely intended as pragmatic reforms, they eroded safeguards, enabling monopolistic forces to dominate. Democrats must avoid uncritically lionizing Carter. While his post-presidency work inspires admiration, his tenure offers lessons on the dangers of corporate influence and market absolutism. The Walmartization of America exemplifies how deregulation, aimed at growth, undermined equity and resilience. To honor Carter’s legacy, Democrats must embrace his virtues while learning from his missteps. His presidency underscores the importance of resisting unchecked corporate power and building an economy rooted in fairness, service, and community well-being.

Francis Fukuyama: "Trump and the Crisis of Liberalism" In this podcast Fukuyama provide a compelling lens through which to examine the profound implications of Trump's return to power, both for US democracy and global liberalism. Here are the key takeaways: -The Threat to Liberalism, Not Democracy. Fukuyama emphasizes that populist leaders rarely challenge democratic processes outright—they often come to power through free elections. Instead, they erode the rule of law, undermining institutional checks, packing courts, and centralizing power. -Internal Polarization as a Symptom of Decline. US's deep political polarization, according to Fukuyama, is the clearest marker of its weakening global influence. A divided nation struggles to make coherent foreign policy decisions, no matter how strong the economy or military. - Populism as a Reaction to Neoliberal Failures The rise of populism, Fukuyama argues, is rooted in decades of unchecked neoliberalism—faith in markets without addressing inequality or concentrated power. While the Biden administration introduced industrial policies to rebuild domestic manufacturing, the long-term benefits failed to resonate with voters who felt the immediate sting of inflation. - Erosion of Institutional Guardrails. One of Fukuyama's most striking points is the likelihood of a more aggressive Trump presidency in a second term. Fukuyama’s analysis highlights a central tension: the resilience of liberal democracy in the face of internal and external challenges. While the United States retains unparalleled global influence, its ability to lead will depend on addressing deep-seated divisions and demonstrating a renewed commitment to the principles of liberalism. #Liberalism #Democracy #Crisis #Inequality #FrancisFukuyama #Populism #Institutions #Geopolitics

Is Kemi Badenoch the Right Fit for the Conservative Party's Future? In the ever-evolving landscape of British politics, the Conservative Party faces the perennial challenge of adapting to the changing needs of its constituents while staying true to its core values. One name that has recently garnered attention is Kemi Badenoch, a rising star within the party. But the question remains: Is she the right leader to steer the Conservatives into the future? Background and Political Stance Kemi Badenoch, currently serving as the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, has a rich political background that resonates with many within the party. Known for her articulate speeches and firm stance on various issues, Badenoch has made it clear where she stands on key Conservative values. Her approach to economic policy, trade, and social issues often reflects a blend of traditional conservatism with a modern twist, appealing to both the party's base and younger voters. Leadership Qualities Badenoch's leadership qualities are evident in her ability to communicate effectively and her willingness to tackle challenging issues head-on. Her background in engineering and finance brings a pragmatic perspective to problem-solving, which is crucial in today's complex political environment. Her rise within the party showcases her ability to connect with colleagues and constituents alike, a trait essential for any leader. Challenges and Opportunities While Badenoch's potential leadership could bring fresh energy and ideas to the party, it is not without challenges. The Conservative Party is currently navigating a post-Brexit Britain, addressing economic recovery, and managing internal divisions. Badenoch's ability to unify the party and present a coherent vision for the future will be critical. Moreover, her stance on certain social issues may polarize some voters, requiring a delicate balance to maintain broad appeal. Her success will depend on her ability to address these challenges while capitalizing on opportunities to innovate and modernize party policies. Conclusion Kemi Badenoch's potential to lead the Conservative Party is an intriguing prospect. Her blend of traditional values with a modern outlook could be the key to revitalizing the party and appealing to a broader electorate. However, her success will hinge on her ability to unify the party and effectively address the challenges facing Britain today. As the Conservative Party looks to the future, Kemi Badenoch stands out as a candidate with the potential to shape the party's trajectory. Whether she will be the right fit ultimately depends on her ability to navigate the complex political landscape and resonate with both the party and the public.